How to Protect Yourself from the Human Papillomavirus (HPV)

Human papillomavirus, or HPV, is still relatively unknown or ignored by those who are sexually active; however, the consequences of contracting HPV can be deadly. Most commonly, HPV is the leading cause of cervical cancer in women. It can also cause cancer of the mouth and throat and on male genitalia. Statistically, 50-80% of those who are sexually active will contract HPV at some point, even though most will never know that they carry the virus unless they develop cancer or warts. Reduce your risk of infection by following the guidelines presented below.

Things You'll Need

• The desire to prevent HPV
• Awareness
• Protection
• Other precautions
• The HPV vaccine (women AND men)
• Regular examination

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Instructions

• 1

  If you are or are going to be sexually active, get vaccinated. The vaccine will not cure HPV if you already have it, but it will prevent you from contracting certain types of it in the future if you don't. Gardasil is the most common vaccine for women, and there is also a vaccine for men (but most insurances won't cover it yet). Even though a man's risk of cancer from human papillomavirus is lower than a woman's, men still spread it, so consider getting vaccinated.

• 2

  HPV has been proven to spread even with the use of a condom, either because the virus is so small that it slips through the material, or because of pre-condom contact. Obviously, wearing a condom is much better than nothing, but do some research on which condoms are best for preventing HPV, or wear two. Also, avoid other types of contact such as oral sex, and be aware of the possibility of transmitting the virus by hand (by touching your partner, then yourself or the opposite). If you think that these precautions are too strict, there is always STEP 1, 3, and 4.

• 3

  Avoid having sex with those who have or have had many partners (or who don't take any precautions). Even if you feel that you can trust someone, remember that most don't even know that they are carrying HPV. If you simply do not think that you could follow this STEP, then take the extra precautions presented in STEP 1, 2 and 4.

• 4

  Get regular examinations. If you are a man, simply have your regular doctor check for anything abnormal. If you are a woman, have yearly pap smears to check for cervical cancer, along with a regular physical. If you are sexually active, begin having pap smears in your early twenties. While not everyone who has human papillomavirus will develop cancer, remember that the key to beating cancer is to catch it as early as possible, so do not skip your examinations.