Using a condom will prevent HPV (human papillomavirus) infection

Wrong – While using a condom can protect against  HPV it does not provide complete protection. This is because the HPV virus can spread through skin-to-skin contact with other infected areas which are not covered by the condom, for example the anus or scrotum.  The only real way to best avoid HPV infection is to never have sex, or only have sex with one partner and make sure that partner has never had sex with anyone else. Obviously this is something that can be difficult to achieve for most people. And if you don’t want to

live a life of abstention then vaccination can prevent the majority of HPV infections that cause genital warts and cervical cancer.


Men are not affected by HPV as it only affects women.

Wrong - Both sexes can be infected with HPV. The health impact on bith men and women is similar as both can get genital warts  and develop cancer from HPV infection.


HPV, HIV and Herpes are the same thing

Wrong -  The HPV, HIV and herpes viruses are different and have different health consequences. What they do share in common is that they all spread from person to person through sexual contact, and as such are all sexually transmitted infections (STI’s).


Isn’t HPV mainly a problem among the gay community?

Wrong – It doesn’t matter your sex or sexual orientation you are equally at risk of HPV infection.


You can tell if the person you are about to have sex with has an HPV infection.

Wrong – Unless they have have genital warts, and you happen to spot them then there is no way to tell if your sexual partner has an HPV infection. Most people that are infected have no physical sign of the infection, but they are still capable of spreading the HPV virus to others


I’m safe from HPV because I don’t sleep around and have only ever had one sexual partner.

Wrong – Unless your partner has also never had sex with anyone else then you are at risk. Any of your partners previous partners could have been infected, and any of the partners of those partners could have had an HPV infection. Remember, people can have the infection and not even know it, if they have no visible symptoms.


I’ve got genital warts so now I’m at risk of cancer.

Not quite! – While genital warts can develop into cancer they don’t usually have long-term effects on your physical health. Most people will get and HPV infection at least once in their lifetime. But while the odds are high that you will get an HPV infection at some point in your life, statistically they are low that your infection will cause cancer, as only a small percentage of infections go on to develop into cancer. HPV also comes in different types, with the low risk types sometimes causing warts, and it is the other, high-risk types, that may cause cancer. If you have had a cervical smear (or PAP test) a doctor may sugget an HPV DNA test if your smear results show abnormal cells. Note that a standard PAP test does not test for the presence of any STI, including HPV.


If I get vaccinated against HPV then I am safe.

Wrong – The vaccination is designed to protect you from 4 out of 100 different types of HPV virus. These 4 are the ones that cause the majorityof genital warts and can lead to cervical cancer. The vaccine will not protect you against other types of HPV, or any other STI.


I’m not having sex yet so I don’t need to worry about getting the HPV vaccination

Wrong – In fact the vaccination works best if women get the vaccine early, before they become sexually active, as this will ensure protection from the 4 types of HPV when she eventually has sex.


The HPV vaccination infects you with some of the virus, so your body can develop it’s immunity to it.

Wrong - The vaccine does not contain any living or dead virus and therefore cannot infect you with HPV.







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