HPV stands for human papillomavirus. Some types of HPV are sexually transmitted. They can infect the throat and the genital area — the vulva, vagina, cervix, rectum, anus, penis, or scrotum. Some types may cause genital warts. Other types may cause cell changes that can lead to cervical and other cancers. Most types seem to have no harmful effect at all.
The HPV vaccine protects us against the types of HPV that cause most cases of cervical cancer and genital warts. Here are the answers to some questions people commonly ask about HPV vaccines. If you are trying to decide if you or a young person in your life should get a vaccine, we hope these answers help you decide.
How Can I Prevent Getting or Spreading HPV?
- Get the HPV vaccine. It can protect women against two of the HPV types that cause 70 percent of all cases of cervical cancer.
- Abstain from sex play that involves skin-to-skin contact.
- If you choose to have vaginal or anal intercourse, use condoms every time. They can reduce the risk of HPV. They are not as effective against HPV as they are against other infections such as chlamydia and HIV. But they greatly reduce the risk of HPV infection. You can use condoms, Sheer Glyde dams, dental dams, or plastic wrap during oral sex to further reduce the risk.