Ten Facts About Genital HPV

Most often, HPV is transmitted during vaginal and anal sex, but can also be passed on during oral sex and genital-to-genital contact. It can be passed on between heterosexual and same-sex partners, even when the infected person shows no signs or symptoms. Most infected individuals do not realize they are infected or that they are transmitting the virus to a sexual partner. In rare instances, a pregnant woman with HPV can pass the virus to her baby during delivery. In this situation, the baby develops warts in the throat, which can sometimes block the airway and cause breathing difficulties.