Can sex cause breast cancer and will the cervical cancer vaccine offer protection against breast cancer? The human papilloma virus (HPV) known to increase cervical cancer risk might also be responsible for increasing breast cancer risk, according to a small study conducted by University of New South Wales researchers. HPV was discovered in the DNA of breast cancer tumors in almost half of the 50 women who participated in the study.

Researchers went on to indicate that women affected by HPV were approximately eight years younger at the time of breast cancer diagnosis than women who were not affected by HPV. They went on to speculate that HPV is not only spread through sexual activity but can be spread while bathing as the virus can be transferred from the genital area to the breasts.

Professor James Lawson of the University of New South Wales explained that "We know that the virus explodes out of the cell and is spread by touch, so it's fairly obvious that it could be spread by sexual activity to the breast, you could also argue that it would be spread by washing and bathing."

Because the study was a small one, Australia's National Breast Cancer Centre director Dr. Helen Zorbas is hesitant to accept the study as conclusive in showing a link between HPV and breast cancer. "There are a lot of hypotheses into what may cause breast cancer and it's important that we do research to try to investigate them. But a study of 50 cases is very small."

Women diagnosed with cervical or uterine cancer, or are at higher risk for these cancers, need to require their sexual partners to wear a condom during sex, as semen appears to speed up the progression of cervical and uterine cancer, according to the results of a study done by UK Medical Research Council researchers.

Researchers found that high levels of prostaglandin present in semen might promote and fuel the growth of certain cancers for women. The hormone prostaglandin is produced by the reproductive glands of women and the levels of prostaglandin primarily regulates how much the uterine lining thickens and sheds each month. Semen contains a prostaglandin concentration 1,000 times higher than women normally produce in their own bodies.

The introduction of semen might promote cervical cancer and uterine cancer, as cervical and uterine cancer cells have prostaglandin receptor molecules on their surfaces. While it is known the human papilloma virus (HPV) might lead to cervical cancer, the researchers feel there might be other factors that fuel the development and spread of these cancers for women. Many women are infected with HPV at some point in their life, but not all women will go on to develop cervical cancer from the infection.

A meeting between the FDA and an FDA advisory panel is set for tomorrow to discuss the safety and effectiveness of Gardasil, a Merck experimental vaccine the protects women from human papilloma virus, HPV -- a leading cause of cervical cancer. It is being reported that the FDA normally follows the FDA advisory panel advice in deciding which drugs to approve, and the FDA advisory panel has given a thumbs up for the new cervical cancer vaccine. There is a note of caution. Research has shown that the vaccine can actually raise the risk of cervical cancer if the woman is already infected with HPV at the time she receives the cervical vaccine.