One of the biggest frustrations vented by people who work in public health these days is that the most common sexually transmitted infection around – HPV, also known as the human papilloma virus or genital warts – has a vaccine to prevent it.
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One in four Americans are infected with the virus, which can lead to cancer, particularly in people with HIV. Almost every sexually active American will contract it at some point through anal, oral, or vaginal sex. Many people clear the virus on their own and do not exhibit symptoms. There are 150 strains of the virus, with some causing anal, cervical, penile or oral cancer and some not.