Editorial: Oral sex could cause cancer

Oral sex sure does have its benefits — the best non-pleasure-related benefit being that it… Oral sex sure does have its benefits — the best non-pleasure-related benefit being that it never results in a baby.

Unfortunately, many fail to recognize that oral sex isn’t a sure and safe thing in other arenas.

According to physorg.com, a science news site, researchers have found a 225 percent increase in oral cancer because of human papillomaviruses since 1974. Specifically, the researchers found that the risk for oral cancer increases with additional oral sex partners.

“You are what you eat” prevails again.

We think the connection between oral cancer and HPV is of particular relevance to students in college — a time when too many shots of tequila can loosen people up enough to get them on their knees and into trouble.

A 2010 survey of 1,770 Yale students found that 75.3 percent of students had engaged in oral sex with someone — more than 10 percent more than the number of students who had sexual intercourse.

But the newfound potential dangers of oral sex mean we students need to consider our oral sexual decisions as seriously as we would our more “penetrating” decisions. Note: Oral does not mean safer when it comes to sexually transmitted infections. Contraceptives are still required to prevent STIs even if both genitals aren’t invited to the party. Protection might not taste good, but what you were eating before wasn’t exactly a cheesecake, and it sure tastes better than HPV and possibly cancer.

After all, half of all sexually active Americans will contract HPV at some point in their lives, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have estimated. And though two vaccines have been approved by the FDA for HPV, only 40 percent of females in the United States have received one dose, and only 17 percent have received the required three doses.

If you’re interested in the vaccine, Student Health Services at Pitt offers the Gardasil HPV vaccine free to registered students younger than the age of 26. The vaccine is given in a three-dose series spanning six months and can prevent most cases of genital warts and cervical cancer, according to Student Health. Call 412-383-1800 or check out the Student Health website for more information.

And since vaccination is always controversial, an even simpler way to protect yourself is to put yourself on a simple oral sex diet and watch what you eat.