Genital warts are highly contagious and are caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV), which is one of the most common sexually transmitted diseases in existence.
HPV is so contagious that various studies state that most sexually active people have the likelihood of carrying the virus at some point in their lives.
Índice
How contagious are genital warts?
There are different types of HPV that attack the genital area and cause the well-known genital warts. These lesions are generally produced by HPV strains 6 or 11.
The virus attacks the skin cells in the vaginal area in women, and generally the penis in men, causing small fleshy bumps to proliferate which can vary in size and shape.
Is it contagious? Anyone who has vaginal, oral, or anal sex with or without protection with an HPV carrier can contract genital warts.
Infection is not only through penetration during sexual intercourse, but can also be transmitted by skin-to-skin contact with the genital mucosa. Ejaculation is not a necessity for transmission to occur.
The infected person does not need to have genital warts to transmit the disease. Remember that some HPV carriers are asymptomatic and never realize that they had the virus.
Even though HPV may not generate symptoms, it can be active in the body and continue infecting for several months or even years. All these aspects influence the high transmission rate of genital warts.
In some cases, the virus remains inactive and is activated months later with any alteration of the immune system showing symptoms.
It can also happen that genital warts remove themselves, everything depends on the carrier’s immune system. Therefore, the duration of the lesions varies from person to person.
These lesions affect men and women alike. In women, they appear on the vulva, vaginal walls, cervix, the area between the external genitals and the anus, as well as in the anal canal. In the case of men, the lesions are present on the tip of the penis, anus, scrotum, thigh, and in the groin.
Engaging in high-risk or unprotected sex are key risk factors that increase the transmission rate of genital warts. Also, the condition of the person’s immune system influences, if their defenses are low, they run a higher risk of being infected.
Measures to prevent the spread of genital warts
Although genital warts are contagious, there are preventive measures that you should consider to avoid contracting or transmitting the disease, as well as to maintain good sexual health.
We recommend that you use protection methods (condom, oral barriers) whenever you have sex (vaginal, oral, or anal).
Given that these methods are not 100% safe, if you see that your partner has genital warts, you should avoid sexual contact. It’s also important that you do not engage in high-risk sexual behaviors.
An excellent option to protect against some types of HPV is vaccination. Ask your doctor if you can get it.
These were some tips to help you know how to deal with HPV. However, there is much more you need to do if you really want to get rid of HPV and warts forever.
What you need to do is GET RID OF THE ROOT of the problem.
For that reason, I recommend you to look into Dr. Kirkland's story and how he was able to cure HPV and get rid of warts for good.
I wish you great success in your recovery!
Frequently asked questions
Are genital warts contagious all the time?
Yes, genital warts are contagious all the time, as long as you have the virus in your body, you will continue to be contagious to other people.
Can I pass genital warts to my girlfriend?
Yes, as long as you are having sex with your girlfriend, you will always put her at risk of contracting HPV, even if you use a condom.
Does genital warts always mean STD?
Yes, genital warts always mean STD, as the only disease that can cause genital warts is HPV.
Are genital warts a worry?
Having genital warts is not a matter of life or death, so don’t worry about them. Genital warts are caused by low-risk HPV, that is, the type that does not cause cancer. Therefore, your life is not at risk. Just make sure to optimize your immune system to get rid of HPV once and for all, and then, the warts will disappear.
Sources:
- https://healthyhorns.utexas.edu/HT/HT_genitalwarts.html
- https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/4209-genital-warts
- https://kidshealth.org/en/parents/genital-warts.html
- https://www.plannedparenthood.org/learn/stds-hiv-safer-sex/genital-warts
Medically reviewed by Dr. Amy Wilson. Dr. Amy Wilson, born in the United States, obtained her medical degree from Lincoln University School of Medicine. Specializing in obstetrics and gynecology, she’s dedicated 15 years to women’s health, becoming a distinguished gynecologist and serving in various U.S. medical institutions.