human papillomavirus or HPV is the most common sexually transmitted infection in the United States the risk of spread is increased with all types of intimate experiences and can also be spread orally unfortunately HPV is often passed by someone who has no signs or symptoms or knowledge of having this infection a person can also develop the infection years after intimacy with an infected person thus being unable to determine when they were first infected there are many types of HPV some low-risk others high-risk high-risk HPV is responsible for a 90% of cervical cancers but can also lead to vaginal volve are penile and oral cancers as well how can we prevent the spread of HPV and decrease our risk of cervical cancer get vaccinated there is a vaccine available to decrease the spread of the most common types of HPV this vaccine is available to both girls and boys beginning at the age of nine and is most commonly available in a three part series it is more effective when given to girls and boys prior to their first intimate experience so that if they are ever exposed to this virus later in life they will have already formed the antibodies necessary to prevent it from inhabiting them previously the vaccine was available until the age of 26 but recently the vaccine was approved to be given up to the age of 45 of course the vaccine is only effective to reduce the likelihood of the types you haven't already been exposed to so discuss your risk of new exposure with your doctor to determine if you should receive this vaccine other ways to decrease but not eliminate the spread of HPV is with the use of latex condom a mutually monogamous relationship in abstaining from smoking you