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Will a Condom Protect Against High Risk HPV?

High-risk HPV (human papillomavirus) is a sexually transmitted disease. It can cause precancerous cells and, eventually, cancer on a woman's cervix. It's also implicated in cancer of the penis, anus, labia and oral cavity. Though people regard condom usage as "safer sex," just how much condoms help in the case of HPV is debatable.

  1. About

    • HPV types 16 and 18 cause most cases of cervical precancer and cancer, as well as other malignancies. Other HPV types can warts. Unlike HIV and some other sexually transmitted diseases, HPV is spread through skin-to-skin contact, not exposure to body fluids.

    Transmission

    • In an infected person, high-risk HPV can often be found through the entire genital tract. Condoms only cover a limited portion of skin, so it's possible to contract high-risk HPV in the exposed areas even when a condom is used.

    Foreplay

    • Full intercourse is not necessary for high-risk HPV to be transmitted. Any time the genitals of you and your partner make contact, infection can being spread if one of you is carrying it. In this way, HPV can be spread even by people who use condoms consistently for intercourse, because they may have genital contact during foreplay before a condom is put on.

    Condoms

    • While they're not fully protective, condoms are not without merit for HPV protection. A 2006 study at the University of Washington found that women whose partners used condoms every time reduced their risk of catching HPV by 70 percent.

    Oral Infection

    • Scientific circles have debated whether HPV is causing a risk of oral cancers among people, even those who don't smoke or drink (the traditional risk factors for the disease). Oral sex may be a factor. So far, it's unknown whether barrier protection methods, such as using a condom, are helpful in preventing the disease.

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