AceShowbiz -

Michael Douglas says he "so regretted" embarrassing his wife Catherine Zeta-Jones over oral sex remarks. In an interview with Event Magazine, via Daily Mail, Michael clarifies the controversy he made back in 2013 after suggesting that his throat cancer could have been caused by oral sex.

"What I was trying to say was that there is a sexually transmitted virus called HPC," the "Ant-Man" actor explains, "But there is a vaccination that they recommend to all kids before they become sexually active so they don't catch HPC, which is a cause of certain types of cancer - cervical cancer, tongue and throat."

Michael said he didn't imply that performing oral sex could cause certain types of cancer. "I was trying to make a public service comment," he added. "It was one of those things... and I so regretted any embarrassment that it caused Catherine. And her family."

The "Wonder Boys" actor says the stress of his tongue cancer strained his relationship with Catherine in August 2013. "We had a little bump in the road," he shared, "The problem in this business is that everything is so public."

Michael and Catherine reconciled a few months later. "I love Catherine as much, more than I ever have. And hopefully the feeling's mutual. We worked things out - if both people want to work something out and make it better, you can do it. You can't do it if it's just one person," he shares.

Michael says he is grateful for his great health and surviving the disease gives him a new outlook on life. "I was just happy to be alive. I was ecstatic. It feels like a rebirth after you go through cancer and you come out of it," he shares, "You feel like you're a child. You see priorities differently. You have a much deeper appreciation of marriage, of your children - you see everything a little bit clearer, and a little brighter."