Thank you for your question. Genital warts appear following direct skin to skin contact during vaginal, anal, or oral sex with someone who may be infected with the Human Papillomavirus (HPV). HPV is one of the most commonly diagnosed sexually transmitted infections (STI) and anyone can get it! Make sure you use a condom every single time you have sexual intercourse and talk to your health care provider (HCP) about the HPV vaccine. Also, you should talk to your HCP, before you begin using Vaseline. Only your HCP can properly treat your genital warts and you should never use any over-the-counter products to treat the warts. It’s also important that you speak with HPC before treatment to make sure you have genital warts verses pimples, because the two are often confused.
It is totally OK to hug your pregnant cousin. Genital warts can’t be passed to someone else through hugs, kisses, swimming, or utensil sharing. However, anytime you touch the warts be sure to wash your hands for at least twenty seconds with soap and warm water to prevent accidentally spreading them. If you have any questions or concerns, speak with your health care provider.