FAQ: How do people get HPV?

HPV is passed on through genital contact, most often during vaginal and anal sex. HPV may also be passed on during oral sex and genital-to-genital contact. HPV can be passed on between straight and same-sex partners?even when the infected partner has no signs or symptoms.

A person can have HPV even if years have passed since he or she had sexual contact with an infected person. Most infected persons do not realize they are infected or that they are passing the virus on to a sex partner. It is also possible to get more than one type of HPV.

Very rarely, a pregnant woman with genital HPV can pass HPV to her baby during delivery. In these cases, the child can develop RRP.
 

More Frequently Asked Questions

- FAQ: What do genital warts look like?
- FAQ: What is genital HPV infection?
- FAQ: How Do I Know If I Have Genital Warts?
- FAQ: What Happens If I Don't Get Genital Warts Treated?
- FAQ: How Can I Prevent Getting Infected With Genital Warts?