Researchers at the University of Washington have found just how easily people infected with herpes simplex type 2 virus, which causes genital herpes, can unknowingly pass it on to other people.  On average, the researchers found those “who had had past herpes outbreaks were infectious 20.1% of the time, while the asymptomatic group was found to be able to transmit the virus 10.2% of time.”  Virus presence was detected “at least once in 83.4% of the people with symptomatic infection and in 68.2% of people with asymptomatic herpes.” The authors say the study shows that even people with asymptomatic herpes type 2 “can transmit it to a sexual partner.”

This further means that pregnant women with no symptoms can pass on the virus to their babies with devastating consequences for the newborn, including death.  Moreover, HSV-2 infection can cause complications in people who have weakened immune systems due to chronic disease, and it can increase a person’s likelihood of contracting HIV.

Condom use, drug therapy and disclosure of the disease to partners can help curb the spread of herpes.  A blood tests to detect HSV-2 became widely available in 1999, making it easier for people to find out if they have genital herpes even if the infection isn’t active.

Genital warts can be transmitted during oral sex.  Warts can grow in the mouth and in the throat – causing discomfort, pain, trouble swallowing, bleeding, and sometimes cancer.  Similarly, if your partner has warts in their mouth/throat – they can give you HPV.

In short – if you have warts on your penis, or in your mouth – get treatment!  It isn’t something you want to share.

Venereal warts are very contagious, most often spread by sexual intercourse. It is believed that two out of three individuals that have sexual contact with a partner with condyloma will get lesions within 3 months. If your sexual partner(s) is known to have venereal warts, protective measures need to be taken by the use of condoms until both you and your partner are free of warts

Warts are particularly common in childhood and are spread by direct contact or autoinocculation. This means if a wart is scratched, the viral particles may be spread to another area of skin. It may take as long as twelve months for the wart to first appear.