The human papillomavirus (HPV) is the most common sexually transmitted infection in the country, affecting about 79 million Americans. This week, New York City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito announced on Twitter that she was diagnosed with “high-risk HPV.” Despite its prevalence, there are several misconceptions about what HPV is, who gets it, and what a diagnosis means.
Here are the most common myths – and facts – about HPV.