Science: Study warns more sexual partners leads to a higher cancer risk

A recent study out of the UK has shown that having more than 10 sexual partners over your lifetime is linked to a higher risk of cancer.

Researchers studied the data of more than 5,700 men and women and found the relationship between the number of lifetime sexual partners and the risk of cancer. The researchers also stated that they can’t establish a cause but there is an implication of STIs and how they develop into cancer or hepatitis.

Researchers gathered the data from the ‘English Longitudinal Study of Ageing’ (ELSA). The average age of the participants was 64, with 3 out of 4 married. The data also rerated that those with a higher number of sexual partners were more likely to smoke, be frequent drinkers, and do more vigorous physical activity on a weekly basis.

It was revealed that men who reported more than 10 sexual partners were 69% more likely to have cancer; women with 10+ partners were 64% more likely.

While there is a significant association between the numbers of partners and cancer an argument can be also be made that there is a strong connection between lifestyle choices in early and mid life, and health in later years. The authors of the report state understanding the predictive value of lifetime numbers may improve clinical assessment of cancer risk in later life.