News Finding: Declines in the frequency of vaginal and oral sexual behaviors occurred irrespective of tumor HPV status.
Paper Finding: Forty-eight percent believed that they would be less likely to get HNC if they had received the HPV vaccine, but 48% responded "don't know."
News Context: Investigators also found that abstinence from vaginal sex significantly increased from 10% at baseline to 34% at 6 months (P <.01) and abstinence from oral sex increased from 25% to 80% (P <.01). Declines in the frequency of vaginal and oral sexual behaviors occurred irrespective of tumor HPV status. The findings ultimately suggest that a diagnosis of oropharyngeal cancer can have significant negative effects on sexual behavior.
Paper Context: Notably, 28% of partners perceived that they were higher risk for HNC, and 25% perceived that they were higher risk for HPV infection compared with other individuals their age. Forty-eight percent believed that they would be less likely to get HNC if they had received the HPV vaccine, but 48% responded "don't know." No statistically significant differences were observed between responses at baseline and at the 6-month follow-up time point.