are all warts caused by an sti? because i know they are all caused by hpv, which i’ve always thought of as just an sti. how are warts transmitted in other ways, if they are? why are the types of hpv that are sexually transmitted only sexually transmitted? i hope this made sense
Yes. HPV is an STI and all warts are caused by HPV. HPV is generally transmitted through skin-to-skin contact, which is part of what makes it so contagious. It's not bodily fluids, its almost always skin to skin (including contact with things containing enough skin particles).
It's easiest to spread through things like contact with genitalia because they've got mucus membranes which make them more susceptible to spreading and contacting it. But it can spread through other areas as well.
For example, someone with HPV could transmit it to a baby when giving birth. There are some that can spread through reusing someone's used (unwashed) towel that contains enough skin. You can get it from touching someone else's warts! Things like that.
See, a lot of STIs transmit in ways outside of sexually. It's just more common for them to transmit through sexual activity or its more common for it to be dangerous when transmitted through sexual activity.
Its not that they solely transmit sexually. Its usually just easier to transmit infections like that through mucus membranes like the genitals!
Hope this helps a little! Lemme know if you have any other questions or this didn't make sense, though. 💞
