Oral sex carries risk of HPV and cancer

Montreal Gazette quoting the National Institute of Health ^ | October 31, 2002

[hocndoc]

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_10158.html

Oral sex isn't safe sex, especially for women, Montreal conference told

Canadian Press

Thursday, October 31, 2002

MONTREAL (CP) - Engaging in oral sex doesn't mean practising safe sex - and that's especially true for women, a Montreal public-health physician warned Thursday at a national conference. Dr. Marc Steben, an expert on infectious diseases, said that women are at heightened risk of contracting the human papilloma virus through oral sex.

There are different strains of the virus, HPV for short, and they are considered the most common of sexually transmitted diseases.

One strain causes genital warts, while HPV 16 can lead to cervical cancer. In rare instances, HPV 16 has been linked to cancer of the tonsils, the tongue and the esophagus.

"We've heard from Bill Clinton that oral sex is not sex, or that it doesn't carry consequences, but we know now that the human papilloma virus can be transmitted by the mouth during oral sex," Steben told reporters.

Steben made the comments after a presentation in Montreal at the 74th Congress of the association of Canadian French-language doctors.

It's estimated that 30 per cent of women under the age of 30 have contracted HPV. Furthermore, one in three North American adults - men included - will have contracted the virus at one point during their lives.

The vast majority of people carrying HPV don't show any symptoms and are not even aware that they might be infected. For women, a Pap smear can detect the presence of HPV.

Steben urged more women to get Pap tests, even those over the age of 35.

The Pap test can detect dysplasia, or pre-cancerous cells. Dysplasia is not cancer, but it might turn into cancer over several years if untreated.

A study published this month in the Canadian Medical Association Journal showed that a group of Ontario women 45 to 49 had the highest prevalence of carcinogenic HPV.

Up to 98 per cent of those who contract the virus are able to get rid of it within two years, Steben said. Still, those who do get rid of it can get re-infected with a different strain during sex with another partner.

Steben recommended that if women engage in oral sex, they require that their male partner wear a condom.

(Montreal Gazette)

[LasVegasMac]

Do cars even have pistons and cylinders today?

Yes, they still do. But on a sad note, they are all infected with MTB.

LVM

[LasVegasMac]

I was attempting to think of an appropriate addition to this thread.

Then I saw your picture.

Priceless!

and saved for the archive file!

LVM

[sit-rep]

Steben recommended that if women engage in oral sex, they require that their male partner wear a condom.

Bummer...

SR

[hocndoc]

It's the truth. Women in monogamous relationships, who have normal exams 3 years in a row may decide (with their doctors) to go 2 to 5 years between exams.
You may find it difficult to take seriously, but that's only because no one's explained the connection to you, before.


Cervical cancer is caused by Human Papilloma Virus. 98% to 99% of all cervical cancers are positive for the virus (some believe 100%:
http://www.medinstitute.org/annotbibliog/Articles%20A/a_6.htm
"Walboomers JM, Jacobs MV, Manos MM, et al. Human papillomavirus is a necessary cause of invasive cervical cancer worldwide. J Pathology. 1999;189:12-19." )

Cervical cancer is the result of an STD. The pap smear tests for the early results of HPV.

(BTW, I'm a female Family Practitioner.)

[KneelBeforeZod]

OLD news. Herpes is a risk too, from cold sores.

[KarlInOhio]

Is this your dog?

[Chad Fairbanks]

So, women in monogamous relationships never get cervical cancer???

[IncPen]

If she smokes I could get results in 6 months.....!!!!!!

You know Mustang Sally?

[hocndoc]

Sure, if infected before marriage, or if their partners were infected. (It's another one of those things that can happen the first time.)

Besides the risk of cancer, surgery, death, and all those *fun* pap smears, think of the costs (from "Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Prevention of genital HPV infection and sequelae: Report of an external
consultants’ meeting. December 1999. Available at: http://www.cdc.gov/nchstp/dstd/dstdp.html. ):
"(4) Over 50 percent of sexually active women have been infected with one or more types of genital HPV.

(5) Approximately 15 percent of sexually active women are currently infected, and 50 to 75 percent of those are infected with high-risk
types more likely to lead to cancer.

(6) There are 400,000 to 500,000 cases of cervical cancer per year worldwide

(7) There are approximately 14,000 cases of cervical cancer and 5,000 deaths from cervical cancer each year in the United States

(8) There are more than 2.5 million abnormal Pap smears per year in the United States

(9) The annual economic burden of genital HPV infection in the U.S. is between $1.6 billion and $6 billion, making it the second most
costly STD after HIV.

(10) Condoms are likely to be less effective for prevention of HPV than for preventing STDs that are transmitted via body fluids."
http://www.medinstitute.org/medical/index.htm

[APBaer]

Blow The Man Down

Oh, blow the man down, bullies, blow the man down
Way aye blow the man down
Oh, blow the man down, bullies, blow him away
Give me some time to blow the man down!

As I was a walking down Paradise Street
Way aye blow the man down
A pretty young damsel I chanced for to meet.
Give me some time to blow the man down!

She was round in the counter and bluff in the bow,
Way aye blow the man down
So I took in all sail and cried, "Way enough now."
Give me some time to blow the man down!

So I tailed her my flipper and took her in tow
Way aye blow the man down
And yardarm to yardarm away we did go.
Give me some time to blow the man down!

But as we were going she said unto me
Way aye blow the man down
"There's a spanking full-rigger just ready for sea."
Give me some time to blow the man down!

But as soon as that packet was clear of the bar
Way aye blow the man down
The mate knocked me down with the end of a spar.
Give me some time to blow the man down!

It's starboard and larboard on deck you will sprawl
Way aye blow the man down
For Kicking Jack Williams commands the Black Ball.
Give me some time to blow the man down!

So I give you fair warning before we belay,
Way aye blow the man down
Don't ever take head of what pretty girls say.
Give me some time to blow the man down!

[hocndoc]

I guess a bump is a bump.

I hop you learn a little while you're here. (And never have to hold anyone's hand while they wait for the pathology report.)

[hocndoc]

"Hope.."

[APBaer]

Rx:

1 large chill pill, as often as necessary.

[hocndoc]

Thanks for the bump. But, this is a behavior, not medicine.

I guess you could count it as the best medicine: preventative, to convince girls, boys, men and women that they don't want to risk their health and hearts. Or the health of their future spouses.

Wonder why so many of you are bothered to know that cervical cancer is due to an STD?