Most of the time, people do not suspect that they have human papillomavirus (HPV) in their body. This is due to the fact that the papillomavirus is usually in a latent form, which is suppressed by natural immunity. Problems arise when it gets out of control and actively manifests itself in the form of growths on different parts of the body. Men suffer less from the effects of the virus than women. However, for them, its action can lead to serious problems in the form of papillomas on the penis.
Causes of occurrence
Viral DNA enters the body through micro-cracks in the skin or mucous membranes. When a man's immunity is weakened, the first manifestations of HPV appear a few months after infection.
Up to 80% of transmission occurs through the sexual route. Barrier birth control minimizes the risk of infection, but does not eliminate it completely.
Other types of infection:
- Household Path.The virus is transmitted along with an infected person's personal belongings: clothing, toiletries, etc. The risk of transmission is increased if the skin is damaged or even slightly damaged. This path is characterized by infection with weakly oncogenic virus types. Instead of causing serious health problems, they take the form of genital warts, papillomas, and warts and cause a cosmetic defect.
- From mother to child.If the mother was infected with HPV during pregnancy and childbirth and gave birth naturally, the baby is likely infected.
If a man has good immune defenses, the virus does not manifest itself and can remain in the body for a long time in latent form. Therefore it is not an infection with the virus itself that is dangerous, but a weakening of the immune system, which leads to the activation of HPV.
There are a number of factors that influence the possibility of strengthening the position of the virus:
- chronic diseases;
- hormonal problems;
- incorrectly selected contraception or its complete absence;
- viral infections;
- alcohol, smoking, or long-term use of antibiotics;
- frequent stress.
All of these factors have a negative effect on the immune system. If there is not one, but several provoking factors in a man's life, it will lead to the faster development of the papillomavirus.
Symptoms
Often papillomas only appear externally, but in some casesunspecific symptoms can occur:
- Itching and burning sensation during intercourse;
- pain when touching papillomas;
- accumulation of urine in the folds of the penis;
- unpleasant odor in the affected area.
In addition, neoplasms can grow and not only affect the penis area, but also appear on the anus and pubic bone.
What papillomas look like
Penis papilloma is a small neoplasm. At first it may appear on its own, but without proper treatment, the number of papillomas increases. However, they can merge with each other.
These growths look like flesh-colored or pink cauliflower inflorescences. Most often they are localized in the foreskin, head and frenum. More rarely, they are diagnosed in the urethra and scrotum. Papillomas can also appear as small white pimples that appear in long rows. This shape is typical for the localization in the area of the bridle.
One of the manifestations of HPV is Buschke-Levenshtein warts. It is characterized by rapid growth, excellent size and resistance to various types of treatment. Its appearance is due to the presence of multiple papillomas and warts that fuse together to form a large area of the lesion. The presence of the Buschke-Levenshtein condyloma is dangerous because the cells it changes can easily develop into cancer.
Which doctor you should contact
As a rule, a urologist deals with the diagnosis of papillomas in men. You can also seek advice from a dermatovenerologist or proctologist if you have genital warts in the anal area. However, papillomas are usually referred to a surgeon for removal. Overall, the diagnosis takes place in several phases:
- The urologist examines and interviews the patient.Oral interviews are required to assess the patient's lifestyle and determine the cause of the viral infection. During the visual examination, not only the condition of the penis is assessed, but also the adjacent organs - scrotum, anal area. This is necessary to complete the picture of the localization of the virus.
- urethral swab.Determines the presence of various sexually transmitted diseases.
- PCR.This analysis not only shows the presence of HPV in the body, but most likely determines its type.
- meatoscopy.In this procedure, the urethra is examined when the papilloma virus has infected the frenum.
- After removal of the papilloma, the doctor can order a biopsyto assess the condition of the removed tumor. This is necessary to rule out the risk of cancer and to ensure that the papilloma is benign.
In this case it is desirable to conduct a survey among both partners. Usually a woman is also infected with one of the types of papillomavirus. If only one man is treated, there is a very good chance that he will get sick again after a while.
Why papillomas are dangerous
The human papillomavirus is often accompanied by other related diseases. The appearance of papillomas in the area of the glans contributes to the accumulation of urine in the folds. This creates conditions for the emergence and growth of various microorganisms, which subsequently leads to infections. They can cause erosion around the papilloma and also contribute to inflammation of the urethra and testicles. These diseases are characterized by problems urinating, pain, and high fever.
Another danger is trauma to neoplasms, which leads to bleeding. This is because a lot of blood vessels form around the papillomas that supply blood to them. Even minor damage can result in injury.
Also, neoplasms can rub when moving, causing pain and discomfort to a man.
HPV and cancer
If the virus is just beginning to spread, neoplasms are sporadic and benign. Without treatment, they grow and fuse together. Over time, the cells degenerate into malignant ones.The risk of cancer is particularly high if a man is infected with severely oncogenic virus types - 16 or 18.They contribute to the occurrence of penile cancer and bladder cancer.
Treatment of papillomas
HPV treatment not only removes the external manifestations, but also strengthens the immune system, which should block the manifestations of the virus.Immunostimulating drugs are used to maintain immunity.
As an antiviral drug, an ointment is effective that suppresses the virus from multiplying and removes small growths. It does not always do the job of removing it completely, but it does prevent new growths from appearing. Antiviral ointment is prescribed to stimulate immunity. The ointment does not remove papillomas, but promotes the activation of cells of the immune system, which stops their growth and development.
Removal methods
There are several ways to remove new growths:
- Laser removal.The papilloma is exposed to a laser beam that completely burns out the growth. A crust forms at this point, which will subside after a few weeks. The method is considered effective due to the absence of relapse. The removal takes place under anesthesia. There is no bleeding, no scars or scars.
- Cryodestruction.Papillomas are exposed to liquid nitrogen. It instantly freezes the desired area, the neoplasm on it collapses and dies. The disadvantage of this method is the inability to control the depth of the effect of cryodestruction. In the place of the removed papilloma, a crust also remains, which after a while disappears.
- Radiosurgery.The principle of this method is similar to laser removal. Radio waves leave no scars and scars, and the procedure is preceded by pre-anesthesia with a special spray. After that, there are no more complications and the body recovers quickly.
- electrocoagulation.The growth is affected by electric current, which eliminates the leg and the papilloma disappears. If necessary, superficial anesthesia can be performed. The process takes a few minutes, is widely used, and is affordable. However, this method can leave scars after healing.
- Surgical intervention.It is used in rare cases when the tumor becomes too large. It is done under anesthesia, it has a long healing time and trauma. The method is good in that you can save the removed growth for histological examination.
The cost of each method depends on the complexity of the work, the size and number of papillomas to be removed.
Before choosing a method, consult your doctor. He will tell you what is best to use in your situation and explain in detail how the procedure is carried out. Even after removing the neoplasm, it is advisable to take the material for histology. This is necessary to determine whether the process of degeneration from benign neoplasms to malignant has begun. This method helps detect early cell changes and prevent cancer from spreading.