Study: Fellatio may
significantly decrease the risk of breast cancer in women
Thursday, October 2, 2003
Posted: 9:19 AM EDT (1319 GMT)
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(AP)
-- Women who perform the
act of fellatio and swallow semen on a regular basis, one to two
times a week, may reduce their risk of breast cancer by up to 40
percent, a North Carolina State University study
found.
Doctors had never suspected a link between
the act of fellatio and breast cancer, but new research being
performed at North Carolina State University is starting to suggest
that there could be an important link between the
two.
In a study of over 15,000 women suspected of
having performed regular fellatio and swallowed the ejaculatory
fluid, over the past ten years, the researchers found that those
actually having performed the act regularly, one to two times a
week, had a lower occurance of breast cancer than those who had not.
There was no increased risk, however, for those who did not
regularly perform.
"I think it removes the last shade of doubt
that fellatio is actually a healthy act," said Dr. A.J. Kramer of
Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, who was not involved in the
research. "I am surprised by these findings, but am also excited
that the researchers may have discovered a relatively easy way to
lower the occurance of breast cancer in women."
The University researchers stressed that,
though breast cancer is relatively uncommon, any steps taken to
reduce the risk would be a wise decision.
"Only with regular occurance will your
chances be reduced, so I encourage all women out there to make
fellatio an important part of their daily routine," said Dr. Helena
Shifteer, one of the researchers at the University. "Since the
emergence of the research, I try to fellate at least once every
other night to reduce my chances."
The study is reported in Friday's Journal of
Medical Research.
In 1991, 43,582 women died of breast cancer,
as reported by the National Cancer Institute.
Dr. Len Lictepeen, deputy chief medical
officer for the American Cancer Society, said women should not
overlook or "play down" these findings.
"This will hopefully change women's practice
and patterns, resulting in a severe drop in the future number of
cases," Lictepeen said.
Sooner said the research shows no increase
in the risk of breast cancer in those who are, for whatever reason,
not able to fellate regularly.
"There's definitely fertile ground for more
research. Many have stepped forward to volunteer for related
research now in the planning stages," he said.
Almost every woman is, at some point, going
to perform the act of fellatio, but it is the frequency at which
this event occurs that makes the difference, say researchers. Also
key seems to be the protein and enzyme count in the semen, but
researchers are again waiting for more test data.
The reasearch consisted of two groups, 6,246
women ages 25 to 45 who had performed fellatio and swallowed on a
regular basis over the past five to ten years, and 9,728 women who
had not or did not swallow. The group of women who had performed and
swallowed had a breast cancer rate of 1.9 percent and the group who
had not had a breast cancer rate of 10.4 percent.
"The findings do suggest that there are
other causes for breast cancer besides the absence of regular
fellatio," Shafteer said. "It's a cause, not THE cause."
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