What Is HPV? (Human Papillomavirus)

It is common for young people to hear many myths about STDs, so having a trusted adult in their lives that they can talk to about this topic is important. There is also a lot of stigma around having an STD, even though it is common to have one at some point in your life.

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is the most common sexually transmitted disease (STD), also known as a sexually transmitted infection (STI). HPV can be spread from one infected person to another through sexual contact—from sexual touching (genital-to-genital contact) to any kind of sexual intercourse (oral, anal or penile-vaginal sex).

There are many types of HPV, and 90 percent of them will go away on their own. Some types of HPV can cause genital warts. A few types of HPV can increase a person’s risk of developing cancer of the cervix, vagina, penis, anus, mouth or throat. There is no HPV test for men, and HPV testing doesn’t start for women until they are 30 or older. Pap tests, which are part of cervical cancer screening and test for abnormal cervical cells, begin when women are 21 years old. There is a vaccine for the types of HPV that can cause cancer. The vaccine is most effective when given at 11 or 12 years old, before a person has been exposed to HPV. Some adults are under the impression that the vaccine is specifically for young people who are sexually active. This is not the case. The HPV vaccine is most effective before a young person has begun to engage in sexual behaviors. Research conducted by Harvard University found that getting the HPV vaccine does not encourage young people to have sex. If your child did not get the vaccine at 11 or 12 years old, they can still get it when they are older. If your child has not had the vaccine, speak with your child’s health care provider. The vaccine is a great way to protect your child’s health.

Even though most people don’t like to talk about STDs, it is important for caring adults to talk with young people about STD transmission and prevention, before young people begin engaging in sexual behaviors with a partner. While it is good to normalize STDs, it is also important to be clear with young people about how STDs can affect them and why it is important to practice safer sex. It is also important that they know that the most common symptom of having an STD is not having any symptoms at all.

Before young people begin engaging in sexual behaviors, they should know how they can reduce the risk of contracting an STD by decreasing their number of sexual partners and properly and consistently using latex barriers, like condoms, internal (female) condoms and dental dams. Research shows that young people whose parents talked to them about condoms before the young person began having sex are more likely to use condoms at first intercourse and thereafter.

Talking about STDs with the young people in your life lets them know that they are not alone and that they can come to their parents or guardians when they have questions or need support.

CONVERSATION STARTERS

If you start essential conversations about topics like STDs with your children, then they will know they can come to you with questions. The easiest way to start these conversations is to talk about issues as they arise in everyday life while you are doing things like watching TV together. Symptoms, testing and condoms may not just come up in conversation, but it is important to talk about these issues. Below are some ways to start these conversations: