How do people get HPV?

Both men and women can get HPV and, because the virus often has no signs or symptoms, most infected people don't realize they have HPV. The virus can be transmitted through any type of sexual contact. This includes vaginal, oral and anal sex, as well as any other genital contact. Many people don't know that sexual intercourse isn't necessary to get HPV. Condoms can help lower the chances of getting HPV, but they don't offer 100% protection, since the virus can infect areas not covered by the condom. While maintaining a monogamous relationship can also help lower the chances of getting HPV, men and women can get HPV if their only partner has been previously infected and did not cleared the virus.

What is the link between HPV and cervical cancer?

Each day, an average of 30 women in the United States are diagnosed with cervical cancer. All genital HPV types can cause abnormal cervical cells and abnormal Pap tests. Cervical cancer is caused by certain types of HPV.

If I'm a woman who has HPV, will I get cervical cancer?

Women remain at risk for developing HPV infection throughout their lives. In fact, about 80% of women in the United States will get infected with HPV in their lifetime. For most, the infection will clear on its own. But, for others who don't clear certain types of HPV, cervical cancer can develop. There is no way to predict who will or won't get cervical cancer. About half of all females diagnosed with cervical cancer are between 35 and 55 years old. What many of these women may not realize is that they could have been exposed to HPV as early as their teens or 20s.