HPV News Update: HPV Virus Can Be Transferred Orally

News regarding oral cancer scattered when actor Michael Douglas blamed his throat cancer on oral sex. He claimed that the HPV-triggered his throat cancer. The arguments weather throat and mouth cancer can come from oral sex reach the experts. Now, a team of researchers conducted a study regarding the oral sex and how can it links to mouth and throat cancer.

In a report by Medical Daily, in the United Sates alone, 31,000 new cases of HPV-related oral cancers are diagnosed in women and 12,600 are diagnosed in men annually. Adults are most likely are in the risk of contracting the HPV, 80 percent of the people after five years of being sexually active tested positive for HPV infection. To be clear most people are infected but not affected.

HPV has over 100 strains, but only 15 of those are the high-risk type of HPV. Experts noted that in the cases where people have oral cancer the HPV did not cause it but rather triggered it. The virus becomes part of the genetic material that helps the cancer cells to grow.

In the case of the oral sex being linked to oral cancer, experts suggested that oral sex is the most common way of contracting the disease. The Canadian Cancer Society and Public Health Agency of Canada found rates of HPV throat and mouth in males are increasing. But,former studies show that the number one cause of the mouth and throat cancer is tobacco, according to The Sun.

However, sexual behavior is still linked with risk of oral cancers. For example, history of having oral sex, having oral sex with four or more people, and especially for men having sex at an early stage especially under 18. Sexually active men and women can be infected with at least one type of HPV at a point in their lives.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said that "In most cases, the virus goes away and it does not lead to any health problems. There is no certain way to know which people infected with HPV will go on to develop cancer." The CDC also suggested that early prevention of HPV is very helpful, especially to kids before they become sexually active.