Hello. Thanks for writing to us at healthcaremagic Genital warts is an STD. Warts are caused by Human Papilloma Virus (HPV). While warts and even sub-clinical HPV infection can persist for a long time, most of the time the body itself takes care of the infection. Currently available treatment options are only for visible warts/growths. There is no treatment to get rid of sub-clinical infection and moreover, there are no tests either to know whether a male still carries the infection (sub-clinical infection); this is unlike in females where a Pap smear can be used to take samples to detect viral DNA. Since your partner had warts few years back, and never had any visible warts thereafter, there is a chance that his body has taken care of the infection and he is now free of it. However, having said that I must say that HPV infection can sometimes remain clinically silent for years. Warts are a local infection. Genital warts can only be acquired through genital to genital contact and not through kissing. Hope this information helps in making up your mind Regards