Reducing the risk of HPV infection

The human Papillomavirus (HPV) is nicknamed "the common cold of STDs" because if you're a sexually active adult, you've probably contracted several of the 100 different types out there—more than 30 of which are sexually transmitted—and you probably had no idea. Therefore, if you are sexually active it may be difficult to avoid becoming infected with HPV.

As most high-risk HPVs don't cause symptoms, it can be impossible to tell whether your partner is infected. Using condoms and other barrier methods of contraception can help reduce the risk of becoming infected. But they don't cover all of the skin and are therefore not completely effective. A person with genital warts should not have sex until the warts are removed. This might help reduce the risk of spreading HPV. The best prevention available, other than abstinence, is believed to be the HPV vaccine.

You're more likely to become infected with HPV if you start having sex at a younger age and if you have a lot of sexual partners, especially if you’re having sex without using a barrier method of contraception. People can also lower their chances of getting HPV by being in a faithful relationship with one partner; limiting their number of sex partners; and choosing a partner who has had no or few prior sex partners. But even people with only one lifetime sex partner can get HPV. And it may not be possible to determine if a partner who has been sexually active in the past is currently infected. That's why the only sure way to prevent HPV is to avoid all sexual activity.

HPV infection may be more likely if there are abrasions or small cuts and tears in the skin or mucosa. Abrasions and tears are more likely to occur during anal sex, or if the vagina is drier than normal (for example following the menopause). In these situations it can help to use a lubricant during sex.

As HPV infection is common (and difficult to prevent), it's important for people to be alert to any changes in the parts of the body where we know HPV may cause cancer. Cancer diagnosed in the very early stages, before it has begun to spread, is much easier to treat and cure. It's important that women have regular cervical smear tests, as these can pick up changes in the cervix at a very early stage. Women should also have regular pelvic exams to look for abnormal changes in the cervix that might be pre-cancer.

There is some evidence to suggest that people who smoke and have HPV are more likely to develop cell changes that can lead to cancer than non-smokers who have HPV. If you know you have HPV, or even if you don’t know, stopping smoking may help to boost your immune system.