(CNN) -- Michael Douglas made news recently by discussing, rather candidly, the possible cause of his throat cancer. Specifically, he told The Guardian that his disease could be caused by oral sex, which could have exposed him to human papillomavirus. Douglas clarified his comments later. But it is inevitable that debate would follow: HPV -- and the vaccine that is meant to prevent infection -- are surprisingly controversial. Human papillomavirus is the main cause of cervical cancer in women. Such cancer still causes the death of 4,000 women each year in the United States. It's estimated that about 15,000 HPV-associated cancers could be prevented each year by the vaccine. HPV is, unfortunately, often transmitted through sexual activity. It's the cause of genital warts, and it's an extremely common sexually transmitted infection.
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Aaron Carroll: In interview, Michael Douglas says throat cancer may be linked to oral sex
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Carroll: Whether or not it was the cause, story points up need for boys also to get HPV vaccine
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He says a slew of cancers affecting men, women are linked to sexually transmitted HPV
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Carroll: Kids have sex younger, and vaccine can help protect them from cancer
Even, perhaps, the cancer that has caused @placeholder so much grief.