Stat: As many as one in ten Americans have HPV, and some studies show that at least one-third of all sexually active young adults have genital HPV infections. It is often stated that more than half of all college-age women wil become infected with HPV during their college career.

What is it exactly? There are more than 30 different known strains of HPV that are sexually transmissible, many of which are potentially cancerous, and some which are direct causes of cervical cancer, which kills 10,000 women each year. HPV is often called genital warts, because when it is externally symptomatic, and a strain which causes warts (not all do), it appears as tiny cauliflower-like warts on the genitals. However, in most cases, HPV shows no external symptoms, though it is still present and highly contagious, and unfortunately, condoms do not offer complete protection against HPV.

About how many people have it? About 20 million people in the United States at any given time.

How is it spread? Through skin-to-skin or mucous membrane contact during oral, vaginal anal or manual sex. In other words, there does not need to be exposure to body fluids, such as semen, to pass HPV to partners.

What are its symptoms? Often, HPV does not present any symptoms, especially with the most high-risk strains. Wart strains may produce small, cauliflower-like warts on the vulva, vagina, anus, penis, inside the urethra, or in the throat.

How is it diagnosed? Through a microscopic exam of tissue samples (taken during a gynecological or urological exam) and the visual examination of warts, if they are present. For women, a PAP smear may reveal precancerous conditions caused by HPV. When a visual exam is not sufficient, a colposcope (a special magnifying instrument) can help to detect HPV. Unfortunately, diagnosing HPV in men is often difficult, so a man with a clear STI screening should not consider himself at no risk of having HPV.

Is it treatable? Warts can be removed by various methods, namely by being frozen off (cryotherapy) or burned off (electrocauterized), via use of a patient-applied solution, dissolved with acid solutions, or removed by laser surgery. Overall, those methods are relatively painless, and are usually done in your gynecologists office, not in a hospital. Which method is used depends on the patient, the avilability of methods, and the particular warts and strain in question.

Is it curable? No. Even when the warts are removed, the virus may still remain present in the body, and can be transmitted to partners when no warts are present, and cause long-term health problems like cervical cancer. Some people may, however, shed the virus over time.

Can it effect fertility? If HPV causes cervical cancer, yes. HPV can also be transmitted to an infant during childbirth.

Can it cause death? HPV can cause cervical cancer, which can be fatal.

How can we protect against it? Condoms offer some protection, but because condoms do not cover the entire genital area, it is limited. But the use of condoms during vaginal or anal intercourse or oral sex, and dental dams suring feamle oral sex can offer protection, and should be used to help prevent HPV and other STIs.

Annual or semi-annual STD screenings and celibacy with partners until they have been screend for HPV can be of help, and annual pap smears for sexually active women are vital. Women can also now be vaccinated to help prevent transmission of HPV. Avoiding genital contact with partners altogether is the best protection against HPV, though it obviously may not be practical.