Prevention of HPV

Can you prevent HPV?

Because the HPV virus is so contagious, total prevention of the HPV virus is not easy.

Abstinence of all sexual contact, even skin-to-skin sexual activity without penetration, is the only way to avoid contracting the HPV virus.

Lifelong monogamy – having one long term sexual partner – is another effective way to avoid contracting the HPV virus.

Limiting the number of partners – the more sexual partners a person has, the higher their risk of contracting HPV.

Using condoms is an excellent prevention strategy for sexually transmitted infections. Condoms may not eliminate completely the risk of transmitting HPV because the virus can be contracted through skin-to-skin contact beyond the covered area. However, condom use is a good risk-reduction strategy and provides excellent protection against other sexually transmitted infections.

Regular Pap testing is the only way to detect abnormal cells in a women's cervix that could lead to cervical cancer later in life. A woman should have a Pap test within three years of becoming sexually active, and then repeat testing every two years.

Vaccines have been developed to prevent a person from contracting the HPV virus and could dramatically help reduce the incidence of HPV-related complications such as genital and anal warts and cervical cancer. Four types of HPV cause the majority of genital warts (types 6 and 11) and most cases of cervical cancer (types 16 and 18). Two vaccines are now available in Canada; one protects against types 16 and 18 and the other against all four types.

Health professionals have the information on who is the right candidate for vaccination and about their cost and availability.