Someone with HPV may look and feel completely healthy but still pass the virus on.

• Sexual activity
  Most “mucosal” HPV types, which can cause genital warts or cancers, are passed on during vaginal, anal or oral sex. The more sexual partners someone has had, the higher their chance of encountering HPV.
• Genital contact without intercourse
  Less commonly, HPV can be transferred through direct touch of the genital area even without penetration.
• Mother to baby
  Rarely can an infected pregnant mother pass HPV to her newborn during childbirth. This can lead to warts in the baby’s throat or voice box, a condition called respiratory or laryngeal papillomatosis.

You cannot catch HPV from

• Toilet seats
• Hugging or holding hands
• Swimming pools or hot tubs
• Sharing cups, plates or cutlery
• Poor hygiene

You can have HPV even if

• You haven’t been sexually active for months or even years.
• You show no visible warts or other symptoms.
• You’ve never been diagnosed with HPV before.

Because HPV often lies dormant, people can unknowingly infect partners long after they first caught the virus.

Can HPV and HPV-related cancers be prevented?
There is no guaranteed way to avoid every type of HPV. However, you can significantly lower your risk and protect future health, especially against cervical, throat, anal and penile cancers.

Vaccinate against HPV

The safest and most effective defence is vaccination. In Kenya, the HPV vaccine is offered to:

• Girls aged 9–12 years- Ideally before any sexual activity begins.
• Teens and young adults up to 26 years- If they did not get vaccinated earlier, they should complete the full vaccine course as soon as possible.

Note: The vaccine only prevents new HPV infections. It does not clear an existing infection.

Protect yourself during sex and other skin-to-skin contact

• Abstinence -The only sure way to avoid HPV is to skip genital and oral contact entirely.
• Limit partners - Fewer partners means fewer chances to meet someone who carries HPV.
• Use condoms - Male and female condoms reduce but do not eliminate the risk of HPV. Always use them from the very start of sexual activity. Condoms also protect against other sexually transmitted infections.

Can you get HPV more than once?
Yes. There are many different HPV strains. You might clear one type naturally, then pick up another or even the same type again, though repeat infection with the same strain is less common.