Prevention of HPV

Can you prevent HPV?

If you have never had any sexual skin-to-skin contact, you will not get infected by the HPV virus.

If you have started experimenting with sex, and have had skin-to-skin sexual contact, even without penetration, but with only one person, you have limited your exposure to the HPV virus.

Once you start having more than one sexual partner, and that you had skin-to-skin contact of the genitals through heavy petting and other sexual activity with several people, your risk of getting the HPV virus becomes higher.

Of course using condoms is an excellent protection against sexually transmitted infections. Just remember that condoms do not cover all the skin around your genitals, so you can still get the HPV virus through skin-to-skin contact.

Vaccination can prevent high risk types of the HPV virus and can protect you against developing cervical, vulvar or vaginal cancers. Speak to your parents about vaccination. Your doctor can tell your parents about the costs of the vaccines.

Pap testing is the only way to detect abnormal cells in your cervix that could lead to cervical cancer later in life - Have your first Pap test within three years of becoming sexually active.

Pelvic exam video