One in Four Women Infected With HPV

A new study has found that one in four U.S. women is currently infected with human papilloma virus (HPV). HPV is the virus associated with genital warts, cervical cancer, and anal cancer. The study found the highest prevalence of infection among women 20-24, almost 45% of whom were infected with the virus. This is in line with earlier studies that found similarly high levels of infection in young women. Although there is no medical cure for HPV, in many people the infection does eventually resolve on its own. Therefore, the prevalence of HPV decreases with age - as people recover from old infections and have a lower risk of new ones. Some researchers have estimated that three quarters of sexually active adults have been infected with HPV at some point during their lives.