Genital warts are spread from sexual skin-to-skin contact with someone who has it — including vaginal, anal, and oral sex. So the only surefire way to avoid getting genital warts and other STDs is to not have any contact with another persons mouth or genitals.

Can I infect my partner with genital warts?

If youre diagnosed with genital warts, its important to tell your sexual partner. Its possible to pass on the virus even when there are no visible warts on the skin, so your partner may have it without knowing.

How likely is it to spread genital warts?

Genital warts are more contagious, or more easily spread, than other warts. They are spread by skin-to-skin contact. They may spread to other nearby parts of the body and they may be passed from person to person by sexual activity. The warts are usually first seen 1 to 6 months after you have been infected with HPV.