Oral sex is cited as one of the serious causes of mouth cancer and throat cancer (oropharyngeal cancer). There are three key factors that determine the amount of cancer risk in regular oral sex users: Gender; Smoking; Number of sexual partners; Based on these factors, scientists indicate that men who smoke regularly and have had more than 5 sexual partners in their lifetime are most at risk of mouth or throat cancer. The reason for the development of the two mentioned forms of cancer is infection with the so-called human papilloma virus (HPV). It occurs in dozens of different strains, and the HPV16 strain in particular is associated with over 70% of oropharyngeal cancers. The most common and fastest way to become infected with the dangerous strains of the human papillomavirus is through oral sex. Toxins contained in cigarette smoke and their overall effect on the mucous membrane of the oral cavity and the respiratory system have a beneficial effect on the development of papilloma viruses and facilitate the initiation of an infection that can develop into cancer at a later stage. NEWS_MORE_BOX Statistics show that about 40% of people are carriers of the human papillomavirus, and at least 80% of the rest get infected with it at some stage in their lives. And although only about 0.7% of those infected develop throat cancer, the number of people diagnosed with the disease has tripled in the last 20 years. And most of them are indeed men. In addition, by 2020, cases of mouth and throat cancer in men are expected to outnumber cervical cancer in women, another form of cancer caused by the human papillomavirus. Currently, no safe method has been developed for the early diagnosis of oropharyngeal cancer or for the prevention of its development in men who regularly practice oral sex. As the main and most easily accessible preventive measure in this case, the experts point to quitting smoking. Studies show that for the same frequency of oral sex, the risk of mouth or throat cancer in non-smoking men is half that of smokers.