Do you know anything about HPV transmission? Somebody that I’m fooling around with has HPV with no visible indicators. None of the websites I’ve looked at mention anything about how it’s contracted. It would really be good to know what fluids might carry the virus, and whether non-genital body parts are susceptible to contracting HPV too.
-HPV Curiosity
Camden, NJ

Sex is a wonderful thing. Unfortunately not everything that comes with sex is always so great. STIs (Sexually Transmitted Infections) are no fun. While I try not to talk too much about the downers that can be associated with sex - that’s what high school sex ed is for (though it should be so much more) - sometimes you gotta bring up the tough stuff. Especially when you get a great and very relevant question.

Lets back up a bit and start with the basics. HPV, or Human Papillomavirus, is the umbrella name for a group of viruses that infect the skin and mucous membranes. Of the more than 100 different strains of the viruses, roughly 30-40 are known to be sexually transmitted and affect the genitals. And out of those 30-40 strains, only a few cause genital warts, which means that a number of strains of HPV present with no noticeable signs or symptoms.

Genital warts are exactly what they sound like they would be - warts found on your genitals. They can look like small flesh-colored bumps or cauliflower-esque growths (yeah, real tasty, huh) and form individually or in clusters. In women, genital warts can occur on the vulva, inside the vagina, along the cervix and around the anus. Warts on men are found on the head of the penis (most common) and along the penile shaft, scrotum and around the anus as well. Genital warts have also been known to develop in the mouth and throat of someone who has had oral sex with an HPV infected person.

It’s really important to know that HPV is the group of viruses (?) that causes both genital warts and warts on other parts of the body (the most common are on the hands and feet), but they are not the same strains and cannot cross contaminate. If a person with a wart on their hand touches your genitals, this does not mean anything in regards to you contracting genital warts. This should answer the second question about whether non-genital body parts are susceptible to contracting HPV, too. They are able to contract HPV, but not the genital strain.

Oh, and just so you know, genital warts are one of the most common STIs out there. In fact, HPV in general has an incredibly high rate of incidence, with stats reporting that 50% of sexually active men and women will contract HPV at some point in their lives and that by age 50, 80% of women will have acquired genital HPV.

Other sexually transmitted HPV strains have been linked to cervical cancer. HPV can cause the normal cells of the cervix (the opening to the uterus) to become abnormal and possibly cancerous. This does not mean that if you have HPV you will get cervical cancer. It means that you need to go for regular (or more) pap smears so a doctor can track any changes to your cervix. The interesting thing about HPV is that in women it usually goes away on it’s own after about 2 years, and when it does, the abnormal cells of the cervix revert back to normal.

Ok, now lets answer the question. How is HPV transmitted and how can you protect yourself from contracting it? One of the bad things about HPV versus other STIs is that condoms (both male and female) do not protect you from transmission. HPV is contracted by skin-on-skin (or mucous membrane to mucous membrane) contact, rather than through body fluids.

That means that condoms, which only cover the penis (we’re talking builtin dick, not silicone) are only effective at putting a barrier between the penis and the vagina/ass/throat. There is still quite a bit of skin exposed to rub up against, including the perineum (area between the vagina and anus or sc and the entire genital region. This is not to say that you should not use condoms. Condoms protect against many other STIs and have been known to be associated with lower rates of cervical cancer.

Gloves - which are usually known as a lesbian safer sex barrier- work nicely to protect against skin contact and can, of course, be used in straight scenarios and gay male sex.

Unfortunately, the best way to prevent contracting HPV is to not have sex with someone who has it. That is pointless advice in this case though, because you are asking about someone with which you are already somewhat sexually active. And abstinence is not always in the best interest of everyone involved. The best advice I can give you in be aware of your skin-to-skin contact and get tested regularly to check. Early detection helps with treatment (which focuses on treating symptoms) and keeping an eye on cervical cells. I know this isn’t the most helpful of advice, but it’s what’s out there and it’s what I got.

Also, I want to just note that there is a new HPV vaccine that protects against four strains of the virus - the four strains that are responsible for 70% of cervical cancers and 90% of genital warts. The vaccine, Gardasil, is FDA approved for women aged 9-26 (that’s the population they did the study on, not saying that it wouldn’t be effective past 26), and is administered in three shots over six months.

Don’t let all this STI talk get you down though. STIs are serious things to deal with, no doubt, but even if you contract one, it’s not the end of the world and your life (as well as your sex life) is not over. The best way of all to protect yourself and stay healthy, whether you are STI positive or negative, is to be smart, know what you are dealing with and stay informed.

Thanks for the question!

J.D. Bauchery