The human papilloma virus (HPV) is one of the most common sexually transmitted infections. More than one hundred strains of HPV exist and, while most of them don’t cause problems, some do—and those problems are potentially quite serious. For example, HPV has been linked to cancers of the cervix, throat, and anus.

So what exactly happens inside the body when someone contracts one of the dangerous strains of HPV? How can you learn whether or not you’ve been infected? And what can you do to reduce the risk of contracting an HPV infection?

The answers to these and other HPV-related questions are covered in the TEDEd video below. I like this video a lot because it very succinctly captures the science of HPV (including how the HPV vaccine works) and distills it for viewers in a way that’s easy to digest and that offers some very clear takeaways.

Check it out—and to learn more about HPV, read these articles, too: