# Different strains of wart virus? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [March 28, 2003, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/different-strains-of-wart-virus/164917 "2003-03-28T22:59:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 2\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![sisenor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6de8d8/32.png) [@sisenor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sisenor)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2003, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/different-strains-of-wart-virus/164917/1 "2003-03-28T22:59:38Z")
If I had warts on my hand would I risk transferring them to my genitals through, for instance, using the restroom or masturbating–or are genital warts a completely different viral strain than plantar or “regular” warts? ---
**Author:** ![Bob55](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e9c0ed/32.png) [@Bob55](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bob55)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2003, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/different-strains-of-wart-virus/164917/2 "2003-03-29T01:42:39Z")
There are different strains of Papilloma Virus, [this](http://health.yahoo.com/health/encyclopedia/000886/0.html) site says: > [@](#): > > More than 70 different types of HPV have been classified. Several types, including 6, 11, and 42, are associated with raised, rough, easily visible genital warts (especially in women). > > Other types are associated with flat warts. More importantly, several types are associated with pre-malignant and malignant changes in the cervix (abnormal Pap smears). These include types 16, 18, 31, 33, 35, 39, 45, 51, and 52. Research also shows that the presence of both HPV and herpes virus together is a good predictor of cervical cancer. From what I read genital warts are only transferred through sexual contact. To get that wart off your hand, try [duct tape!](http://www.hsc.wvu.edu/sop/wvdic/Drug%20Related%20News/duct_tape_for_common_warts.htm)