HPV, which is in a family of cancer-causing viruses, are common. Way more common that anyone expected, actually.
It’s mostly spread through sex, but can be spread through kissing and saliva as well, unfortunately.
Human papillomavirus is a jerk, and it’s most known outcome is cervical cancer (and genital warts), but also can secretly cause throat, tonsil, and tongue base cancers as well.
In her new study, Gillison found that 7% of Americans have a current oral infection with HPV, according to test results from 5,579 Americans ages 14 to 69. That’s higher than Gillison had expected, she says. Her study provides the first major one of oral HPV infection rates for the whole country.
That’s a whole lot of people, folks.
This is exactly why we need to keep up with the HPV vaccine, you guys. Ignore all that fear mongering about it, because it could really save your life and the lives of people you know.
That, and teach safe sex!
[Image via AP Images.]