Dear just_smile101,

Yes. HPV — the human papilloma virus — is spread through direct skin-to-skin contact with an infected person. Transmission occurs during vaginal, anal, and oral sex. It can also be spread through other kinds of sex play, like body-rubbing. It can also spread from a woman to a fetus during childbirth, but only rarely does it cause harm in newborns.

Avoiding skin-to-skin contact is the most effective way to prevent HPV infection. Using condoms for vaginal and anal intercourse can reduce the risk of transmission.

Oral sex is not as high risk for HPV and vaginal or anal intercourse. But to further reduce the risk during oral sex, you can use a condom to cover the penis or a Glyde damn or cut-open condom to cover the vulva or anus.

About 75 percent of all sexually active people will become infected with one of the 40 types of genital HPV at some point in their lives. Two-thirds of people who come into contact with the virus will develop an infection within three months.

As with non-genital HPVs, some of these infections are visible if they become symptomatic, in the form of warts. Others are not. It is also possible for someone to have more than one type of HPV infection at the same time. Several high-risk types of HPV can cause cancer of the cervix, vulva, vagina, throat, penis, scrotum, rectum, or anus. Most HPV infections, however, remain don't develop symptoms and pass out of the body without doing any harm.

There are two very good protections against the effects of HPV. One of them is vaccination. The HPV vaccine protects against two types of HPV that cause genital warts and the two types of HPV that cause about 70 percent of cervical cancer cases. The HPV vaccine is recommended for all young women between nine and 26 years old.

The other important protection against the effects of HPV is the Pap test. The Pap test can detect abnormal changes in cervical tissue long before they can become cancerous.

Women should have their first Pap test three years after their first vaginal intercourse or after they turn 21 — whichever happens first. They should have regular Pap tests after that.

You can call 1-800-230-PLAN to make an appointment with the nearest Planned Parenthood health center, or find us online.

Hope this information helps!

Take care,

teenwire.com^® Editors

This column is for informational purposes only and is not intended to constitute medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you have a medical problem, please call toll-free 1-800-230-PLAN for an appointment with the Planned Parenthood health center nearest you.