SAFE SEX! You must read this!

If you've ever had oral sex...

That was the beginning of a catchy title of the article I read in Women's Health magazine. Mainly this conversation is for the women folk, BUT if you are a man who cares for your ladies health: read it also.

Did you know that Oral sex can lead to Cancer?

According to the article, 10 years ago, oral cancer among women was unheard of. Most cases were that of men, over 50 and attributed to heavy drinking & smoking...Not the case any longer.

Between 1999 and 2007 HPV related oropharyngeal cancer has risen 28%. This is pretty scary.

Which brings me to the next question? What can we do about it?

One  recommendation is that we vaccinate all girls for the HPV virus by the age of 12 yrs old, but that is very controversial. Safe sex campaigns blamed the spread of the HPV on unprotected vaginal intercourse, but this is no longer the case.

Just how long the HPV virus lingers in the mouth before turning into cancer is unknown, but a significant number of cases aren't caught until the cancer is in the later stages. In this case, knowledge is key.

The scariest part is that 40-60% of men can have the HPV virus at any given time, with less then 1% showing symptoms, Eeewwww.

The Bottom Line:

Watch your mouth and know who's in it!

Still practice safe sex

Oral cancer can show up in tumors, cracks or lesions on your throat, voice box tonsils or tongue. Nearly 40,000 americans will be diagnosed this year.

Be aware, Be careful and watch for the signs.

• Painful sores
• Long term hoarsness or unexplained persistent cough
• Pain of swelling of the lymph nodes or neck lasting longer then 2 weeks
• Changes in your voice or ability to swallow

Twenty-four million Americans may have the human papillomavirus (HPV), yet more than 76 percent of women in the United States have never heard of this sexually transmitted virus which causes virtually 100 percent of all cervical cancers.

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is one of the most common causes of sexually transmitted disease (STD) in the world. Experts estimate that as many as 24 million Americans are infected with HPV, and the frequency of infection and disease appears to be increasing. More than 60 types of HPV have been identified by scientists. Some types of the virus cause common skin warts. About one-third of the HPV types are spread through sexual contact and live only in genital tissue. Low-risk types of HPV cause genital warts, the most recognizable sign of genital HPV infection. Other high-risk types of HPV cause cervical cancer and other genital cancers.

For the entire article, pick up Women's Health Magazine: Nov, 2010 edition.
For JUST the facts, visit the CDC site for all the info: http://www.cdc.gov/hpv/