HPV VACCINATION
Are you a woman between the ages of 18 and 45 or a man between the ages of 18 and 26? There exists a vaccine to protect and prevent you from contracting the Human Papillomavirus. This vaccine targets the types of HPV that cause most cervical cancers as well as most strains of genital warts. HPV is passed from one person to another through direct skin-to-skin contact, most often during sexual activity.
How can I lower my chance of getting HPV?
There are two steps you can take to lower your chances of getting HPV and diseases from HPV:
- Get vaccinated. The HPV vaccine is safe and effective. It can protect men against warts and certain cancers caused by HPV. Ideally, you should get vaccinated before ever having sex.
- Use condoms the right way every time you have sex. This can lower your chances of getting all STIs, including HPV. However, HPV can infect areas the condom does not cover. So, condoms may not offer full protection against getting HPV.
ommon STI. Among 15- to 59-year-olds, 2 in 5 (40%) people will have HPV. There are many different types of HPV; most do not cause any health problems.
What are the symptoms of HPV?
Most men who get HPV never have symptoms. The infection usually goes away by itself. But, if HPV does not go away, it can cause genital warts or certain kinds of cancer.
Talk to your healthcare provider about anything new or unusual on your penis, scrotum, anus, mouth, or throat. This includes:
- Warts,
- Unusual growths,
- Lumps, or
- Sores.
