How is HPV Transmitted?

Both men and women can be infected by HPV and pass it on upon sexual intercourse. Most commonly, HPV is transmitted through sexual intercourse, though some cases are infected by non-sexual activities such as getting in touch with HPV-infected objects (e.g. door holds and handrails). A person may get HPV if the skin or genitals has contacted with HPV-infected objects.

• HPV is highly transmissible from one person to another through genital contact, most often during vaginal and anal sex. It may also be transmitted by oral sex.
• HPV can be transmitted between opposite-sex and same-sex partners, even when the infected partner has no signs or symptoms. Having only one lifetime sex partner could still put you at risk of HPV.
• Using a condom can help to avoid HPV, but as condoms do not cover all of the genital areas, the unprotected skin is still possible to be infected.
• The incubation time for HPV can be several years; HPV-related diseases may develop after a long time since having sexual contact with an infected person.
• Most HPV carriers do not realize they are infected and transmitted the virus to a sex partner. It is possible to be infected with more than one type of HPV at a time.
• Rarely, a pregnant woman with genital HPV can pass the virus to her baby during delivery. Very rarely, juvenile-onset recurrent respiratory papillomatosis (JORRP) may happen to the child and tumor in the throat may be developed.

If HPV is developed into warts, it can be infected as follows:

• Infection is likely when warts are present but it is still possible to infect someone after warts are disappeared.
• It is possible but very rare to develop warts in the mouth or throat, or on the lips from oral sex.
• Warts can be spread from the genital area to the area around the anus without having anal sex.
• It is possible for warts on the hand to be passed to the genitals but this is very rare.