Throat cancer cases from oral sex are increasing at an alarming rate
By Techyville
According to Professor John Ashton, President of the Faculty of Public Health, United Kingdom, the HPV vaccine that is given to young girls to reduce the number of people suffering from cancers caused by oral stimulation, should also be given to teenage boys.
Ashton went on to say that more needs to be done to educate people about the risks of oral gratification and the possibility of developing cancers. He added that Michael Douglas’ recent comments on the subject had helped to raise people’s awareness.
Ashton continued by stating that, although people are aware that you can get cancer from smoking and drinking, they were unaware of the risk of contracting cancer from unprotected oral sex. He added that teenagers seem to be especially ignorant to this fact.
Australia is already giving teenage boys the HPV vaccine, according to Ashton. He continued that it is important that young people fully understand the dangers of unprotected intercourse of any kind and governments should ensure that they are properly taught about them.
All girls aged between 12 and 13 are currently offered the HPV vaccine in the U.K., but Ashton believes it should include teenage boys and especially young men who engage in homosexual activities. But gay men are not the only ones at risk; heterosexual men are at risk as well.
Dr. Janet Wilson, president of the British Association for Sexual Health and HIV (BASHH), also supports giving the HPV vaccine to teenage boys.
Wilson stated “We need to take action to address the lack of protection men who have s*x with men receive from the current all-girls HPV vaccination program.” She added “There is now widespread agreement, including within Government, that it is unfair that they remain unprotected.”
The Joint Committee on Vaccinations and Immunization is deciding whether to expand the HPV vaccination program, according to Wilson. Reportedly, over 50 percent of s*xually active people are infected with one or more HPV strains at some time in their life and the virus, also called “human papilloma-virus,” is a group containing at least 150 types of viruses.
Over 40 of these viruses can be transmitted by skin-to-skin contact during normal and oral interaction of all kinds. Some strains of the virus cause cancer and others can cause warts.
According to Drugs.com, smokers and heavy drinkers are also at high risk for developing throat cancer. The first symptom of throat cancer is a change in your voice. Other symptoms might include:
According to Drugs.com, smokers and heavy drinkers are also at high risk for developing throat cancer. The first symptom of throat cancer is a change in your voice. Other symptoms might include:
. painful or difficulty swallowing
· a sore throat that doesn’t go away
· a sense of a “lump in the throat” or a constant need to swallow
· swelling or pain in the neck
· enlarged glands (lymph nodes) in the neck
· a chronic cough
· wheezing
· unexplained weight loss
· coughing up blood
