Almost Half Of All Americans Have This STI

A shocking new report from the CDC's National Center for Health Statistics show that nearly half of all American adults have the most common form of sexually transmitted infection, HPV (Human papillomavirus). Over 42% of Americans aged between 18 to 59 are infected, and more than one in five US adults (around 23%) have the high-risk strains of HPV, making them more susceptible to certain types of cancers, like prostate and cervical cancer. 

HPV is so rampant that it's sometimes referred to as the "common cold" of sexually transmitted diseases. It affects approximately 80 million people in the US. And every year, 14 million new infections occur among teens and adults.

Unlike most STDs, the HPV has preventative vaccines. One of the authors of the study says that the findings are particularly alarming since there are currently two types of vaccines available that could effectively prevent sexual transmission of the virus. The researchers hope that the new data could cause some urgency to drive adolescents to get vaccinated.

"If we can get 11 and 12-year-olds to get the vaccine, we’ll make some progress," Geraldine McQuillan, epidemiologist at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and lead author of the new report, told the The New York Times. "You need to give it before kids become sexually active, before they get infected. By the time they're in their mid-20s, people are infected and it's too late. This is a vaccine against cancer — that's the message."

Dr. McQuillan and the rest of the team also looked into other types of the virus. They found out that 7.3% of Americans aged 18 to 69 were infected orally with HPV, and 4% of those carry the high-risk form that could lead to cancers of the mouth and the pharynx. 

While the HPV is the most common type of STI, Dr. McQuillan added that most adults aren't screened for it on a regular basis. According to The Times, there are about 40 strains of the virus that are sexually transmitted, and all sexually individuals are most likely exposed to it by the time they reach their early 20s.

While the doctors urge kids as young as 11 to get vaccinated for HPV, it doesn't mean that it's too late for sexually active individuals. The CDC recommends vaccination for women between the ages 13 to 26. And for young men too, since there are currently no tests in place for HPV screening for men.