Oral sex linked to mouth cancer

Found on New Scientist on Wednesday, 25 February 2004
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Oral sex can lead to oral tumours. That is the conclusion of researchers who have proved what has long been suspected, that the human papilloma virus can cause oral cancers.

The risk, thankfully, is tiny. Only around 1 in 10,000 people develop oral tumours each year, and most cases are probably caused by two other popular recreational pursuits: smoking and drinking. The researchers are not recommending any changes in behaviour.

Genital HPV infections are common. At any one time, around a third of 25-year-old women in the US are infected. It is thought that only 10 per cent of infections involve cancer-causing strains, and that 95 per cent of women will get rid of the infection within a year. But even this does not explain why so few develop cancer.

What did we learn in school? Always wear a condom. Nobody said when it's ok to take it off... Remember that sticking it somewhere else can also cause ulcer (often called pregnancy). So always evaluate the pros and cons.