HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, herpes, and gonorrhea are among the much better known sexually transmitted diseases, but the human papilloma virus (HPV) is just as common, according to Virgie Bright-Ellington, M.D.

More than 99 percent of cervical cancer is caused by HPV, Dr. Bright-Ellington writes in her book, 'What your Doctor Wants You to Know, But Doesn't Have Time To Tell You.' HPV, which has about 100 different strains, is found in 40 to 50 percent of adults worldwide.

"Out of dozens of strains of HPV, only two-16 and 18-cause changes that can be seen by the human eye: genital warts,'' writes Dr. Bright-Ellington, who trained at the Cambridge Hospital of Harvard Medical School. "However, there are a dozen HPV strains that can cause changes in the cervix. Over a long period of time, these changes can become cancerous. Once these cells become cancerous, there are minimal symptoms until the cancer has spread to other organs in the woman's pelvis and abdomen. Before the widespread use of the Pap smear for regular screening in the 1960s, cervical cancer was the leading cause of cancer death among women in the U.S. and worldwide."

In her book, Dr. Bright-Ellington explains that doctors assume everyone has been exposed to HPV unless they've never had oral, vaginal, or anal sex. Think of HPV as a social disease like the common cold. HPV can only be prevented 100 percent by not having any sexual contact. It is a subject of great importance today, which is why Dr. Bright-Ellington addresses it in Chapter 3 of her compact health resource book. In Chapter 2, she addresses the importance of controlling diabetes. In Chapter 1 she addresses the importance of finding a primary care physician. Look for weekly excerpts from the informative book here on the AOL Black Voices Wellness blog.

Evidence shows that condoms do not completely protect against the spread of HPV. To detect HPV infection in women, Pap smear test are done annually. If a woman has an abnormal Pap test and is found to have HPV, she is followed up with a Pap test more frequently or will have a simple treatment to freeze or burn off abnormal cells caused by the HPV infection.

The HPV vaccine Gardasil prevent cervical precancerous lesions and cervical cancer in 100 percent of the more than 12,000 women studied between the ages of 16 and 26. It's effective against the strains of HPV that cause 70 percent of cervical cancer cases. However, women who have received this vaccine must continue to get regular Pap smears.

Also, women with HPV who smoke have another reason to kick the habit. Smoking increases the progression of cervical cancer and precancerous cells. Smoking is like giving HPV a vitamin!

Moral of the story:
Cervical cancer is caused by a sexually transmitted virus. For years, doctors couldn't figure out why cervical cancer was epidemic among prostitutes but essentially nonexistent among Catholic nuns. Now we know.

The good news is that cervical cancer is preventable.

Women should start getting annual Pap smears within one year of having sex (any genital-genital, oral, or anal contact). Even if you decide to become celibate or not to have sex, continue to get regular Pap smears.

Use condoms 100 percent of the time when you're in a new relationship or outside of a long-term, mutually monogamous relationship...Men who are having or who have had sex with men should speak with a gastroenterologist about having annual anal Pap smears to prevent anal cancer.

Dr. Virgie Bright-Ellington is a graduate from the University of Michigan Medical School. She is a former clinical professor at New York University Medical School and a former instructor at Harvard Medical School, Youngstown State University and Northeastern Ohio Universities College of Medicine.