What Is Genital HPV?

Anyone who is sexually active needs to understand what genital HPV is. Genital HPV, also known as Human Papillomavirus is a sexually transmitted infection. This virus is usually spread through vaginal and anal sex. However, it can also be spread through oral sex. Since many people don't even know that they have this virus, it is often spread unknowingly.

While most of the time there is no symptoms or health problems from genital HPV, there are some signs that people need to be aware of. Both men and women can get genital warts from genital HPV. Genital warts look like bumps or groups of bumps that appear on the genitals. General warts can take weeks or even months to appear after someone is infected with genital HPV. Anal and penile cancers are other health problems that can arise from genital HPV.

While genital HPV is the most common sexual transmitted infection, there are things that can be down to prevent it or lower the changes of getting it. Males can get the Gardasil vaccine when they are between the ages of nine and 26.

Using condoms can also lower the risk of getting genital HPV. Only having one sexual partner or limiting the number of sexual partners you are with will also help lower the changes of getting genital HPV. While some more research is needed, some experts recommend getting anal pap smears to check for anal cancer in men who are gay or bisexual. To help stop the spread of genital HPV, people should stop having sex as soon as they know they have it.