Are you sexually active?
No
Yes
Contracting HPV when you're not sexually active is a rare occurance. When a child is diagnosed with HPV it is an indicator of possible sexual abuse by an adult.
How old are you?
14-19 years old
20-29 years old
30-39 years old
40-49 years old
50-65 years old
Young people, particularly below the age of 29 have higher rates of infection than older individuals. Studies have shown up to 44% of people 20-29 are infected.
Have you recieved the HPV vaccine?
No
Yes
The HPV vaccine for women prevents 4 particularly harmful strains of HPV out of the 30 or 40 that are transmitted sexually.
How many sexual partners have you had in the last year
0
1
2-5
5-15
15+
The most important risk factor for HPV is the number of sexual partners you have. The more partners, the more at risk you are.
Do you use a condom when having sex?
No
Usually
Yes
While a condom doesn't completely protect you, it helps. Surrounding skin the condom doesn't cover still carries the virus and is infectious.
Are you currently with someone with HPV?
No
Yes
Being with someone who you know has HPV puts you at an extreme risk for contracting HPV. Even with strict condom use it is difficult to contain HPV from an infected partner.
Have you ever had an STD?
No
Yes, once
Yes, two or more times
Having contracted other STDs means that you've been with partners that may have had HPV.
How often do you drink alcohol?
Never/Infrequently
Occasionally
5 or more days a week
Being intoxicated can lead to poor choices and increase your risk of HPV. Alcohol can exacerbate oral HPV and lead to oral cancers.
Do you have a lot of stress?
No
Yes
HPV has an indefinate incubation time meaning that the infection can lie dormant in your system before becoming active. High amounts of stress can back the virus become active.