Can Oral Sex Lead To Any Kind Of Cancer By Any Chance?

Posted on Fri, 1 Jun 2018

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Fri, 1 Jun 2018 Answered on

Fri, 9 Apr 2021 Last reviewed on

Question : We are a widower and widow and just got married. My wife is concerned if oral sex can cause cancer?
Her late husband did have genital herpes that she did not know about till later on. On my side no known std's .

Answered by Dr. Dr. Muhammad Sareer Khalil (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
Safe oral sex preferable

Detailed Answer:
Hello and welcome,

I appreciate your concern..

HPV is indeed related to both oral and throat cancer. HPV infection is found in the genitalia as well as in the mouth. Oral sex can lead to HPV infection or transmission and HPV then subsequently can lead to oral and throat cancer.

Using a condom in case of man and a dam across the genitals of a woman constitutes safe oral sex.

Hope this answers your query.
Wishing you the best of health.

Thanks

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Arnab Banerjee