A virus sleeps inside millions of Americans — and most of them do not even know they have it. It is believed to be the most common sexually transmitted disease in young Americans. It’s not syphilis, gonorrhea or HIV. Chances are, you have never heard of it.

Human papilloma virus, or HPV, comes in more than 100 strains, about 30 of which are transmitted sexually. According to the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, an estimated 20 million Americans are currently infected with HPV, and 5.5 million more are infected each year. 

HPV can have no external symptoms, and those infected can go for weeks, months, years or even lifetimes without knowing they have it. In the age of AIDS, a disease like HPV may not seem like a big deal, but it can be life-threatening.

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