According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), HPV is the most common sexually transmitted infection (STI).  “HPV is spread through intimate skin-to-skin contact. You can get HPV by having vaginal, anal, or oral sex with someone who has the virus (cdc.gov).”

Many sexually transmitted infections, including HPV, do not cause symptoms, so most people do not know they have one.  Typically, HPV goes away on its own and does not cause health problems. If HPV does not go away, it can cause problems like genital warts and cancer.

The CDC recommends that all sexually active individuals use condoms and get tested.  If you have not yet been vaccinated for HPV, you can get the vaccine at University Health Services.  To make an appointment, log on to myUHS.