A new study suggests that oral sex might increase the risk of dementia when herpes is a factor. We break down the risks and explain how to decrease them.
Few carnal delights in life rival the primal pleasure of indulging in a feast of the flesh, and for most horndogs, there’s no finer dining experience than the sexual smorgasbord of going down on one’s partner. Yep, welcome to the Crotch-er Barrel, where there’s only one thing on the menu. Sure, it can get a little hairy, but that’s just part of the dining experience. Yet, that experience might come with an aftermath more serious than a case of heartburn, warns a new study from the University of Illinois Chicago (UIC).
Researchers at UIC have deduced that oral sex—and even kissing—might possibly increase the risk of dementia. The reason is the herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1), the virus that causes cold sores on the mouth, lips and sometimes genitals—and also increases the risk of neurodegenerative diseases, with Alzheimer’s being among the threats. When the herpes virus is transmitted nasally—which could occur while performing oral sex on someone with genital herpes—it has a more direct path to the infected person’s nervous system, increasing the risk of cognitive issues. And since approximately 67% of the global population under 50 has some form of HSV-1, according to the World Health Organization, humping humanity might want to be a little more careful when it comes to going down. “Maybe that’s why I forget stuff so much,” Carl, 52, tells HUSTLERMagazine.com. “I’ve been doing that a long time.”
“People assume that if there are no symptoms, they’re in the clear as far as STIs. The reality is that people can have herpes and show little to no symptoms.”
Emily Depasse
Even so, cases of nasal herpes are rare. And according to our own research, not everyone is daunted by the prospect of developing dementia from oral sex. “If going downtown is gonna scramble my brain, then so be it,” says Randy, 47. Nonetheless, scientists assert that repeated exposure to HSV-1 could accelerate cognitive decline, meaning that lovebirds who fly south together might be playing a long game of neurological roulette. Still, for many, the risk of forgetting where they put their car keys pales in comparison to the rewards of having a pretty lady use their knees to put them in a headlock. “If I wake up one day and don’t remember a damn thing, at least I’ll know I had a hell of a time getting there,” Randy adds.
