Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) is one of the most common
sexually transmitted diseases and over 50% of the
world’s sexually active population will get
the virus at some point in their lives – and
it very often has no symptoms
but lies dormant in the epidermis. This virus is spread
through skin to skin contact, including genital, oral
and anal sexual contact. There is also evidence to
confirm the hand transmission of genital warts ie
touching a partner’s genitals, and then touching
your own with the same hand. The possibility of transmitting
genital warts by hand therefore does exist but is
less common than the normal transmission. Therefore
it is possible for the HPV
virus and genital warts to be spread through foreplay.
A recent study on the likelihood of transmitting
genital warts by hand
An interesting study was carried out at the Department
of GU Medicine, at the Addenbrooke’s Hospital
in Cambridge, England where…
“14 men and 8 women with genital warts had
cytobrush samples taken from genital lesions, finger
tips and tips of finger tips. Samples were examined
for the presence of HPV DNA by the polymerase chain
reaction.
HPV DNA was detected in all female genital samples
and in 13 out of the 14 male genital samples. HPV
DNA was detected in the finger brush samples of 3
women and 9 men while the same HPV type was identified
in both genital and hand samples in 1 woman and 5
men.
This study has identified hand carriage of genital
HPV types in patients with genital warts. Although
sexual intercourse is considered the usual mode of
transmitting genital HPV infection, our finds raise
the possibility of transmission by finger-genital
contact.”
This study would appear to confirm the possibility
of transmitting
genital warts by hand, so it is wise to be aware
that even non-penetrative sex play can be risky too.
It is a skin to skin contact condition.
If you already have genital warts, avoid touching
the genital area and use rubber gloves or wash the
hands thoroughly in hot soapy water if contact is
made. Any growth on the genitals should be examined
by your doctor or healthcare provider and they will
advise you on how to treat
genital warts and the different methods available.
What are the signs and symptoms of genital
warts?
Transmitting genital warts is a strong possibility
when you have sexual or skin to skin contact with
a partner who has the HPV virus. If genital warts
do appear, they usually occur as small growths on
the genital areas. They can be small individual warts
or they can accumulate into large groups of warts
on the genital tissues. If not treated, a genital
wart may grow and take on a fleshy and cauliflower
like appears.
If genital warts are inside the vagina or are of
the anal warts type, or if they are too small to see,
the first indication of their presence may well be
a painful or itchy feeling in that Area particularly
during sexual intercourse. However, it can take anything
from a few months to many years for these warts to
appear after the initial transmission. Often they
never occur so that you may not even be aware that
you carrying the virus and that you can transmit the
virus to others. Some people are fortunate and manage
to clear the HPV virus through their body’s
own immune response.
What about the hand transmission of ordinary
warts?
Although there is a possibility of transmitting genital
warts by hand either to or from your sexual partner,
there is no possibility of transmitting those ordinary
hand warts to the genitalia. The strains of HPV that
cause warts on your hands or feet are not the same
strains that cause genital warts. So you can rest
assured that genital contact with a wart on your hand
(or your sexual partner’s) will not cause
genital warts.
Conclusion
If you know you are infected with HPV or genital
warts, it is very important that you tell your partner
before you engage in foreplay because of the risk
of hand transmission of genital warts)or of course
intercourse itself. About 50% of those with HPV never
develop genital warts, but are still capable of transmitting
the virus to others through foreplay or intercourse.
Go
to our Genital Warts Treatment page
