Consensual Text

It’s National Cervical Cancer Awareness Month and we’re reminding everyone that condoms are one of the ways to reduce your risk of contracting HPV (human papilloma virus)—the virus that can cause cervical cancer.  HPV is also spread by skin-to-skin contact during vaginal, anal or oral sex play,  so the best way to prevent HPV is to get vaccinated.  Make an appointment with us today.

And in the meantime, check out this hilarious condom video from the geniuses over at the Midwest Teen Sex Show—you’ll especially appreciate the music video towards the end with “Hank-The-Condom.”  Happy Monday!

STDs (sexually transmitted diseases/infections) spread in two ways:

• through bodily fluids ( semen, vaginal secretions, blood, pre-cum)  These fluids are passed from partner to partner during vaginal, oral or anal sex.
• through skin–to-skin contact. (Genital HPV can spread by rubbing against an infected partner skin-to-skin or by touching an infected person’s genitals, then touching yourself. )

Saliva itself does not transmit HPV but,  skin-to-skin contact can.  LIPS ARE SKIN!

Activities you do on your own, such as masturbate,  do not transmit STDs. 

Some HPV facts:

• There are more than a hundred types of HPV – about 40 types can infect your genitals – vulva, vagina, penis, scrotum, anus, or rectum.
• Genital HPV is quite common – about 50% of men and 75% of women have HPV at some time in their lived– most people are unaware.
• Although most HPV infections go away within 6-8 months – some do not. HPV can lay dormant for several years, making it impossible/difficult to know when you were infected and to whom you may have passed the infection.
• Some types of HPV are “high risk” types and can result in cervical cancer or other genital cancers.

 Use condoms!  Get Yourself Tested!  Kiss Often! Kiss A Lot!

Planned Parenthood of Northern New England’s Education Department carefully selects all weekly questions. All questions are actual inquiries made to PPNNE by college-aged students.

Should you have a question you would like to see included, please send an email to goddess@ppnne.org