Unlike most STIs, you do not have to have penatrative sex to contract HPV. HPV can be spread via skin-to-skin contact of the genital area, as well as through penatrative sex and sharing sex toys. While using condoms during sex can stop the spread of STDs, it won’t necessarily stop you from contracting HPV. You do not need to have a had many sexual partners to contract HPV and you can catch it when you have sexual contact for the first time.
Unlike most STDs, HPV does not cause symptoms, unless you have contracted the low-risk strain of the virus that causes genital warts. However, unlike most STIs, a high-risk strain of HPV can cause cervical cancer, vulval cancer, penile cancer, vaginal cancer, anal cancer and some types of head and neck cancer.
Most STDs can be cured or treated, but there is no treatment for HPV itself, only for the conditions it can cause, such as genital warts and cervical cancer.