Clueless on STDs, Throat Cancer, and Oral Sex

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I wanted to reach out and share a few free resources, they are a series of info graphics with information on how discuss testing for STDs in a relationship. There are different sheets for Chlamydia, Gonorrhea, Genital Herpes, HIV, and Syphilis
You can view and download the resources here:
http://getstdtested.com/std-testing-guide

Jessica of IL 12:58PM December 30, 2011

I am glad that this is out in public!
I do treat lots of oral cancers in young adults who never smoked - all of them are HPV-related. It is time to talk!

MD of IL 4:24PM January 11, 2011

I think Darla has missed the point. Of course no sex is the best protection from sexually transmitted diseases, and keeping it within the confines of a long term marriage is probably best for individuals and society.
"Kids", however, have been sneaking behind the bushes for much, much longer than our so-called "sexual revolution". And adults have either been ignoring it or have been lecturing, attaching chastity belts, and all other manner of discouragements for just as long, either with only modest success.
I can imagine, however, the benefits of a thorough description of HPV transmission in a high school health class. "Gross!" That just might persuade some young people to back off.
This, of course, also depends on if the religious right would not protest sex education in our schools. "Protecting" our kids in that way is no protection at all.

Mark Backlund of WA 10:14AM October 12, 2010

How does "protection" even figure in oral sex since it would almost completely eradicate the very stimulation desired. When will the medical community admit, they can't "protect" people who choose to engage in sexual activity with multiple partners no matter how much latex and vaccine they promote. It's also past time for the aging leaders of the sexual revolution to grow up and admit that their philosophy of free sex outside the physical protection of mutual monogamy (i.e. marriage) has been a devastatingly bad idea. And could they possibly be compelled to admit that the "puritanical" notion of both partners keeping sex and sexual activity within that boundary was and still is truely the only "safe sex"?

Darla of FL 9:19AM September 14, 2010

@Ricky - men *ARE* "bathing their tonsils in fluid" when they are "down there".
I'm a specialist in HPV. A woman's vulva, vagina, and cervix harbor disease far more so than a penis - that's just how it works physiologically. So, when a man is doing his business "down there" on a woman, he's literally consuming whatever is in her - bathing his tonsils in her fluid - literally whatever types of HPV other men have deposited he gets in his mouth. If he picks up HPV type 16 or 18, he could be in serious trouble later in life.

PatrickH of NY 4:58AM September 10, 2010

80% of women in the U.S. will have HPV (at least one type) by the time they're 50. I'm a specialist in HPV and I can tell you - the IDEAL situation in life is to wait until marriage, have sex only with your mate, and remain faithful for life. Each time you have another sexual partner you increase your risk of getting HPV type 6, 11, 16, or 18 - types 16 and 18 cause the vast majority of cervical, vulvar, vaginal, and throat cancers.
Wake up people! Sleeping around CAN kill you - literally!!!
*Every man and woman under 50 should be allowed by their insurance company to get Gardasil. Why the FDA hasn't already approved Gardasil for men up to age 50 is outrageous.

PatrickH of NY 4:51AM September 10, 2010

" But, when it comes to HPV-related tonsil and tongue cancer, men are at greater risk than women. "
So, what exactly are we saying here.. that even tho, in hetero oral sex interaction, women are more likely to have "bathed the tonsils in HPV-infected fluid", but men are more at risk of the cancer caused by HPV?
meaning..... tho men are not "bathing their tonsils in fluid", they're more at risk?
Or... are we referring to those men who ARE "bathing their tonsils in fluid", referring to non-hetero interaction?
Please, to 'splain, Lucy.

chuck of KY 9:25PM September 01, 2010

maybe if they had morals this wouldnt have turned into what
is becoming an epidemic

JOSEPH CANTONE of FL 8:33AM February 22, 2010

As a victim and lucky so far survivor of throat cancer. I believe this should be approved for use in every one under 50 ASAP. A shot instead of 35 radiation treatments Cisplatin and Cetuximab, would have been great. A ounce of prevention instead of a pound of cure. I have little saliva lost my teeth, difficulty swallowing, and have to take thyroid meds for the rest of my life thanks to this terrible, but preventable with the vaccine disease.

Joe Ripp of WA 1:52AM February 18, 2010

i'm 14 and i totally agree oral sex is scary nd so is sex thats why you wait or idk do it with some one who hasnt had sex either but thats a dumb idea.teenage sex or oral sex can lead to way worse thingsss so thtas why you just gotta learn to keep you pants on and mouth closed haha yeah thats my opinion. but these days guys pressure girls to do thintgs that they don't wanna do and girls sometimes don't know how to say NO! so thats a reason why stds are travelling

chris of CA 8:26PM February 15, 2010