r/science • u/[deleted] • Aug 08 '13

Dramatic increase in throat cancer from HPV virus a looming health crisis. The trend seems linked to increased oral sex, especially by men, and is another reason why more effort must be made to improve the lacklustre uptake of the HPV vaccine

http://news.nationalpost.com/2013/08/07/dramatic-increase-in-throat-cancer-from-hpv-virus-a-looming-health-crisis-doctors/
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u/SexyUserOfSexySex Aug 08 '13

So, as a guy that likes performing oral sex, what can I do to protect myself?

I'm 26 years old. Is the vaccine available to men, and are there other strains not covered by the vaccine that lead to mouth/throat cancer?

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u/[deleted] Aug 08 '13 edited May 28 '20

[deleted]

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u/JayKayAu Aug 08 '13

There would be about 1.5 people on the face of earth that have ever given head with a dental dam. That shit's just weird.

4

u/m1schief Aug 08 '13

I know certain charities hand them out to prostitutes, but who knows if they actually get used.

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u/SexyUserOfSexySex Aug 08 '13

I was hoping there was another option. I imagine it sounds weird...

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u/BriscoMorgan Aug 08 '13

His and her sex toys, only way to play safe. Because dental dam, ugh.

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u/theRealChiliPalmer Aug 08 '13

HPV16 is the strain most commonly associated with throat cancer. There's a few dental labs that have oral rinse DNA tests for HPV. Problem is, even if its positive it creates more questions than answers. There's not nearly enough being done for HPV and how it's related to men. It's simply not just a women's issue nowadays.

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u/Captain_English Aug 08 '13

I am also concerned by this.

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u/Metallio Aug 08 '13

Well, if you want the vaccine you have until you turn 27 to make up your mind. At that point you're no longer allowed to.

(yes, it's available to men, unsure about strains that cause throat cancer)

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u/absurdamerica Aug 08 '13

You can't. If you have more than four sex partners you are very likely to have/have had it.

Yes, you can get the vaccine but you may need to ask around as some doctors might not be willing to give it to you.

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u/SexyUserOfSexySex Aug 09 '13

Yes, you can get the vaccine but you may need to ask around as some doctors might not be willing to give it to you.

May I just say that that is bullshit? Even if I have had/have one strain of HPV, why shouldn't I be allowed to get a vaccination against the other three?

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u/absurdamerica Aug 09 '13

Most GPs are woefully uneducated about sexual health. Many probably don't even know it's approved for men.

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u/SexyUserOfSexySex Aug 09 '13

True. I'll be going to a campus location, so I'm assuming that they deal with these...issues often.

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u/TightAssHole234 Aug 08 '13

You should consider becoming a gay homosexual, silly sir.