One US politician has taken the very brave step of publicly announcing that she has been diagnosed with "high-risk HPV" on Twitter.

Melissa Mark-Viverito, who is a New York City Council Speaker, received the news during a recent visit to her gynaecologist and was told to get a biopsy as soon as possible.

Rather than keep the diagnosis to herself, she made the decision to share it with her 12,000 followers, in the hope that it would raise awareness of the need to get tested.

"Yes, I'm an extremely private person," she said. "But this position has led me to understand I now have a bigger responsibility. So....#moretocome."

This position has led me to understand I now have a bigger responsibility.

She continued: "At recent #GYN visit alarmed to find out last one, 2yrs ago. Friday got call re: results. Told have "high risk HPV". #Biopsy needed #ASAP.

"Tuesday I'm there. To say I'm not wee bit worried = lie. "High risk HPV" can POTENTIALLY but NOT definitively lead to cervical #cancer."

HPV is the name given to a family of viruses, which are easily spread by sexual activity and worst of all, often causes no symptoms.

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The virus can vary in severity, ranging from warts to cancer, as Melissa mentions in her tweets. While most of us will catch HPV at some point, our immune system often fights the infection. However, in other cases it lingers, causing serious health problems.

Despite there being some (unnecessary and hugely outdated) stigma around HPV, Melissa decided to use her position to encourage people to #TakeTheTest and Twitter loves her for it.

Her account was soon flooded with people backing her decision to share the news, "bravely decid[ing] to use a personal crisis as a teachable moment" and for "changing the conversation about reproductive health".

Gracias for your words. They demonstrate the power sharing experiences can have.

Girls aged 12 to 13 years are routinely offered the HPV vaccine in this country and women aged 25 (or 20 in Scotland and Wales) upwards are urged to have a smear test every three to five years.

Abnormal cells in the cervix can also be treated if detected early, which is why it is so inspiring to see women like Melissa raising awareness and encouraging us all to get tested.

Melissa added today: "Just arriving back in #NYC & continue to be overwhelmed by love & support. I'm taking tomorrow head on! Thank you all! #hpv #takethetest".

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Claire Hodgson
Editor-in-Chief

Claire Hodgson is Editor-in-Chief of Cosmopolitan UK. Formerly the brand's Digital Director, she has worked in the media industry for over fifteen years, specialising in cross-platform content, from print and digital, to social and video. Originally working as an entertainment journalist, Claire is a film fanatic, box-set binger and music-lover, having interviewed the likes of Channing Tatum and Zac Efron, with her Scarlett Johansson and Mark Ruffalo video going viral in 2015. You're most likely to find Claire writing random entertainment op-eds on her love for Pedro Pascal and F1: Drive to Survive, or lusting after dreamy holiday destinations in our travel section.

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