The topic of the relationship between oral sex and oral cancer is widely discussed in scientific circles. According to researchers, most adults are at risk for human papillomavirus (HPV) infection, and 80% of people test positive for HPV infection within 5 years of becoming sexually active. The truth is, most of us are infected, but few are affected. There are over 100 different strains of HPV, but about 15 are known to be high-risk. It is important to note that detecting the presence of a virus in a person who has oral cancer does not mean that the disease was caused by the infection. Rather, the virus becomes part of the genetic material of the cancer cells, which unlocks their growth. HPV found in the mouth is usually sexually transmitted. This means that oral sex is the most common way of contracting the disease. It’s not clear how common HPV infection is in the oral cavity, but according to a recent study by Canadian researchers, rates of mouth and throat cancers among men are increasing. NEWS_MORE_BOX Data from a 2011 study published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology indicated that HPV-related oral cancers rose from 16.3% to 71.7% between 1984 and 2004. d. At the same time, risk factors related to oral cancers are associated with sexual behavior, such as having oral sex with four or more people in one’s lifetime, and having first intercourse at a very young age – before 18 years. HPV is so common that almost all sexually active men and women will contract at least one type of the virus at some point in their lives.