What is hpv?

It is a skin virus.   It looks like that pink thing up there.

How is it different from other STDs - how serious is it? 

It is serious.  It can cause cervical cancer in a woman. 

HPV or human papillomavirus awareness is a serious part of every relationship. It can affect every person with whom you have sexual contact.  HPV will deeply affect you, too:  even if you show no symptoms, you may spread this cancer causing virus to others as well as risk penile and anal complications. 

It tends not to wreck as much havoc in men, but it can cause cancer in men, too:  penile and anal.  It's rare to do so in men, but of course it is major when it does.  It causes warts, but not always.

Is there a cure for hpv?

No.

How is hpv transmitted?

It's transmitted by sexual touch - no "fluids" need be passed because there is enough moisture in the genital zone to make the skin of him or her toxic to him or her.  The receiving skin has to be moist, not dry, and the contact to be significant - i.e., it's not passed by a "brush" of dry to dry skin.

How can men protect against hpv for themselves and their partners?

It's pretty hard.  You have to get creative in your sex life because there is no easy protection.  One solution is to use female condoms.  

I thought there was a vaccine.

There are several vaccines that protect against hpv.  You need to know the type of hpv your partner has to know which vaccine works for you.  Some strains of hpv are too virulent for any vaccine to date.

The vaccines also vary by age.  There are two age categories for two vaccines.  Women above 50 are on their own, without a vaccine.

More information on specific vaccines for the various strains can be found here  http://www.lifeethics.org/www.lifeethics.org/2007/09/gardisil-protects-against-other-hpv.html

Could a vaccine for a woman work for a man in a gay relationship?

Good question.  The first step is to discover the strain your partner has. 

What protection is there?

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It is hard to protect against on a case by case basis because a condom won't do it.  Your genital zone is larger than your genitals, so you would need a female "dam" to be completely safe from hpv transmission.  This condom covers the entire shaft and head of the penis and does not slip down the shaft after ejaculation as a traditional condom does.  The female condom helps protect against the transmission of hpv since it covers the entire shaft.

I hear there is "high risk" and "low risk" hpv

Correct.  High risk can cause cancer; low risk can cause genital warts.

Can low risk warts be removed?

There are many ways to remove warts.  See your doctor for options for removal.  Web MD offers this video

I hear that for men, hpv just "goes away."

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Nice thought.  Wouldn't your partner like to know?  Get tested.  It might go away.  And it might be present.

The message in the medical profession is "don't worry about it, there's nothing you can do, and it often goes away."  That puts the burden for hpv on women.  Since hpv is so common, and men might carry it precisely when they are being sexually active and a woman might encounter them, a man can offer assurance to a partner by testing.

What do you mean "get creative in your sex life?"

First, honesty helps your sex life.

Second, there are things you can do.  Holding, sleeping, dreaming,  nipples, mutual masturbation are a few things you can do if you are open and loving. Female condoms are another option, There will be a cure someday, so hang in there.  And if you know the strain, maybe your partner can be vaccinated.  Some tests ascertain the strain of hpv you have.

Is kissing ok?

Maybe.  But maybe not.  You don't know where that mouth has been.  But you can test it, and we can tell you how.

HPV sounds like a sexual death sentence

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Not really.  You can both get over it. Plus, many women can be vaccinated against your hpv - if they know the strain their partner has.  Meantime, you can have some sexual fun, and you can investigate the female condom.  What is good is to know and to be protected if you can.  Get tested.