HPV - What Do You Know?

SFU Health and Counselling services operates two health clinics that offer information, testing and treatment for STI's. Click on the link below for more information.
http://www.sfu.ca/students/health/services.html

You can also, visit Public Health, an Options for sexual health clinic or your family doctor.

You should always use condoms to protect yourself from STI's, however condoms may not always protect you from an HPV infection. There are two HPV vaccinations available that protect against some strains of cancer and wart causing Human Papillomavirus. The only true way to ensure you do not become infected with HPV is zero contact with another human - that's just not possible! Instead, you can limit your number of sexual partners.

HPV can affect all sexually active males and females regardless of sexual orientation or number of sexual partners

The entire genital area, if infected, can transmit HPV. So oral sex and even non penetrative play can transmit the virus.

Some strains of HPV can cause penile, perianal (the area around the anus), perineal (the area between the anus and genitals) and cervical cancer. Some strains have also been linked to some head and neck cancers.

Human Papillomavirus - HPV - is a common virus that affects males and females. There are 100 + types of HPV, some are sexually transmitted.

Most people do not know they have an HPV infection. In fact, an HPV infection may not cause any symptoms and will resolve on its own. However, if you have been infected by a strain that causes genital warts, you may develop flesh coloured cauliflower-like warts around your genitals.