Actor Michael Douglas made headlines on Monday after telling The Guardian that his throat cancer may have been caused by the human papilloma virus transmitted through MouthAction.

The link between MouthAction, HPV and cancer has been receiving more attention in recent years.

HPV is a virus that's transmitted through sexual contact -- genital or oral. There are more than 40 types, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, USA.

"HPV is so common that nearly all sexually active men and women will get at least one type of HPV at some point in their lives," the CDC's website states. "In most cases, the virus goes away and it does not lead to any health problems. There is no certain way to know which people infected with HPV will go on to develop cancer."

Douglas' publicist told CNN that the actor did not intend to point to HPV as the sole cause of his throat cancer, but was suggesting it as one possible cause.

Did MouthAction bring about Michael Douglas' cancer diagnosis? Not exactly

HPV is thought to cause 1,700 oropharyngeal, or throat, cancers in women and 6,700 oropharyngeal cancers in men each year, according to the CDC. Tobacco and alcohol use may play a role in who develops cancer from the virus, the government agency notes.

The virus is transmissible regardless of whether the sexual contact is heterosexual or homosexual.

"Patients with HPV - positive cancers have better survival rates," Dr. Anil Chaturvedi of the National Cancer Institute told CNN in 2011. "The precise reasons for the survival benefits are not clear, but tumors in HPV - positive patients tend to have less genetic damage. Because of that, they are more responsive to cancer therapies like radiation treatment."

The CDC and the American Academy of Pediatrics recommend both boys and girls get the HPV vaccine between the ages of 11 and 12. Doctors say the vaccine is most effective if administered before a child becomes sexually active.

HPV has also been linked to cervical cancer, penile cancer and anal cancer, according to the CDC. The HPV vaccine prevents the most common types of the virus.

Of course, HPV is not the only danger of having unprotected MouthAction. Sexually transmitted diseases like herpes, syphilis, gonorrhea and HIV can be also spread through the act.

To stay safe, the it is recommended teens stay clear of sexual intercourse.

"The good news is that all STIs are preventable and most are curable," writes Gail Bolan, the CDC's director of STD prevention division. "But, because most STIs have no symptoms, testing is the necessary first step to treatment." https://www.passnownow.com/new.php?id=710