Genital warts are caused by various types of human papillomavirus (HPV) viruses, mainly transmitted through sexual contact. Some HPV viruses can cause cancer of the uterus, cervix, penis, and anus. HPV-6 and HPV-11 are the most common types causing genital warts, while HPV-16 and HPV-18 have a higher risk of causing cancer. Having multiple sexual partners increases the risk of contracting HPV and genital warts.
The causes of genital warts are all in the same category: viruses. Various types of human papillomavirus (HPV) viruses are responsible for the development of genital warts. Warts are mainly transmitted, however, through sexual contact. One sexual episode with a person who has HPV can be enough to cause genital warts. Having sexual contact with multiple partners can further increase your risk of getting HPV and genital warts.
People often talk about HPV as if a virus is capable of causing genital warts. The reality is that there are more than 100 HPV viruses and many of them are among the causes of genital warts. Scientists have discovered that at least 40 different HPVs have the ability to cause genital warts. Even more disturbing is the fact that some subsets of these viruses also have the ability to cause cancer of the uterus and cervix. In fact, some of these tumors may even be able to contribute to the development of cancer of the penis and anus.
There are many types of HPV considered to cause genital warts, but most cases are caused by HPV-6 and HPV-11. Interestingly, these two HPV types have a low risk of causing cancer. Some other HPV types that are among the causes of genital warts are more likely to cause cancer. For example, HPV-16 causes genital warts and is also a frequent cause of cervical cancer. HPV-18 is another type of HPV that causes genital warts and has a higher risk of causing cancer.
While HPVs are the technical causes of genital warts, many people debate the causes in terms of how a person is exposed to the virus that causes them. In most cases, the mode of transmission is unprotected sexual contact. A person usually gets HPV, and eventually genital warts, from a sexual partner. Typically, the length of time between exposure and the development of warts is about three months. While one sexual contact is enough to cause the spread of HPV and genital warts, having multiple sexual partners increases your risk of contracting HPV and your risk of developing genital warts.
HPV and genital warts are easy to transmit through sexual contact. It is, however, possible for an individual to have sexual contact with an infected partner and remain free of genital warts. The average person has about a 40% chance of avoiding genital warts in a sexual episode with an infected partner.
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