HPV is highly infectious and can be transmitted by skin to skin contact with an infected person. It can be passed through oral, anal, or vaginal contact but the skin surrounding the genitals may also be infected with the virus.
The infected person can show no symptoms, meaning that it is almost impossible to know if your partner is carrying the virus. Some people can transmit the virus to others even if they do not display symptoms of the infection, meaning that you can get genital warts even if they are not present on the infected person.