Some say sex is “sacred”, others believe that it is “a necessary act” in any mutual sexual relationship. No matter the opinion or perspective, or players, sex should be performed safely and responsibly. Unsafe sexual practice is not associated with sexually transmitted infections alone, it can also be a precursor for other life changing medical conditions including mental ill health, infertility and cancers in different parts of our body. Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection acquisition and transmission is directly linked with sexual risk behaviours – vaginal, oral and anal sex in men and women.  When HPV infection persists for a long period without care, it could transform the affected cells into pre-cancer and cancer. HPV-associated cancers are increasing due to the changing pattern of sexual activities including oral and anal sex in men and women.

A team of researchers from the College of Medicine, University of Ibadan (CoMUI), London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, and Catalan Institute of Oncology, recently published a scientific paper in Infectious Agents and Cancers Journal from a collaborative research entitled Sexual Behaviour and HPV Infection in Nigerians in Ibadan - SHINI – study. In this publication, HPV infections were detected in the mouth, cervix, vulvar and anus of women in rural and urban areas of Ibadan. This observation might be a pointer to a likely increase in cancer burden in women in Nigeria.  The team suggests relevant public health messages on the implication and prevention of HPV infections.

 

Read the full article at https://infectagentscancer.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s13027-021-00398-9

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