Women and men who have any kind of sexual activity involving genital contact with someone with HPV can get it. That means it's possible to get genital HPV without having intercourse. And, because many people who have the virus may not show any signs or symptoms, they can transmit the virus without even knowing it.
HPV is easily transmitted, so any exposure puts you at risk. In fact, it is estimated that many people get HPV within their first 2 to 3 years of becoming sexually active.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the only way to prevent genital HPV is to avoid any sexual activity that involves genital contact. You can help decrease your chances of getting genital HPV by:
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Limiting your sexual partners
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Staying in a long-term, exclusive relationship with someone who doesn’t have HPV
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Using a condom—though it’s unknown how much protection from HPV condoms actually provide
