For many people, smoking has long been considered the leading cause of throat cancer. In reality, this is not entirely accurate.

Professor Hisham Mehanna, an expert at the Institute of Cancer and Genomic Sciences, University of Birmingham (UK), explained:

“In both the UK and the US, oropharyngeal cancer is now more common than cervical cancer.”

The Main Cause: Oral Sex

According to Professor Mehanna, the most significant risk factor for this disease is not smoking, but rather the number of lifetime sexual partners, especially when it comes to oral sex.

• Individuals with six or more oral-sex partners are 8.5 times more likely to develop oropharyngeal cancer than those who do not engage in oral sex.

• The main reason lies in the transmission of HPV (Human Papillomavirus)—a sexually transmitted virus capable of causing precancerous changes in the throat.

More Research Is Needed

Scientists have delved into the mechanisms behind this link but have also acknowledged that:

• Current knowledge is still incomplete.

• More long-term, in-depth studies are required to better confirm the relationship between HPV, oral sex, and oropharyngeal cancer.

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👉 In summary: Smoking remains an important risk factor, but it is no longer considered the number one culprit. Unprotected sexual activity—especially oral sex—has emerged as an increasingly prominent risk for oropharyngeal cancer in modern society.