How do you get HPV and Genital Warts?

Anyone can get HPV. The most common way to get it is by having sex or touching the genitals of someone who already has the infection. Rarely, people can be born
with the infection or children can get it while being bathed or changed. Sometimes people become infected with HPV and the warts will not develop for many years.

How do I tell if I have HPV and Genital Warts?

Your doctor can usually tell if you have genital warts. Sometimes it is easy to tell because the you can see the warts. They look like skin colored bumps or a lot of little fingers. There can be just one or many of them. Other times they are so small that your doctor must put vinegar on the wart and use a magnifying glass or microscope to see the wart. This does not hurt. Your doctor can usually tell if it is a wart or one of the things that just looks like one. The warts may also make a Pap smear abnormal.

Can I give HPV or Genital Warts to someone else?

Yes. You can pass them to someone else during sex. The best way to not pass them on is not to have sex. Condoms (rubbers) may help to slow its spread. If you have had sex with another person many times, they are probably already infected.