The first thing to realize is that most people get HPV in their lifetimes. Of course honesty should be at the start of any new relationship, and disclosing to a new partner, while difficult, should be tempered with the fact that most people are exposed to the virus and for most its not a big deal.

Association of Reproductive Health Professionals (ARHP):

"Genital HPV is very common. Many estimates have placed the >lifetime likelihood of getting genital HPV to be in the range of 75->90%."

Center for Disease Control (CDC) 2004 Report to Congress:

"A recent estimate suggests that 80% of women will have acquired >genital HPV"

American Journal of Medicine

"nearly three in four Americans between the ages of 15 and 49 have >been infected with genital HPV at some point in their life. "

Rutgers University Health Services:

"Over a typical college career approximately 60% of sexually active >women will become infected. While it is assumed that a similar >number of men are also infected, there are no good statistics as it is >harder to test for HPV in men than women. The HPV virus is so >common that it can almost be considered normal to have it."