More Men Affected by Oral Cancer Virus

The human papillomavirus (HPV) affects almost 15 million Americans , which represents 6.9% of adults and teens in the U.S., according to a Janurary 2012 Journal of the American Medical Association study . This study-from 6000 men and women between the ages of 14and 69 - found that men had a higher rate of HPV infection than women , at least by 6 % . Several strains of this incurable virus are linked to come cancers , and those infected with HPV 16 strain are about 14 times more likely to develop oral cancers than those without HPV infection . The study also led researchers to believe that HPV may be spread by kissing , and that patients who identified themselves as "sexually experienced" were more likely to have HPV than those who identified as "sexually inexperienced". In addition , the study also indicated that most oral HPV infections are sexually transmitted . The researchers found that this data is consisitent with transmission by other sexually-associated conduct such and deep throat kissing and oral sex practices.