HPV is indisputably one of the most common STIs: it’s estimated that over 75 percent of Canadians will contract at least one strain of HPV in our lifetimes. One of the main reasons HPV is so common is because many strains are asymptomatic, and in the majority of cases, the body clears infections on its own. 

Some strains of HPV have more serious impacts on our health, however. Some HPV strains cause warts, for example. And a few key strains are responsible for the vast majority of anal, cervical and throat cancers. So vaccination—as well as early detection of HPV—can save lives.  
 

When and how you should get tested for HPV can differ based on your gender, the types of sex you’re having and with whom. In the latest episode of “Ask A Sexpert,” Caen Squires, a sexual health specialist at the Community Based Research Centre, offers their tips on getting tested for HPV.