How common is HPV in the United States?
HPV is the most common sexually-transmitted infection in the United States. Approximately 20 million people are currently infected with HPV. At least 50% of sexually active men and women acquire genital HPV infection at some point in their lives. By age 50, at least 80% of women will have acquired genital HPV infection. About 6.2 million Americans get a new genital HPV infection each year. How does HPV spread? HPV is spread through sexual contact. Most infected people have no symptoms and are unaware they are infected and can unintentionally transmit the virus to a sex partner. Rarely, a pregnant woman passes HPV to her baby during vaginal delivery. What are the symptoms of HPV? Most people who become infected with HPV have no symptoms. Some people get visible genital warts, or have pre-cancerous changes in the cervix, vulva, anus, or penis. Genital warts usually appear as soft, moist, pink, or flesh-colored swellings, usually in the genital area. They can be raised or flat, single or
