How common is human papillomavirus (HPV) infection?

HPV is the most common sexually transmitted infection in the United States. In the United States, an estimated 79 million persons are infected, and an estimated 14 million new HPV infections occur every year among persons age 15 through 59 years. Approximately half of new infections occur among persons age 15 through 24 years and the first HPV infection typically occurs within a few months to years of becoming sexually active.