The Queen of Hearts

“Fellatio reduces risk of breast cancer” and other myths men make up

Once again, it boils down to: Don’t believe everything you read.

While the internet has greatly increased the exposure of information and health stories, there's a long history of such false reports appearing in the press.

Like this one, written by Brandon Williamson, a student, who made it appear like it’s a CNN health bulletin item. He eventually owned up, apologizing to his university, to CNN and to "all men who did not take advantage of this article in time to get head".

"Fellatio reduces risk of breast cancer." made news around the world. The story was published in newspapers from Chile to Croatia, reporting that women who swallow semen regularly, once or twice a week, may reduce their risk of breast cancer by up to 40 per cent, according to a North Carolina State University study.

One of the researchers, Dr Helena Shifteer, was quoted saying that since the results have been known: "I try to fellate at least once every other night to reduce my chances."

And yes, it was a hoax. And a mighty successful one. The website that posted the original article received more than 667,000 hits on a single day soon after the story broke.

Williamson wasn't the first.

Another favourite is a story that appeared years ago, claiming to be from The New England Journal of Medicine, entitled Ogling Breasts Makes Men Live Longer.
The main thrust of these stories is that sex is good for you. That oral sex is good for you and swallowing is even better.

Back in the real world of proper science, there is actually a growing body of evidence that supports some of these fantasies. For a start there's: Oral Sex Makes Pregnancies Safer. It's true, according to Professor Gus Dekker, a maternal-foetal medicine specialist at the University of Adelaide. Dekker compared 41 pregnant women with pre-eclampsia - a condition where the mother's blood pressure soars during pregnancy - to 44 without. He found 82 per cent of those without the condition practised fellatio compared with 44 per cent of those with it.

There's also research suggesting regular sex can improve sense of smell, reduce risk of heart disease, aid in weight loss, pain relief and soothing PMS symptoms, and even help people live longer.

The work never stops. Across the world male scientists are trying to prove to women that they need it. Often.

Source

posted by Queen of Hearts @ 06:07