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| Experts have warned mouth cancer is on the rise |
MEDICAL professionals hazard the HPV virus, spread through oral sex, could be to blame for the rise in mouth cancer.
Smoking may not be the leading cause of mouth cancer for much longer, health experts claim.
New research has revealed that human papilloma virus (HPV) passed through oral sex could could be linked to the rise in the deadly disease.
The eye-opening research has been released to coincide with Mouth Cancer Action Month.
Experts have warned mouth cancer is on the rise and the spread of HPV from oral sex could be the main reason.
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| Doctors recommend using condoms or oral barriers when engaging in oral sex |
HPV affects the skin found in areas of the body exposed to moisture - including the mouth, rectum, cervix and throat.
The highly contagious virus is commonly contracted through unprotected sexual activity.
According to the NHS, over three quarters of sexually active women contract HPV at some time in their lives.
Because the strand of HPV found in the mouth has strong links to sexual activity, experts have warned it is highly likely oral sex could in turn cause mouth cancer.
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| Smoking may not be the leading cause of mouth cancer for much longer, health experts claim |
Dr Helen Webberley, GP for Oxford Online Pharmacy, highly recommends using condoms or oral barriers when engaging in oral sex.
She said: “We have known for some time that many genital cancers including vulval, cervical, penile and anal are associated with the wart virus, so it seems a logical conclusion that the same should apply to mouth cancers.
“The HPV vaccine programme… should also be embraced and will help to reduce the ongoing prevalence of these cancers.”
The NHS estimated almost 7,000 people in the UK were diagnosed with mouth cancer in 2011.
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