Genital warts are caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV). The most common mode for transmitting the disease is through skin-to-skin contact especially during genital, oral, and even anal sex with a partner who is infected. In particular, strains 6 and 11 of HPV are the most common reasons for developing the disease.
There are two main types of HPV: the high risk and low risk types. High-risk HPV types can cause cancer of the cervix, vagina, anus, penis, and throat. However, despite that they cause the more serious condition, they are not the ones that cause the appearance of genital warts.
On the other hand, low-risk types are those that cause genital warts. When a person has the virus that causes low-risk types of infection, it is a true cause for alarm because of the difficulty in detecting their presence. In fact, most people who have the disease may not even be aware of it until the disease has advanced too far. This is the reason why it is very important to have one checked regularly for the presence of the virus causing low risk type of genital warts.
Aside from HPV, the other factors that may cause the development of genital warts are birth control pills, alcohol overdose, and smoking.
