Oral sex considered by many a safe sexual practice. But here’s  what you didn’t know. There are over 25 STD’s and infections that can be transmitted through oral sex. To add more fuel to the fire if you are unfortunate enough to catch a high risk human papilloma virus (HPV) like HPV 16; it can lead to oropharyngeal cancer (more common in men). This type of cancer effects the middle of the throat, tonsils, walls of the pharynx, base of the tongue and soft palate.

Results from a study conducted at the Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center shows risks increased for participants who had more than six oral sex partners during a lifetime. Raising susceptibility to 8.6 times more likely to catch a HPV linked cancer.

If you perform oral sex on a partner who is infected with an STI (sexually transmitted  infection) and you have an open wound (abrasion, rash, cut, canker sores, blisters, ulcers, periodontal disease) inside or on the mouth again you increase the odds of contracting an STD.

When there is an exchange of infected bodily fluids (blood, semen, vaginal fluids, menstrual blood, infected matter) from your partner’s genetalia. Even kissing someone with bleeding gums that has an STI can increase your chances of contracting the disease.

Brushing or flossing the teeth before oral sex can also increase risk of infection from accidental scrapes of the gums or tongue.

Once the infection occurs it travels throughout the bloodstream.

Symptoms of head and neck cancer (Oropharyngeal cancer)

• Hoarseness lasting 4-6 weeks
• Warts lesion in the mouth
• Facial numbness
• Difficulty swallowing
• Persistent nasal congestion
• Sore in the mouth that doesn’t heal
• Mass on the tongue
• Enlarged lymph nodes in the neck
• Chronic bad breath (halitosis)

Advanced cases of head and neck cancer can be deadly.

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