According to the findings of a new study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, human papillomazirus virus (HPV) is apparently being transmitted largely through sex rather than kissing or any other form of casual contact.

Revealing that the number of oral infection of HPV is far more than anticipated, the study – which surveyed 5,579 Americans aged between 14 and 69 years – found that 7 percent of the participants were currently infected by the virus.

With the study also noting that 10.1 percent of the participating men and 3.6 percent of the women were infected, it can be inferred that men are apparently three-fold more likely to be detected of the oral HPV infection.

The findings that HPV infections are more common then expected are rather disquieting, especially in the wake of the fact that studies have established a connection between HPV and genital warts, cervical cancer, and throat cancer. It is also believed that the virus can cause vulvar, anal, penile and some other head and neck cancers.

However, protection against HPV is available in the form of two vaccines which have been duly approved by the Food and Drug Administration. It has been proven that the vaccines can offer protection against vaginal, vulvar and anal cancers.

To prevent HPV infections, the use of the vaccine – which costs nearly $360 for three shots – in all children at 12 years of age was recommended by the CDC advisory panel in fall last year.