Human papillomavirus (HPV) is currently the most common sexually transmitted disease in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. There are currently over a hundred different types of HPV, over forty of which can be transmitted sexually. Almost all sexually active men and women are exposed at some point in their lives. Lifestyle choices such as risky sexual behaviors, smoking, and alcohol use increase the risk of contracting HPV. Additionally, infection with one type of HPV does not prevent infections with other types. “Approximately 79 million Americans are currently infected with HPV. Around 14 million people are newly infected each year. (CDC, 2013). Pathophysiology of the disease “Human papillomaviruses are small, dual-strain DNA viruses that infect the epithelium and cause common skin warts. » (CDC, 2012). Most HPV infections are asymptomatic and go away on their own. Around 40 strains of HPV infect the mucosal epithelium, which can lead to cervical cancer. Cervical cancer was first thought to be linked to sexual activity in the 1960s, and in the early 1980s it was proven that cervical cancer cells contained of HPV DNA. The first publications on this subject date from the 1990s (CDC 2012). Because HPV detection is so new, there are still many unknown factors regarding transmission and treatment. Signs and symptoms It is estimated that 90% of people who contract HPV never develop symptoms and within two years the body's immune system eliminates the virus. Human papillomavirus, in its low-risk form, can cause warts, but usually the signs of high-risk types only appear at the cellular level and cannot be seen with the naked eye for years, even decades. of paper ......tion and early detection to protect themselves and their children. It is the role of healthcare providers, doctors and nurses, to ensure that every patient entering a medical facility has access to this information that could help save their life. Works Cited ACOG Committee on Adolescent Health Care. (2010). Fact Sheet: Adolescent Care Toolkit, Second Edition. Retrieved from http://www.acog.org/~/media/Departments/Adolescent%20Health%20Care/Teen%20Care%20Tool%20Kit/HPVirus.pdf?dmc=1&ts=20131024T0123572538Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2012). Human papillomavirus: epidemiology and prevention of vaccine-preventable diseases. Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/pinkbook/hpv.htmlCenters for Disease Control and Prevention. (2013). Genital HPV infection – Fact sheet. Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/std/HPV/STDFact-HPV.htm#a5