The HPV virus is incredibly common and while HPV treatments do exist, it is far better for people to take steps to reduce their chance of being infected with the virus. Fortunately, there are a number of things that people can do in an effort to reduce the likelihood of being infected with HPV.

Vaccines:

Vaccines have been developed to protect both males and females from some of the most common types of HPV. These vaccines are administered over a period of six months and consist of three doses. In order to get the best level of protection possible, it is important that all three doses are taken.

Ideally and to be most effective, these vaccines will be administered before an individual has their first sexual experience as the first sexual contact is when an individual could be exposed to HPV.

Different vaccines exist for females and males:

Girls and women:  Cervarix and Gardasil are two vaccines that offer protection for females against the strains of HPV that are known to cause most cervical cancers. Gardasil also presents the benefit of protection against many, but not all, types of genital warts. These vaccines are recommended for girls aged 11 and 12 years (but can be given as young as 9 years) and also for any females aged 13 to 26 years who did not receive any or all of the doses when they were younger. Whenever possible, it is best that females get the same brand of vaccine for all three doses.

Boys and men:  Gardasil provides some protection against genital warts for men. It is available to males aged 9 to 26 years of age.

Condoms:

Genital warts are transmitted through sexual activity and so condoms are acknowledged for providing some reduction to the risk of being infected with the HPV virus.

However, it should be noted that genital warts can be spread without penetration occurring – skin to skin contact is enough to contract the infection.

If condoms are used, they are most effective if used from start to finish of every sexual act.

Relationships:

Although it may not always be realistic to do so, the risk of being infected with HPV is lower if the number of sexual partners is limited and partners are selected who have had no or few other sexual partners. While this may lower the risk, it is possible for people who have only ever had one sexual partner in their lifetime to be infected with HPV.

Similarly, as the HPV virus can produce no symptoms, it may be impossible to tell if a sexual partner is infected.

While being in a faithful relationship with one partner usually lowers the risk of getting HPV, the only absolute way to prevent HPV is to completely abstain from sexual activity. Naturally, this is not realistic or desirable for many people.

Some effective HPV treatments have been developed but there is no treatment that is superior to prevention. Although absolute prevention of the HPV virus is unrealistic for most, it is very wise for all sexually active people to take steps to protect themselves as far as possible from being infected with the HPV virus.

With the vast prevalence of the HPV virus and it ranking as one of the most common sexually transmitted infections, it is important that all people, but particularly young people, are educated about this infection and strategies to reduce the likelihood of infection.

Most people know of these STDs, but what are they and is there a cure for them? Here, we look at the five most well-known STDs and how you can safeguard yourself against them.

1. Genital Warts

Genital warts are caused by the human papilloma virus (HPV), which is a family of over one hundred different types. While there’s no cure for genital warts and most people will clear the HPV on their own, HPV treatment is available to minimise or eliminate the warts. Genital warts appear and may re-appear around the genitals and anus after infection as a series of patchy or cauliflower bumps. There are no other serious symptoms associated with genital warts.

2. HIV

HIV is, thankfully, less common nowadays due to public awareness. However, it has been included in this list as it is a very serious STD. HIV attacks the immune system and can be spread through blood contact. The incubation period can range from one to ten years, leading to AIDS, which means the immune system begin to fail. Generally people with AIDS die from other infections caused by common bacteria or viruses because of their compromised immune systems.

3. Hepatitis

Most people clear Hepatitis A and B on their own, especially adults, while Hepatitis C will persist in about 85% of infected people. Chronic carriers tend to be at risk of liver cancer and other liver problems. There’s no cure for hepatitis as yet but treatment can help a percentage of infected people clear these viruses by supporting their immune systems in fighting the virus.

4. Herpes

Genital Herpes is caused by the HSV-2 virus, which leads to small, raised bumps around the genitals that may be painful and itchy but heal over on their own. There’s currently no known cure for this disease though anti-viral drugs can help with healing.

5. Gonorrhea

Gonorrhea is a bacteria infection that leads to burning pain for men when urinating or when there is penile discharge. Women tend to be asymptomatic or experience some pelvic pain and discharge. Gonorrhea should be treated with the latest generation antibiotics so as to avoid complication such as epididymitis (sudden scrotal pain) or pelvic inflammation diseases.

Strategies for Protecting Yourself Against STDs:

• Abstinence. Abstinence is the best method against STDs. Only have intercourse with partners after a blood test or abstain altogether.
• Always use a condom. Never go unprotected. Though condom can reduce your chances of getting infected, remember condoms can’t protect you completely against viruses like the HPV virus that are transmitted through skin-contact, or through bodily fluids such as hepatitis.
• Don’t share needles. If you inject drugs, never share needles with others.
• Don’t get tattoos or acupuncture treatments from unsterilised parlours. A study by the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases found that people who had Hepatitis C were three times more likely to have tattoos. If you want to get a tattoo or receive an acupuncture treatment, make sure the parlours has the most stringent sterilising standards.
• Don’t get manicures from unsterilised parlours. Manicures may be dangerous when parlours don’t effectively sterilise their equipment. While there are not specific reported causes of transmission, specialists haven’t ruled out the possibility that STDs can be transmitted via manicures. You should talk to the manicurist about their disinfecting procedures for equipment. Opt out if they don’t use autoclave technology, which kills hepatitis and HIV.
• Get vaccinated. Where possible, get vaccinated before you travel or as early as you can. Have all your children vaccinated. There’s a vaccine for the most common genital warts, and for Hepatitis A and B.

Don’t share razors or toothbrushes. Bleeding gums and saliva can spread common STDs.

HPV, or Genital Warts, is one of the most common sexually transmitted infections, both in Australia and worldwide. The warts are caused by the HPV virus, which leads to abnormal cell growth, bumpy and cauliflower-shaped growths around the genitals and the anus. There are no other serious side effects to this virus. As it is spread merely by skin-to-skin contact, anyone who is sexually active should know how to guard themselves against the HPV virus.

Get the Vaccine

Yes, there is a vaccine available, but the HPV vaccine only protects you against certain types of HPV. The vaccine, also known as the cervical cancer vaccine, provides immunity against types 16, 18, 6 and 11, with 16 and 18 being the major causes of cervical cancer worldwide (around 70 – 80% of all cervical cancers), while types 6 and 11 is a common cause of genital warts.

The vaccine is most effective if you’re not yet sexually active and is now given to very young girls. Both men and women can get the vaccine. The latest research confirms that the vaccines are effective for at least  4 – 6 years after administration, but as it is a relatively new vaccine, it remains to be seen whether booster shots are required after the initial three shots.

The vaccine can sometimes cause swelling at the point of injection, headache, nausea and fever, but no serious side effects have been reported. The vaccine is free and administered by the government to school children in Australia but has no effect on people who have been exposed the HPV. If you have already been exposed to HPV, HPV treatment is available to minimise or remove the warts.

Practice Safe Sex

Using condoms reduces your chances of getting the HPV by reducing the amount of direct skin-to-skin contact and minimising fluid exchange. However, it’s important to point out that condoms can’t protect you completely against HPV. The only way to completely avoid HPV is through abstinence. Generally, people are at higher risk even if they use condoms if they have many sexual partners, became sexually active at a young age, have other viral infections such as HIV and herpes, or have compromised immune systems.

Abstinence

The only way to prevent HPV is really to avoid any sort of contact with the virus. This means:

• Avoiding skin contact
• Avoiding blood contact
• Avoiding contact with bodily fluids

If your partner has visible genital warts, it’s advisable that you abstain from sex at least until they have cleared up or completely eliminated. Most sexually active people (four out of five women) will get some form of HPV at some stage in their lives, so always get regular pap smears and periodic checks for HPV.

Proper Nutrition to Boost Your Immune System

Eating well will boost your immune system: as a virus, many HPVs are eventually eliminated by the immune system itself. Weakened immune systems lead to outbreaks or susceptibility to the virus. Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables, sleep well, avoid high-stress lifestyles, don’t smoke or drink heavily, and take a multivitamin supplement.

Getting the HPV virus does not necessarily mean that it will lead to cervical cancer but it could possibly increase your risk. It can also mean other things like contracting genital warts and other uncomfortable symptoms associated with HPV. Rather than focusing on HPV treatment , we’ve got a list of preventive measures you’ll want to know about and put into action.

What’s important to note is that to contract HPV, no exchange of bodily fluids or penetration needs to take place. Skin on skin contact is all that is required for it to spread. With over half the population estimated to have the virus, it is extremely common. Although it mostly does not cause health problems, it can if left untreated cause cervical cancer and other types of cancer such as penile, anal and head and neck cancer.

Of course abstinence of all sexual contact is one way to ensure never contracting the HPV Virus, however it is not practical for most people. Here, we’ve listed some of the realistic, useful measures you can take to reduce your chances of contracting HPV.

HPV Vaccine

The HPV Vaccine is targeted at young women aged 11-26 years of age. The purpose of this is to vaccinate young girls before they are exposed to the HPV Virus through sexual activity. This vaccine has been widely regarded world wide and has many benefits. However before deciding on having the vaccine or having your child vaccinated, it is a good idea to do your own research, learn all the facts and speak to your doctor.

It needs to be noted that the HPV Vaccine offers effective protection against the strains of HPV that cause cervical cancer and genital warts but not other types of the HPV Virus.

Using a condom during sexual intercourse

Using a condom during sex can reduce your risk of contracting HPV by approximately 70%. Of course it is also a good way to prevent the transmission of other types of sexually transmitted diseases as well. However using a condom does not offer full protection as it only takes skin to skin contact in some cases to pass on the virus. During sexual intercourse, other infected parts of the genitals may be unprotected and cause infection when making contact with the other person’s skin.

Restrict the number of sexual partners you have

Throughout a lifetime restricting the number of sexual partners one has, can reduce their risk of contracting the HPV Virus . Also, couples that have a monogamous long term relationship are less likely to transfer different strains of the HPV Virus.

Although the HPV Virus can be relatively harmless in most cases, it is important to take preventative measures as mentioned above as some strains of HPV can lead to cancer. I hope our advice on how to take measures to prevent contracting HPV have been helpful and you’ll find them useful in maintaining your own health and well being.

The Human Papillomavirus (HPV) exists in approximately 200 strains, a number of which are sexually transmitted and associated with genital warts and several types of cancer. While HPV treatments exist and can be effective in eliminating warts, there is an ever increasing focus on measures to prevent the HPV virus.

While the HPV virus is understood to be sexually transmissible, it actually requires no penile penetration or exchange of bodily fluids to be passed on; skin to skin sexual contact can cause the virus to spread.

With an estimated 70% of the population infected with HPV, the virus is highly prevalent. In most cases, it does not cause serious health problems although for some people, undiagnosed and untreated HPV can cause cancer, including: cervical cancer, head and neck cancer, penile cancer and anal cancer.

So, how can HPV be prevented?Today, there are two absolute methods of HPV prevention: abstinence and the HPV vaccine.

Abstinence:

Having no sexual contact is a certain way to prevent the HPV virus. Abstinence is an unrealistic expectation for most adult humans and so other ways or reducing the risk of contracting the virus need to be heeded.

HPV Vaccine:

The HPV vaccine does not offer protection against all strains of HPV, but it is effective in protecting the individual against the strains of HPV that cause cervical cancer and genital warts.

The vaccine is targeted at girls and women aged 11 – 26 years, but in some cases it is given to girls as young as nine. The intention is to vaccinate girls before they become sexually active and are exposed to HPV.

Other Ways to Reduce the Risk of HPV Transfer:

Aside from abstinence and the HPV vaccine which is obviously not available to all, there are other ways that people can reduce their risk of HPV infection.

Use of Condoms During Sex:  Practicing safe sex and using a condom during sexual intercourse has been shown to reduce the risk of developing HPV by approximately 70%.

Using condoms is effective in preventing the transmission of other types of sexually transmitted infections, but the transfer of HPV through skin to skin contact, rather than bodily fluids only, needs to be kept in mind. This means that although the penis is covered during intercourse, other areas of the genitals are exposed and these exposed areas may be enough to transmit the virus.

Restrict Your Number of Sexual Partners:  Restricting the number of sexual partners that an individual has throughout their lifetime may reduce their risk of contracting the HPV virus. Similarly, it is understood that long term monogamous relationships reduce the transfer of different strains of the virus being spread.

The highly contagious nature of the HPV virus and its transfer through skin to skin contact means that individuals have to be particularly mindful and be educated in how this disease is contracted. Although effective HPV treatments are available, HPV is linked to some types of cancer and in some rare cases can result in death if the virus is not identified, diagnosed and treated in time. As more research is undertaken to determine the role of HPV in the development of particular types of cancer, it is widely agreed that prevention of the disease whenever possible is preferable.

Many people have heard some scary facts about the HPV virus: that there is not a test for it, no cure for it, and it can cause cancer and other bad issues. This is all true, but there is no reason to feel powerless.

HPV is a common disease, and is an unfortunate fact of life if you want to live a full, sexually active life. However, there are concrete steps you can take to make yourself safe from infection. There are also some things you can do to protect yourself from serious health consequences once you have already acquired the HPV infection. Knowing about how the disease works, and about your options, can make you safe and help you feel in control of your health.

1. The most important step in keeping yourself protected from genital HPV or from any STD, is to know the facts. This is especially important with HPV because there is so much bad information and just plain inaccuracies out there. Protect yourself by reading up on HPV from reliable sources, such as literature you receive from your doctor, or reputable on-line resources such as the Centers for Disease Control, the U.S. Cancer Institute, the Mayo Clinic, and your local health clinics. Don’t rely on well-meaning friends, sexual partners, or rumors to get your information. Know the facts, and you have already given yourself some great ammunition toward real protection.
2. Limit your sex partners, and extend the age at which you may become sexually active if you haven’t already done so. Incidence of HPV infection has been shown to be directly related to the number of sex partners an individual has. Also, it is increasingly apparent through research that the younger a person is, the more likely there is to be HPV infection present. Researchers have found this trend consistently: it is unknown whether this is occurring because today’s youth are more likely to have multiple partners, or some other factor. But many researchers have suggested that there may be something in a young persons physiology – by “young” we mean under 30 – that predisposes him or her to being more vulnerable to certain diseases, including HPV infection. At any rate, the trend is a fact, and if you are young you should keep it in mind when choosing when and with whom to become sexually active.
3. Protect yourself by practicing safe sex. Although most birth control methods will not protect against HPV transmission – since it is transmitted skin to skin – you can protect yourself to some extent by using a condom every time. Keep in mind that since both oral and anal sex involve skin to skin contact, as does some heavy petting, these sexual practices can also result in your acquiring HPV.
4. One really great way to keep yourself safe is to take good care of your health. Get regular annual checkups and be up front with your doctor about your sex life, so that he or she can check for signs of any problems associated with HPV or other STDs. The more accurate and thorough information you give your doctor, the better your doctor can take care of you.

When you have sex with a new partner, you’re having sex with every partner they ever had sex with, and every partner they had sex with, and on and on…

Researchers have uncovered over 35 different types of HPV that infect the genital tract, and of these, at least 15 are known to lead to cervical cancer. The most dangerous strains, #16,  #18, #31 and #45 account for over 70% of all cervical cancers. HPV is also known to cause cancer in the vulva, vagina, anus, head and neck.

What Is HPV?

Genital HPV (human papilloma virus) is the most common sexually transmitted disease and it’s believed that up to 70% of women will have come into contact with HPV by the time they’re 60 years old.

Most women may never show any signs of HPV infection and their immune system fights off the virus. However, for a number of women, certain strains of HPV can lead to genital warts, which are a clear indication that she has come into contact with a sexual partner who has HPV.

While genital warts can be embarrassing, unsightly and often painful, the strains of HPV that are responsible for this type of infection are different from the strains that can develop into cervical cancer.

HPV causes normal cells to become abnormal. These abnormalities can present in the form of genital warts, which often appear within weeks or months of infection. However, it’s the strains of HPV that lead to cervical cancer which you need to be most concerned about. These infections can lay dormant in your system for many years and display no signs or symptoms. But over time, the infection alters cells in the cervix and by the time the cancer is detected in HPV women, it can be too late.

How to Protect Yourself Against HPV

Every year hundreds of thousands of women die from cervical cancer that is directly linked to HPV. The reason so many women die from this form of cancer is because the symptoms often go undetected for many years.

So it’s important to do everything you can to protect yourself from the risks associated with HPV. Let’s look at some of the steps you can take:

1. A HPV vaccine is available to girls and women between the ages of 9 and 26 which prevents the most common strains of HPV in women. In particular, the vaccine protects women against the strains which can lead to cervical cancer.

This vaccine is most effective on women who have had no previous sexual experiences.

2. The most effective HPV treatment is a regular Pap smear to test for any abnormal cells in the cervix. If you have the same sexual partner, or you are not sexually active, a Pap smear once a year is appropriate. After the age of 30, your medical practitioner may suggest you have a Pap smear every 2 or 3 years.

If you have a number of sexual partners, it doesn’t hurt to have a Pap smear every time you start a new relationship. Sure, Pap smears are a little uncomfortable, but a few moments of feeling uncomfortable is worth it if the results show abnormal cell development.

That wonderful new man you’ve just met may be THE ONE, but he may also unwittingly be THE ONE who is carrying a HPV infection he isn’t aware of, and it’s easy to pass that virus on to you.

3. Have a frank and open discussion with new sexual partners. Although it may seem embarrassing, it could save your life! If you have ever had an outbreak of genital warts, this type of infection can’t be cured so although you may not have any symptoms, you can easily transmit the virus to your partner.

Similarly, he may have been exposed to the virus and not know.

4. Practice safe sex. Although HPV is the most common sexually transmitted disease, it’s only one of many, so practicing safe sex by using a condom can help protect you against a number of serious infections.

5. Keep yourself healthy and well. You can reduce the risk of contracting HPV if your immune system is strong enough to fight off the infection. But let’s face it: being healthy isn’t just about protecting yourself against HPV – it’s about protecting yourself from a number of infections that can attack your system if it’s not in good shape.

HPV and women can be a deadly combination, so ensure you read all the information you can about the risks and know how to arm and protect yourself at all times.

Here is one of the simple truths of love and sex in the modern world: You need to be willing to have frank, open discussions with your partner about all matters relating to sex.

To put it bluntly, it’s not the 1950’s anymore, and it’s not a great idea to be shy or ashamed when it comes to talking to your partner about sex. If you’re a little bashful about it, remember, they talk about this stuff on daytime TV, so why be embarrassed over talking about it with the person you take to bed?

You should be willing to talk about every possible detail of your sex life with your partner, be willing to listen, and put no subject out of bounds. This is true when discussing more personal details of satisfaction, but especially true when it comes to issues of health.

If you have, or have had in the past, HPV, you need to tell any new sex partner before intercourse occurs. We know that all of this sort of clinical advice can be difficult to put to work in the real world. There’s no better way to spoil that “first time” mood than to say “Oh by the way, I have genital warts, but it’s all cleared up, now!”

What you need to do, then, is simply not be bashful about the sexual tension between yourself and your new potential partner. There are no set rules for this sort of thing, but as soon as sexual interaction becomes an open possibility for the future, say around the second date (or the end of the first, if you’re getting along incredibly well) it’s a good idea for both partners to divulge their sexual histories to one another. Get it out of the way early on so you don’t have to surprise anyone with it later.

Now, let’s say you’re clean, you’ve never contracted HPV or any other sort of venereal disease, so… do you need to have this talk?

Yes, of course you do. Having a frank talk about venereal diseases and sexual history isn’t just for your partner’s benefit, it’s for your benefit, as well. In the event that your partner does have HPV or another STD, you need to talk about it, and somebody needs to break the ice. That won’t always be the person who actually does have HPV. It’s not that somebody’s trying to keep a secret, but… can be embarrassing for someone who’s suffered genital HPV to willingly bring it up, so that puts the burden on your shoulders to get the talk started.

In this day and age, we’re not going to say “Ask your partner for a full list of the names and phone numbers of every previous sexual partner”, but some time does need to be dedicated to talking about this sort of thing. Know “where your partner has been”, as it were.

In short, educate yourself on HPV and other sexually transmitted diseases, and don’t be embarrassed. It’s a talk that every couple needs to have.

And remember that HPV isn’t a red light for a sexual relationship, it only means that you need to be careful. Remember that HPV can still be spread without any visible symptoms taking place, and even with a condom, so if you do contract HPV, talk with your physician before having sex again.

There is no magic diet, no special fruit or vegetable that will make you impervious to HPV. There’s no way to reduce risk of contracting HPV by 100%, as even the HPV vaccine only protects against the high risk forms that can lead to cancer and so on. That said, you can make some simple changes to your diet to improve your immune system, so as to greatly reduce your risk of contracting HPV, and, should you contract HPV, your immune system will be able to rid your body of the infection that much more quickly.

In fact, let’s forget about HPV for a minute and just consider this: If you eat healthy, you will feel better.

A lot of health food people get it wrong. Eating better isn’t about living longer, it’s not about avoiding foods that will “kill you” (no food can really kill you unless you’re suffering from serious obesity or blood pressure and cholesterol problems) it’s about making the years you have available to you more enjoyable. If you eat well, you will be in a better mood, as nutrition plays a vital part in maintaining mental health. If you eat well, you’ll be stronger, faster, less tired, you’ll feel more comfortable and look better in your own body, your skin will look and feel better, your bones will be stronger, you’ll get sick less often, and you will be happier. You will live longer, as well, but the real point is that, in the here and now, you can improve your quality of life by leaps and bounds by making a few simple dietary changes.

Fruits and vegetables

Here’s the basic rule of fruits and vegetables: There’s almost no such thing as too much.

You may have heard of the supposed “superfruits” which have become pretty trendy these days, but honestly, most of them aren’t much stronger than your average orange or apple. However, if an exotic flavour is enough to get you eating more fruits, go for it.

Look for fruits especially high in vitamin C, most obviously, the orange.

As for vegetables, try just switching sugary, salty snacks out with salads. Play around with different combinations and lighter dressings until you have something you like. Salads mainly provide fiber, which can help to keep your system clean and flush out excess waste. This can be enormously helpful in improving your immune system and preventing colon cancer.

Water

It sounds like a lot, but try to drink about a gallon a day. Water doesn’t contain vitamins or anything, but it works as a sort of lubrication for your body and basically improves all facets of your biological functions.

Protein

You do need protein to keep your immune system and your skin strong to help fight off HPV infection. Try to avoid red meat, though. Something to keep in mind, pork is actually one of the safest, healthiest meats available. It gets a bad name, and certainly, bacon is probably the worst food you can eat, but it digests more easily than beef and is less greasy. If you can get more protein from beans or fish, that’s even better.

Exercise

Nutrition only goes so far. You can have a perfect diet, but if you don’t keep yourself active, your immune system won’t be strong enough to deal with an HPV infection quickly and effectively. Stay fit. If you can make time for some daily situps and pushups, great. If not, at the very least you should take a walk every day.

Each year, hundreds of thousands of women throughout the world die of an HPV infection leading to cervical cancer.

Pap tests, also known as pap smears, can detect signs of cervical cancer early, as well as abnormal cells which may lead to cervical cancer, so that treatment can be more effective and less invasive. To put it simply, taking a regular pap test can save your life.

To be honest, pap smears are uncomfortable, as the process involves directly sampling cells from the outer opening of the cervix. Medical professionals will then look at those cells and be able to detect any abnormalities. As uncomfortable as it may be, there’s no excuse to neglect your health, and you will only need to receive one per year, at most, and perhaps fewer depending on your age.

The necessitated frequency of your pap tests will depend on a few factors…

Once a year

Women who are recommended to receive a yearly pap test include any woman under thirty years of age. The recommended first pap test should take place around the age of 21, or whenever you have been sexually active for at least three years.

Other women who should receive a yearly test, regardless of age, would include any woman who is HIV positive, as HIV increases the risk of cervical cancer, as well as anyone with a weakened immune system thanks to organ transplant or chemotherapy, and anyone who’s mother was exposed to DES, or diethylstilbestrol, while pregnant.

Less Frequently

Anyone age thirty or older who has been receiving annual pap tests over the last three years should talk to their doctor about spacing out their pap tests between two or three years.

Women ages 65 and older who have had no abnormal pap test results over the last decade should talk with their doctor about the possibility of not having to receive pap tests anymore.

Whatever you do, don’t just stop showing up for pap tests. Unless your doctor specifically tells you that you are no longer at risk of cervical cancer and do not need any more pap tests, continue receiving regular tests.

Reducing the risk

A number of factors can actually increase the possibility of cervical cancer. To list a few…

• You started having sex before you turned eighteen
• You sleep with several partners
• Your partner sleeps with several partners
• You suffer from an immunocompromised condition

Of course, you can meet none of the above factors and still be at risk. Cervical cancer can happen to anyone, and you absolutely must get a regular pap smear to ensure that, if it happens to you, you can catch it and treat it in the early stages.

A message to parents: It’s important to be open and honest with your kids about sex. It may be awkward and uncomfortable at first, but even if you disapprove of your teens becoming sexually active, you should at least make sure that they’re prepared, that they know how to practice safe sex, and if you have a daughter who has been sexually active for three years or longer, that you take her in for a yearly pap test.

The initial embarrassment will be over as soon as you jump the hurdle of opening up the dialog about sex, and it is not worth the risk to keep your teens in the dark about safe sex and pap tests.