Michael Douglas Opens Up About Throat Cancer, Blames HPV from Oral Sex

Michael Douglas has a jaw dropping confession to make. Despite previous reports that the star's throat cancer was caused from hooch and cigarettes, the actor now said that he believes giving oral sex is the culprit.

According to an interview with The Guardian published on Sunday (June 2), Douglas indicated that cancer caused by the human papillomavirus, in particular, is to blame.

"Without wanting to get to specific, this particular cancer is caused by HPV, which actually comes about from cunnilingus," Douglas said, according to the interview.

Douglas also added that the stress from his son's incarceration may have played a role in the problem. "It's a sexually transmitted disease that causes cancer... And if you have it, cunnilingus is also the best cure for it." 

It should be noted that studies testing for a link between cancer and having a sexual partner with HPV didn't show any statistically significant result.

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention shows that HPV is passed through genital contact, which most often includes vaginal and anal sex. However, it can also be contracted during oral sex and genital-to-genital contact.

The website notes the following: "A person can have HPV even if years have passed since he or she had sexual contact with an infected person. Most infected persons do not realize they are infected or that they are passing the virus on to a sex partner. It is also possible to get more than one type of HPV."

HPV is the most common sexually transmitted infection, with more than 40 types that can infect the genital area of males and females and some types, like Douglas', can infect the mouth and the throat.