Recieved oral sex from someone with genital warts, am I infected?

Dear Ask The Doctor: I recieved oral sex from a girl with genital warts, we also made out but aside from a brief contact of my hand to her genital area (about 2 seconds and no penetration), I had no contact in that region. She told me not to worry about it, and I went to a free clinic and they told me not to worry about it either. This was three weeks ago and I haven't noticed anything on my end. However, I am seeing a different girl soon, and I had read that genital warts was caused by the HPV virus, and it can be transmitted via skin. I was planning on using a condom of course(in the unlikely event things progressed that far), but I am adverse to having a fling with anyone if I am going to inadvertently infect them with an HPV strain that causes genital warts. What would you recommend?

Dear Brad:

HSV-2 virus and HPV virus are different types of viruses; however they both can cause warts in your genital area.

I totally agree that HPV can be transmitted just by skin to skin contact, especially if you had contact with her warts and also by oral sex.  Now, a person can have HPV even if years have passed since he or she had sexual contact with an infected person. Most infected persons do not realize they are infected or that they are passing the virus on to a sex partner.

There's no cure for HPV infection. In most cases, your immune system rids your body of the virus, and warts often go away without treatment and sometimes without developing signs and symptoms.

I would suggest you to be more careful with your sexual relationships to avoid getting this or any other STD. I wish you the best.