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A: These are good questions. Venereal warts are caused by viruses called human papillomaviruses (HPV), which infect the lining of the vagina, the cvervix, the penis, and skin surfaces. These HPV infections may cause warts in these areas or may have no visible evidence on the tissue surface. Some types of HPV cause cancer of the cervix in women. HPV warts can be destroyed by freezing, burning (with laser energy), surgical removal, or treatment with acids or chemicals. Unless all the virus-infected tissue is destroyed or removed, there may still be virus in the tissue. This can be passed to one's sex partner by direct contact of the skin ! or genital tissue with the HPV-infected tissues. However, the areas with untreated HPV are the most infectious. Guys don't usually have HPV in the semen (ejaculated fluid) unless there are warts in the urethra or penile opening. Areas where warts WERE and are no longer visible may still have HPV in them and can be infectious, but are less likely to be infectious than active wart areas. HPV can stay in the tissues a long time (at least 3-5 years):we don't yet know if it stays in the body "always" the way herpes virus does. Once a person has warts or HPV, he or she should assume that they MIGHT be able to give it to a sex partner indefinitely.