Unprotected sexual activity causes cancer

Sex as an act does not cause cancers but the viruses and infections transmitted from an infected partner during unprotected sexual activity can lead to cancer. As individuals, we are aware of sexual transmitted diseases transmitted during sexual intercourse but little or no awareness has been done to enlighten the population on certain cancers that can occur as a result of sexual activities. In this article, we will discuss on 5 sexual acts that may cause cancer. Oral Sex Oral sex is the act of stimulating the genitals of one’s partner during sexual activity with the use of the mouth including the tongue and lips. This act can be enjoyed by most partners and it is termed as ‘fellatio’ when it is performed on the male by the female partner and ‘cunnilingus’ when performed by the male on the female partner. Oral sex also includes the use of the mouth to stimulate the anal region. It is now widely acceptable as a form of sexual pleasure by most people and it is no longer seen as a taboo. As harmless as it may look, oral sex can pose great health risk to both sexual partners. The risk of STI is, however, lower when compared to other forms of sexual activity. During oral sex, the risk of transmission of Human papilloma virus (HPV) increases and this can lead to cancer of the mouth and the throat. HPV transmitted during oral sex gets into the cells of the mouth and throat leading to the mutation in the genes of the cells hence causing cancer of the mouth and the throat. The risk of developing throat cancer is higher in patients with HIV co-infection.