# Can HPV be spread by non-sexual contact?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-hpv-be-spread-by-non-sexual-contact/616273>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [March 20, 2012, 2:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-hpv-be-spread-by-non-sexual-contact/616273 "2012-03-20T02:18:57Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![grude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47774/32.png) [@grude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/grude)\
**Post date:** [March 20, 2012, 2:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-hpv-be-spread-by-non-sexual-contact/616273/1 "2012-03-20T02:18:57Z")

</div>

I am unable to confirm whether this is possible or not, so let us say a person with HPV touches the warts and then shakes someone’s hand. Is it possible to contract it in that manner?

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![DSeid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dseid/32/20194_2.png) [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\
**Post date:** [March 20, 2012, 3:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-hpv-be-spread-by-non-sexual-contact/616273/2 "2012-03-20T03:36:32Z")

</div>

[Yes.](http://downloads.tswj.com/2007/320147.pdf) Non-sexual transmission does occur. But in general sexual transmission.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![md2000](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/73ab20/32.png) [@md2000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/md2000)\
**Post date:** [March 20, 2012, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-hpv-be-spread-by-non-sexual-contact/616273/3 "2012-03-20T15:57:48Z")

</div>

Is the infection localized? I.e. HPV causes some cervical cancer because the infection is in that location. Is this like herpes, where you can have lips sores from certain contact and genital sores from different contact? Or does HPV get into the blood stream and then find its target spot like hepatitis?

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![savager](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/85f322/32.png) [@savager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/savager)\
**Post date:** [March 20, 2012, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-hpv-be-spread-by-non-sexual-contact/616273/4 "2012-03-20T17:38:11Z")

</div>

HPV’s can be transmissable from person to person through touch or the use of shared objects (e.g. Using the same damp gym towel ) though transmission through this route is rare and actually more difficult than you would imagine.

also, fyi, not all HPV’s cause cancer, there are about 6 or so “high risk” viruses which are know to cause.