Genital warts caused by the HPV virus is one of the most common sexually transmitted infections.
Warts are transmitted via skin to skin contact where the Human Papilloma Virus is shed and able to to enter the body. There can be a long time, even years between exposure to the virus and the warts showing up. This can be confusing to people who worry that their most recent sexual partner was the source of infection. This is rarely the case.
You can learn more about the HPV vaccine from your family doctor, this can help prevent against the 4 most virulent strains of the wart virus.
In gay men anal warts can lead to anal cancer so it’s important that visual inspection for warts both on the genitals as well as anus are part of your regular gay men’s STI checkup.
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