Sexually Transmitted Diseases / Question
Published: December 10, 2002
Dear TeenHealthFX,
If a guy fingers a girl, with warts on his finger, can the girl get genital warts?
Signed: Fingering and Warts
Dear Fingering and Warts,
Viruses cause all warts but there are many different types of warts. The warts found on your finger are known as common warts and appear as small flesh-colored bumps with a scaly, irregular surface. These types of warts do not usually cause symptoms and resolve themselves in 12-24 months without treatment. If desired, the warts can be eradicated sooner by using an over-the-counter acid preparation containing 17% salicylic acid (e.g. Compound-W).Venereal warts or genital warts are a sexually transmitted disease. The lesions are caused by the human papillomavirus. To answer your question- No you cannot spread a common wart on the finger to another individual so they end up with the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV).
Human Papilloma Virus, which causes genital warts, is a very common STD in the U.S. HPV is spread usually by intercourse and other sexual activities. In women, the symptoms can appear weeks to months after exposure. Visible genital warts look like small painless hard spots on the bottom of the vaginal opening, but can also appear on the surrounding areas, anus and cervix. Warts in men occur on the head and shaft of the penis and scrotum. The virus multiplies in moist conditions and one can attempt to prevent the spreading of the virus by practicing safer sex. Condoms help to prevent it, but do not always prevent the spread of the virus. STDs, like HPV and Herpes are not 100% preventable by condoms because condoms cannot cover every inch of a person's genitals. STD's can be spread when an infected individual's area (which can be anywhere in the genital area including the upper thigh) comes into contact with their partner's genitals, this is known as skin-to-skin transmission.
Genital Warts can be spread without having sex. If you and an infected partner have skin-to-skin contact the infection can be spread, but there needs to be sexual contact. This is why it is important to always practice safer sex even when you are not having intercourse.
If you do not have a doctor or wish to see an Adolescent Medicine physician, please call the Adolescent/Young Adult Center for Health at (973) 971-6475 in northern New Jersey or call your local Planned Parenthood.
Signed: TeenHealthFX
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