Ronnie Mugizi

Pulse Contributor

A new study reveals a sharp rise in deaths from the disease since the Covid pandemic, with nearly a 50 per cent increase in cases since 2013. Data from Cancer Research UK shows that head and neck cancer rates have surged by over a third since the early 90s, with women aged 25 to 49 experiencing a 60 per cent increase from 1993 to 2019, and men seeing a 34 per cent rise.

The main causes of these cancers include smoking, alcohol, and the sexually transmitted human papillomavirus (HPV). The Office for Health Improvement and Disparities (OHID) and the University of Sheffield analysed data, noting that head and neck cancer diagnoses in England rose from 10,735 cases in 2019 to 12,400 cases by 2021. Deaths increased from 3,213 to 3,469 in the same period.

Oropharyngeal cancer, which affects the throat, tonsils, and back of the tongue, is a major contributor to the rising numbers, with cases up by 47 per cent since 2013. HPV, often transmitted through oral sex, is responsible for around 70 per cent of throat cancer cases. Dr Hisham Mehanna of the University of Birmingham highlighted that having multiple oral sex partners significantly increases the risk, with research dubbing the situation an "epidemic."

Although HPV is generally harmless and affects eight in ten people at some point, certain strains can cause cancer. The HPV vaccine, available for children aged 11 to 12, has proven over 80 per cent effective at reducing these cancer rates. Yet, vaccination uptake has dropped, with only 67.2 per cent of girls and 62.4 per cent of boys fully vaccinated in 2021/22.

Professor Ali Khurram from the University of Sheffield stressed the devastating impact of head and neck cancer, calling for increased awareness and action to address these alarming trends.

Doctors report a troubling increase in throat cancer cases among younger patients, attributing this trend to the prevalence of oral sex.

Doctors warn of rise in throat cancer cases linked to oral sex

The billionaire SpaceX and Tesla CEO aims to send astronauts to Mars on his colossal Starship rocket by the end of this decade. Eventually, Musk hopes men and women will establish a colony and reproduce to grow the Martian population.

However, scientists warn that the obstacles to having sex on Mars make this vision highly improbable. Bioscientist Kelly Weinersmith, co-author of A City on Mars with her husband Zac, told The Times that people who want to populate Mars "don’t understand how reproduction works." She remarked, "These billionaires think it’s an engineering problem. They think if they get a rocket that’s big enough, biology will take care of itself – but it won’t."

Attempting conception in space could harm unborn babies, whether on Mars or the ISS. Weinersmith’s book addresses the complexities of recreational and procreational sex on Mars, where gravity is just 38% of Earth's. Such a low-gravity environment could hinder sperm movement or embryonic development. Additionally, Mars lacks an atmosphere and ozone layer, exposing the surface to radiation that could damage DNA, causing mutations in the womb.

Even if births were successful, Mars’ harsh conditions make it unsuitable for raising children. Ethical concerns and the need for genetic diversity also pose significant challenges. A founding population would require hundreds of humans, and AI may need to match couples based on genetic compatibility.

David Cullen, a professor of astrobiology at Cranfield University, highlighted the urgent need to address unanswered questions about sex and reproduction in space. He pointed to concerns about the effects of altered gravity on human development, noting the musculoskeletal impact from childhood through adolescence.

While Musk aims to make humans a “multiplanetary” species to mitigate civilization-ending disasters, scientists remain sceptical. Despite SpaceX’s ambitious plans to launch cargo to Mars as early as 2026 and send humans by 2028, the biological challenges remain daunting.

Attempting conception in space could harm unborn babies, whether on Mars or the ISS.

However, scientists warn that the obstacles to having sex on Mars make this vision highly improbable.

The embarrassing setbacks of sex on MARS

Psychologists developed the scale due to concerns that excessive use of adult material can significantly harm health.

The test helps therapists diagnose problematic pornography use (PPU), where someone struggles to control their urge to watch porn, even when it negatively impacts their life.

Doctors insist that porn consumption can be part of a healthy sex life. However, PPU is on the rise and is linked to a range of conditions, including erectile dysfunction, anxiety, depression, and withdrawal symptoms. Nine in ten adults now admit to viewing adult material.

The UK has the second-highest incidence of internet porn searches in the world, with an average of 16.6 million porn searches each month.

Meanwhile, two-thirds of young people now regularly use online pornography, according to Paracelsus Recovery, a leading mental health and addiction clinic.

A quarter of 16 to 21-year-olds first encountered pornography on the internet while still at primary school. By the age of 13, 50 per cent had been exposed to it.

Some research suggests that one in ten adults may now suffer from PPU, with even higher numbers among young people. They may watch porn for up to 12 hours a week.

International experts, including academics from Nottingham Trent University, created the Problematic Pornography Consumption Scale by surveying hundreds of porn users of both sexes. Men were found to be more likely to score highly than women, regardless of sexual orientation.

The outcome was an 18-point questionnaire that can be completed at home, which is featured here. The developers claim the result is 98 per cent accurate in determining whether a person suffers from PPU.

Roughly four per cent of participants in the study fell into the 'at risk' category for PPU, the experts reported.

Answer the following questions and rate them by how much you feel they apply to you, from 1 to 7:

1 = never, 2 = rarely, 3 = occasionally, 4 = sometimes, 5 = often, 6 = very often, 7 = all the time

<ol><li>I felt that porn is an important part of my life.</li><li>I used porn to restore the tranquillity of my feelings.</li><li>I felt porn caused problems in my sexual life.</li><li>I felt that I had to watch more and more porn for satisfaction.</li><li>I unsuccessfully tried to reduce the amount of porn I watch.</li><li>I became stressed when something prevented me from watching porn.</li><li>I thought about how good it would be to watch porn.</li><li>Watching porn got rid of my negative feelings.</li><li>Watching porn prevented me from bringing out the best in myself.</li><li>I felt that I needed more and more porn to satisfy my needs.</li><li>When I vowed not to watch porn anymore, I could only stick to it briefly.</li><li>I became agitated when I was unable to watch porn.</li><li>I continually planned when to watch porn.</li><li>I relieved my tension by watching porn.</li><li>I neglected other leisure activities due to watching porn.</li><li>I gradually watched more 'extreme' porn because what I watched before was less satisfying.</li><li>I resisted watching porn for only a short time before I relapsed.</li><li>I missed porn greatly when I didn’t watch it for a while.</li></ol>

Add up your score. A score of 76 or greater suggests problematic levels of pornography use.

Earlier, MailOnline reported that regular porn users who try to quit abruptly can suffer withdrawal-like symptoms, such as headaches, chills, and nausea.

After reviewing 14 separate studies, they concluded that 72 per cent of people with PPU experience withdrawal.

One study found 57 per cent of participants experienced cravings, while 52 per cent also experienced heightened emotions, difficulties with focus, and nervousness.

A smaller number, about one in 20, reported sleep difficulties, headaches, sweating, chills, and nausea when they tried to quit porn.

Other studies found participants abstaining self-reported symptoms such as depression, brain fog, loneliness, and restlessness.

The review’s authors called for further research to investigate the onset, characteristics, duration, and prevalence of withdrawal-like symptoms.

Psychologists developed the scale due to concerns that excessive use of adult material can significantly harm health.

The test helps therapists diagnose problematic pornography use (PPU), where someone struggles to control their urge to watch porn, even when it negatively impacts their life.

Simple test reveals if you might be watching too much porn

In response to the growing number of threats faced by individuals worldwide, German sexual health brand BILLY BOY has partnered with agency Innocean Berlin to create a first-of-its-kind digital condom designed to prevent non-consensual recording during sex.

Developers say the CAMDOM app is “as easy to use as a regular condom” and protects users against the stealth recording of photos, audio, and video by locking the cameras and microphones of all devices present in the bedroom.

To activate it, sexual partners place their phones close together and swipe down on a virtual button to lock their devices during intimate moments.

If one person attempts to break the lock prematurely to secretly document the encounter, an alarm will sound to alert others of the potential threat of non-consensual recording.

The button must be pressed simultaneously by all participants to unblock the camera and microphone.

The “digital condom for the digital generation” was developed by Felipe Almeida and can block as many devices as necessary.

Almeida said: “Nowadays, smartphones have become an extension of our bodies, and we store a lot of sensitive data on them.

“To protect against the recording of non-consensual content, we’ve created the first app that can block your camera and mic simply through the use of Bluetooth.”

Brand manager Alexander Strümann explained: “BILLY BOY is a brand known for protecting people in the analogue world. We wanted to take the next step and protect the digital generation from a threat that a regular condom can’t tackle, but a digital one can: namely, the leakage of non-consensual media during sex.”

CAMDOM by BILLY BOY is now available on Android and will be launching soon on iOS.

Revenge porn—the sharing of private, sexual photos or videos of another person—is on the rise in the UK, with reports increasing by 106 per cent from 2022 to 2023.

Digital condom launched to block non-consensual recording during sex

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Ronnie Mugizi

Articles written by the author

Doctors warn of rise in throat cancer cases linked to oral sex

The embarrassing setbacks of sex on MARS

Simple test reveals if you might be watching too much porn

Digital condom launched to block non-consensual recording during sex