Final answer:
The most common sexually transmitted disease in the United States is human papillomavirus (HPV), surpassing the bacterial STD, chlamydia, due to its higher prevalence.
Step-by-step explanation:
The most common sexually transmitted disease (STD) in the United States is human papillomavirus (HPV). HPV is estimated to infect about 79.1 million Americans, with approximately 14 million new infections occurring each year. It is so prevalent that almost all sexually active individuals will get HPV at some point in their lives. There are many different types of HPV, and while some can cause health problems such as genital warts and cervical cancer, many infections do not lead to serious health issues and may resolve on their own.
Although chlamydia is reported as the most common bacterial STD in the United States with millions of cases, particularly among young people aged 15 to 24, HPV surpasses it when considering all types of sexually transmitted infections, including viral infections.