Since HPV can live outside of the body for short periods of time, studies also suggest that HPV transmission can potentially occur through genital contact without sex (such as hand-genital contact), but this route is unlikely. Transmission can occur during penetrative or non-penetrative sexual contact, including: The majority of genital HPV infections are spread through direct skin-to-skin sexual contact during oral, anal, or vaginal sex. Sex toys, hands, fingers, and other body parts that have come into contact with the HPV virus can transmit it when touched. Since HPV can live outside of the body for short periods of time, transmission is possible by simply touching something that has come into contact with the virus. Anyone who has had sexual skin-to-skin contact is at risk for HPV infection.ĭuring sex, small tears, cuts, or abrasions that cause tiny openings in the skin increase the likelihood of HPV transmission.
blood or semen), HPV can be passed by skin contact alone and is not spread through blood or body fluids. Unlike other STIs which are often spread by contact with infected fluids (i.e. However, the HPV virus which can lead to genital warts is highly contagious and transmitted by direct surface skin-to-skin contact. Genital warts themselves are not transmittable. The different ways genital warts can be transmitted
