International HPV Awareness Day 2022

HPV Awareness Day is on March 8th

HPV is the human papillomavirus. Almost all of us will have HPV at some point and while for most of us it isn’t harmful, HPV is linked to several kinds of cancer.

Educating ourselves and others about HPV and cancer is the first step to reducing our risk.

How do I get HPV?

The types of HPV that can cause cancer in the genital region, anal region, and throat are mostly spread through sexual contact. They can also spread from one part of your genital skin or throat to another part of your genital skin or throat.

How can I avoid getting HPV?

HPV is a common virus and avoiding it can be difficult. About 8 out of 10 sexually active people get at least one genital HPV infection at some point in their lives! But there are a few things you can do to reduce the risk:

1. The best way to prevent HPV is to be vaccinated at the recommended age. Get vaccinated to prevent HPV infection if you are eligible for the vaccine, or if your health care provider thinks you might benefit from it. Vaccination can prevent 90% of cervical and anal cancers and most other cancers caused by HPV.
2. Use condoms whenever you can. Consistent condom use can reduce (but not eliminate) the risk of getting HPV. This is because HPV is passed on by skin-to-skin contact. Condoms only partially protect the skin of the genital region. The more consistent the use of condoms, the higher the amount of protection. Condom use 100% of the time reduces the risk of spreading HPV by about 70%. Less consistent use means less protection.
3. The fewer sexual partners you or your partner have, the lower your risk of getting HPV.

To learn more and become involved with HPV Awareness Day 2022 visit the Ask About HPV website: https://www.askabouthpv.org/