Most basically, the HPV virus is a wart-causing virus. If you have one of the common strains of HPV, you may notice warts on your hands, elbows, knees, or on the bottom of your feet. But there are over 250 strains of HPV, and some of the most serious of the strains show no visible signs or symptoms for years after the initial infection. This means that a person can be carrying the virus for years without ever knowing it.

During this time the virus can be slowly working on the body and leading to life-threatening situations, and it may be infecting any sexual partners. For example you might see evidence of genital warts; although there are treatments that can clear up the warts, treatments do not cure the HPV virus in your body. It was likely raging around for years before the first wart actually appeared.

Or, you may develop a recurrent respiratory infection, and upon examination your doctor concludes that it is caused by the HPV virus attacking your respiratory system, where it has been lying dormant for years: this is called RRP, or "recurrent respiratory papillomatosis."

Or you may not see a sign that you are infected with HPV until a routine pap smear suggests the presence of cervical cancer cells. At this point, HPV has been present in your body for several years without your knowledge.

This all means that you may have contracted HPV without seeing any actual HPV symptoms. But it also means that any sexual partner you might have could also be carrying HPV with no visible signs that could warn you, before you are infected. Your partner is likely to be unaware that they themselves are a carrier.

So how can you prevent what you can't see? And what do you do to prevent an illness with no immediate symptoms?

Only sexual abstinence can absolutely prevent you from coming into contact with HPV. HPV is not transmitted through seminal fluid, but through skin contact with an infected area. The virus can be transmitted not only through regular intercourse, but through oral sex and anal intercourse. Condom use can go a long way toward preventing the spread of HPV, although it is not foolproof: often the virus resides outside of the area of the body that the condom covers.

There are vaccines on the market that are thought to be effective in preventing some strains of HPV. Because there are over 250 individual strains of the virus that have been identified to date, it is not possible for a vaccine to address even most of them. However, current vaccines address those strains most likely to result in genital warts for males and females, and also those that are most likely to lead to cervical cancer.

Whether you receive the vaccines or not, routine exams to screen for HPV are necessary if you are sexually active or have been sexually active in the past. Be up front with your physician about your sex life and practices, so that he or she can help you take proper precautions, and can also screen you for any problems as part of your routine medical care.

Keeping yourself healthy through routine care, and practicing safe and informed sex, is the best way to prevent HPV from becoming an issue in your life!