HPV

Oral sex might be the new smoking. New research has found that oral sex may cause more cases of throat cancer in men than smoking thanks to HPV transmissions. In 2004, HPV caused 2.6 cases of throat cancer per 100,000 people, compared to .8 cases per 100,000 people in 1998. At this rate, by 2020 HPV will result in more throat cancer in both men and women than cervical cancer.

What's making the rate go up? A higher rate of going down. Cancer researchers told the New York Times that younger people are having more oral sex because they think it's safer than intercourse. In addition to increasing awareness about the risks associated with oral sex, there may be another solution already available.

The HPV vaccines currently recommended for girls could probably help prevent throat cancer when given to boys. Vaccine companies would have to test the drugs for that purpose specifically, and then health professionals would have to convince parents to vaccinate their boys against HPV. But maybe that would be easier than it's been to vaccinate girls against a potentially deadly, yet common STD, since society doesn't have the same hang-ups with male sexuality.

The writers of Saturday Night Live's fake commercials have come up with a product that could end HPV: Lil Poundcake, a doll that administers the Gardasil vaccine to unsuspecting girls under the age of 10. Melissa McCarthy rocked her first hosting appearance this Saturday, but between watching the recent Emmy winner give it her all alongside Bridesmaid costar Kristen Wiig, we couldn't help but laugh at this vaccine-injecting doll. The spot channels recent debates and misinformation about the HPV vaccine, which can prevent cervical cancer, as some find it problematic to vaccinate young girls against an STD. Check it out.

DrSugar is in the house! This week she's answering a question about preventing the spread of HPV.

Dear DrSugar,
I am sooooo scared about this. Just had a cervical biopsy and I just tested positive for HPV. I am in a severe panic. I probably gave it to my current boyfriend. Can we keep passing it back and forth to each other? I do not know what to do. So if I have HPV, will definitely get warts or not? Gosh I am paranoid; help me.
Worry Wart

First of all, I'm so glad you asked this question, since human papillomavirus (HPV) is so common. This question is the perfect springboard to discuss HPV and answer your questions specifically. To learn more about HPV, keep reading!

HPV is a tricky STD. It's largely been considered a woman's problem, because its most well-known effect is cervical cancer in women. But suddenly, HPV in men is making headlines not only for causing oral cancer but also anal, penile, head, and neck cancer.

Last week I told you not to freak out, because only a few strains cause cancer, but with another headline today — 50 percent of men have HPV — it's hard not to be concerned. The problem is HPV is so complex, it's hard to portray the true risk: its symptoms range from nothing to a wart on a foot to genital warts to deadly cancer. I am staunchly against nonspecific, fear-based sex ed, but I don't want to be unrealistic about an STD that has the potential to do harm.

So why suddenly has HPV become a man's problem? Science did not just discover it causes mouth, throat, anal, and penile cancer — the National Cancer Institute cites a 2002 study for that fact — but suddenly it's everywhere. Why the media blitz?

In December, Merck, the manufacturer of the HPV vaccine Gardasil, got the FDA's blessing to market the vaccine for the prevention of anal cancer. This opened up a huge market of men, particularly gay men (even though you don't have to have anal sex to get anal cancer through HPV). So, yes, there's a pharmaceutical company behind the media push, but that doesn't mean it's not worth taking seriously. Because, even though the FDA agrees with the drug manufacturer, US health officials have not recommended the vaccine for boys and young men. The result? Doctors aren't ordering it for boys and young men, and patients don't know to ask.

When the vaccine came out in 2007, there was some initial fear that it would give young women a false sense of security, but the truth is it helps prevent four troublesome strains. Find out which below.

This is exactly the type of fear-mongering PSA I predicted Monday when the news came out that one strand (out of 130) of HPV can be transmitted through oral sex and cause oral cancers: an attack on all HPV. But it's in Taiwanese, so it's kind of awesome. Especially when an old man's heart-shaped sunglasses turn into a 69. Besides, it's not technically a PSA, just a humor video by Next Media Animation.

The video does make a good point, anyway. HPV is not very well understood. Until now, it was basically considered a women's problem, because the only known cancer it caused was cervical, but men have mouths and throats, too. So, yes, absolutely, more research should be done. For all we know, watching porn too closely could transmit an HPV strand associated with brain cancer.

Oh, HPV. There are 130 types of you, but a few spiteful strains won't quit. While various lead to genital warts, only a few like HPV-16 and 18 can cause cervical cancer. Now researchers say HPV-16, transmitted through oral sex, can cause oral cancer. So HPV-16 is a monster, worse than 18, but there are still plenty of strains of HPV that don't cause cervical or oral cancer.

I'm not saying don't be safe, though 81 percent of you said you don't use condoms for oral sex. But since public health officials aren't hyperspecific about actual risk or transmission, it's easy to say "well, we're all screwed" or be completely paralyzed into total fear of all sex (I've seen it).

Here are the facts: about 64 percent of oropharynx cancers (the middle part of the throat) in the US are caused by one HPV strain (HPV-16) not by all HPV. The risk of oropharnyx cancer rises with the number of people someone's performed oral sex on, as is true for any other cancer-causing STD. The real takeaway here is that HPV-16 can cause not just cervical cancer but also oral, so we really should be talking about specific strains and not pinning it all on the very vague and common HPV.

Researchers say it's too soon to tell if the current HPV vaccine will prevent against oral cancer, but since it's targeting the same HPV strain many believe it will. This news shouldn't be used to terrify kids. Instead it should serve as a reminder that the HPV vaccine — one of the many services Planned Parenthood provides besides abortion — is important, and that while oral cancer is not rampant, oral sex does come with risk.

This question comes from a Group Therapy post in our TrèsSugar Community. Add your advice in the comments!

I am a smart, healthy 25-year-old female, who has been vaccinated (gardisil) for HPV, has never had an STD, and gets paps regularly. I am considering dating a guy who has told me that he just found out he has HPV. I've researched and can't seem to find an answer, so I'm hoping someone here might have a word of advice.

In my research I found that the vaccination I had only protects against 4 types of HPV and there are about 90 types. I also discovered it's transferred just by contact, even if there isn't intercourse, therefore, that condoms can't be trusted for preventing contraction of HPV. Then I learned that an estimated 75-80% of people will contract it at some point in their life. I don't want to get HPV or be unsafe. I think my gut is telling me not to continue on with this guy because of this (and because if I am going to be in a relationship, sex is going to need to be a part of it). What do you think? I am over-thinking this? Should I just avoid the situation all together? I'm honestly really hoping for some responses! Thanks!

Have a dilemma of your own? Post it, anonymously, to Group Therapy for advice, and check out what else is happening in the TrèsSugar Community.