Miranda Grigor photo Students can pick up pamphlets on HPV at Health Services.

You could have the most common sexually transmitted infection right now and not even know it.

Human Papillomavirus, commonly known as HPV, is a highly contagious virus that is spread during sexual activity by skin-to-skin contact and can pass through a condom.

There are more than 100 different types of HPV. Most of the time the virus will clear up by itself and there aren’t any symptoms or signs that you have it.

Some strains of the virus, however, can cause genital warts, abnormal cell growth or cancer. Even if you do not see any of the symptoms, you could have HPV and pass it on to someone else.

“Anyone who is sexually active is at risk,” said Sue Barlow, a registered nurse at Health Services, “especially because HPV can be passed on without penetration.”

The more partners you have had, the more you are at risk, said Barlow. It is estimated that 75 per cent of Canadians will contract at least one strain of HPV at some point in their life.

There is no way to test for HPV, nor is there a cure. Since you can get it while practicing safe sex or by only having one partner, the risk of picking up the virus is high.

However, the symptoms are treatable. The most frequent symptom is genital warts, which can be treated with a prescription cream or liquid nitrogen applied by a doctor.

If you think that you might be at risk, see your doctor or go to Health Services as soon as possible.

“The good news about this sexually transmitted infection is that it is treatable,” said Barlow.

Once the symptoms have gone away, you may still have the virus. Warts could come back at any time and you could pass the virus on to someone else.

Barlow said on average two students will come in to Health Services per week with HPV symptoms. Symptoms are more common in women.

One of the worst things about HPV is that it can lead to cervical cancer in women. The best thing that a woman can do to protect herself from cancer is get an annual Pap test, which is covered by OHIP, said Barlow. This way the doctor can catch any abnormal cell growth on the cervix and treat it before it gets worse.

There is a vaccine available for women that can prevent cancer and genital warts; however, it is not covered by OHIP. The vaccine comes in three shots - each of the shots costs $160.

Barlow is confident cervical cancer can be eradicated if this vaccine was made more accessible. She said the cost will come down eventually and the government is looking at funding it.

In fact, the National Advisory Committee on Immunization says that girls and women aged 14 to 26 should be vaccinated against HPV.

Barlow said that HPV symptoms can sometimes appear from oral sex. In other words, you could get warts in your mouth.

“It’s difficult to talk about STIs - especially if you’ve got something going on - but it’s really important,” said Barlow.