Transferring Warts from Hands to Genitals

Hi,

I have a couple of warts on my hands.  Being a considerate person by nature, I have been doing a ton of "research" on whether or not it is possible to transfer common or flat warts to the genital area, my own or another's.  I put research in quotations because I'm intelligent enough to understand that one can't always sort the real answers from the non-sense.

I've seen dozens of people ask this same question, on this forum, too, and most receive either a "yes, this is entirely possible so get the warts removed or don't touch anyone" or a "genital warts are caused by a different type of HPV than are hand warts."

I understand that "genital warts," by definition, are caused by a separate type of HPV than are "hand" warts, but does this necessarily mean that one absoutely CANNOT have a common or flat wart on one's genitals?  

I am normally a very reasonable, logical woman, but since I've gotten these warts I've been completely the opposite.  I'm even using two separate wash clothes in the shower, one for genital area and one for the rest of my body so that there is no chance I can spread it.  I'm afraid to touch my boyfriend's penis for fear that he'll eventually develop warts on it.  I want the real answer once and for all.  

Q:  If I touch my own genitals, or someone else's, can genitalia contract that HPV and express warts?

[Vanessa Lacuesta]

Hi.

Not all persons who are exposed to HPV in general will be infected or will develop the disease. There are several factors involved eg viral load, anatomic barriers like an intact skin or mucosal lining, the immune response of the person, the involved areas, and the frequency of contact. However , the chance of getting the infection increases with frequent exposure and in the presence of broken skin. A decrease in immune response in the presence of stress, steroid intake and other underlying infections may also increase the chance of infection.

Genital warts may be spread by both sexual and nonsexual means which means direct skin to skin contact may  lead to an infection. Common warts may also be spread through direct skin to skin contact. However, the transmission pattern may depend on the HPV type present and the area of exposure. HPV has several types and they have particular areas of preference in the body.

At this point, the best way to prevent transmission is through treatment of the warts. Also, prevent direct skin to skin contact as at some point, warts may be visible months after infection. Then again, this is not always true in most cases due to the aforementioned factors.