Can warts on the hands be spread to the genitals?

[bakihanmax]

I have two possible warts on my hands and all the things that i have read on how warts are spread has not given me any straight professional answers. I am concerned that the warts on my hand will spread to the genitals or other parts of my body if i touch them, some tell me that they are very contagious and not to touch anywhere else and other sites have told me that you can only have warts on certain parts of your body depending on what strain of HPV you have contracted, if anybody knows for sure it would be very appreciated. Thank you

[theterminator5476]

No, you cannot spread warts on your hands to your genitals because the viruses that cause either condition are two totally different viruses.  All warts, by virtue of being a wart, is contagious but genital warts are much, much more contagious than warts on your hand which are significantly less contagious than genital warts.  You will read many opinions on the Internet, especially on forums with people saying that "it is possible" or "there's a chance" of spreading hand warts to your genitals, but again the answer is no.  If you pay attention, these opinions are those of non-professionals who do not work in medicine or deal with real cases of STDs.

The virus that causes warts on your hands are usually caused by HPV 1 or 2.  Those that cause most cases of genital warts are HPV 6 or 11.  But remember, HPV is just a label, a name people have decided to name the two different viruses, so don't let the name fool you.  The viruses, again, are totally different viruses and are unrelated.  The hand wart virus cannot live on your genitals and likewise the genital wart virus cannot live on your hands (though there is some evidence that if you rub your genital warts then say rub someone else's genitals then you can spread it that way since the virus can be on the surface of your skin for a little bit of time since genital warts are more contagious but the vast majority of cases are spread through old-fashioned sex).

Another thing, most doctors can only say "very unlikely", but when they say that, they are just being politically correct.  There are always rare cases no matter what disease you're talking about but basically they mean practically impossible.

Neither virus can live in either part of the body, it does not like that area and cannot sustain itself there.  The virus dies basically in an area that it does not have proclivity for being in.  So, rest easy.  You cannot spread hand warts to your genitals.

[BunkBed]

'Another thing, most doctors can only say "very unlikely", but when they say that, they are just being politically correct.  There are always rare cases no matter what disease you're talking about but basically they mean practically impossible.'

If there are rare cases of cross site infection then surely that means that people are correct in saying that its 'very unlikely' as opposed to 'no'?

[Bhupinder Kaur, MD]

Hello,
Warts of hands are caused by HSV 1 warts of genitalia are caused by HSV -2. HSV 2 is mostly passed through intercourse and it is difficult to get warts of hands transferred to genitalia but it is not impossible. Generally HSV does not affect genitalia but in very few cases, it can do so.
Hope it helps. Take care and regards.