Here is the piping hot tea: 80% to 90% of sexually active people will have some strain of HPV (human papillomavirus) at some point in their lives. Not only is HPV the most common sexually transmitted infection (STI), it’s one of the most common viruses that exist on this, the planet Earth.
If the term “STI” scares you, it really shouldn’t. Yes, HPV is an STI, but the vast majority of cases of HPV go away all on their own about 90% of the time. “I always tell my patients that HPV is a natural consequence of being sexually active. Although there are some measures you can take to reduce risk of transmitting or acquiring HPV, most sexually active people will be exposed at some point,” says sexual health expert Ina Park, M.D., author of