Penis warts are small growths that are located in the foreskin, in the frenulum, in the glans or in the shaft of the penis. They are also called genital warts. It provokes the pathology of the papillomavirus of certain strains, which is prone to recurrent manifestations and is never completely excreted from the body.
Causes of the formation of warts on the penis in men
Warts are viral growths caused by the human papillomavirus. HPV is a large group of pathogenic microorganisms. About 100 strains of this pathogen were examined. Also, these viruses are divided into different categories based on their degree of oncogenicity.
According to rough estimates, around 90% of the world's population is infected with one type of papillomavirus or another. Pathogens live very little in the external environment and die quickly. Mostly transmitted through sexual contact, less often in everyday life or from mother to child. Viral pathogens are localized in the surface layer of the mucous membranes and the epidermis.
Regarding penile warts in men, strains 6 and 11 cause this. These viruses are responsible for genital warts. These are conditionally non-oncogenic types that quite rarely can cause neoplasm malignancy.
In order for the virus to penetrate the body, direct contact of the infected skin or mucous membrane with healthy skin is necessary. This usually happens during unprotected sex. The risk of infection increases if there are microtraumas on the surface of the body - abrasions, cracks, scratches. The virus penetrates this damage particularly easily and quickly.
HPV replication takes place in the deep layers of the skin in the cells of the human epidermis. As the disease progresses, epithelial cells move upward with viral agents. The papillomavirus thus reaches the skin surface and provokes rapid chaotic growth of the epidermal cells. This leads to the formation of warts on the penis.
A characteristic feature of the papillomavirus is that it can rest for a long time in the deep layers of the dermis. Various factors can provoke progress. For example, a weakening of the immune system, hypothermia, taking antibiotics, stress, overload, poor nutrition, vitamin deficiency, hormonal imbalance, etc.
Even when the virus is latent, a person is potentially dangerous in terms of transmitting HPV to partners. Knowing the causes of warts on the penis, we can conclude that these formations can appear in both teenagers who have recently started to have sex and the elderly.
Symptoms and types of warts on the penis
In most male patients, warts on the penis usually do not manifest themselves in any way. They usually form in places that are prone to injuries during sexual intercourse. Therefore, neoplasms can be found on the head, bridle, and foreskin. More rarely, they appear on the trunk of the penis and on the scrotum, testicles.
Warts on the penis usually look like small growths of a pink, beige, whitish shade of 2 to 30 mm. They can get lost individually or in groups and form neoplasms that resemble a cockscomb.
During the active growth phase, when the immune system fails, warts on the penis can cause itching and burning in the affected area. Sometimes neoplasms can also be felt during sexual intercourse. In the normal state, these growths are painless and do not cause any discomfort worth mentioning.
Condylomas often do not affect a limited area of the genitals, but rather large areas. Therefore, warts on the head of the penis often gradually spread to the groin area and affect the anus.
The types of warts on the penis depend on the strain of the virus infecting the man as well as their location.
Let's consider their main types:
- In the zone of the foreskin, neoplasms have the appearance of tubercles, with a lighter shade than the skin. Sometimes they have a thin leg. Initially, individual warts appear. Over time, groups of genital warts can form.
- On the frenum, warts look like small whitish nodules with a chaotic arrangement.
- Warts on the head of the penis look like pale pink finger-like protrusions. They usually form clusters similar to broccoli inflorescences.
- Sometimes huge Buschke-Levenschein tumors form on the penis shaft. There are several warts that have grown together. This is a rare but dangerous pathology fraught with malignant transformations, since the cells of the neoplasm are prone to rapid mutation.
If suspicious growths are found on the penis, a man should immediately consult a specialist. The urologist examines and interviews the patient. In addition to the penis, the urologist must examine the scrotum, perianal area, and groin. Usually, a visual examination is enough to make a diagnosis. In some cases, the doctor may refer the man for additional tests.
In order to identify the strain of the pathogen and the risk of oncogenicity, the patient must donate blood for a PCR test. If the frenum is damaged, a meatoscopy procedure may be needed to determine the presence of warts in the urethra.
It should be noted that warts on the head of the penis and scrotum can look like other types of neoplasia. For example, papullosis in the second stage of syphilis is also characterized by the appearance of small neoplasms. To rule out other sexually transmitted diseases, it is necessary to test for common genital infections - syphilis, HIV, chlamydia, trichomoniasis, etc.
Risk of warts on the penis in men
Initially, warts on the penis are more of an aesthetic defect than a serious pathology that endangers a man's health. However, this does not mean that they do not need to be treated. If you let the disease take its course, it could lead to more serious problems in the future.
The danger of these neoplasms is as follows:
- Development of a phimosis.In this state, the foreskin fuses with the head of the penis. Because of this, problems can arise with the normal release of sperm, pathogens accumulate in the space under the foreskin and inflammatory processes can occur.
- Inflammation of the head, trunk of the penis.This pathology is a complication of the condition described above when bacteria invade under the foreskin and continue to spread.
- Erosion on the genitals.Most often they develop as a result of systematic trauma from warts on the penis. This happens during intercourse, shaving, and wearing tight underwear.
- Degeneration of neoplasms into cancerous tumors.This is rare, but there is a potential danger, especially if the warts on the penis are frequently damaged.
Also, don't forget that active neoplasms are dangerous for infecting partners. In addition, even condoms cannot always protect a person from infection.
Treatment methods for penile warts
Since the appearance of warts on the penis is directly related to a general decrease in immunity, the treatment of this pathology should be complex and combined. In principle, various methods of destruction are used in relation to neoplasms. To increase immunity and suppress the virus, drugs are used.
Ways to remove warts on the penis
Instrumental and chemical exposure methods are used to remove warts on the penis. It should be remembered that these growths in themselves are extremely rare, and therefore they must be removed if a man wants to minimize the risk of complications.
There are several ways to get rid of warts on the penis:
- Laser destruction.The laser beam evaporates liquid from the structure, dries out, is covered with a crust and falls off after a few days. There are usually no traces left at the treatment site. The procedure is painless and rarely leads to relapses and complications.
- cryogenic removal.Liquid nitrogen, which has a low temperature, is applied selectively to the neoplasm and leads to its freezing and subsequent death. After processing, a crust forms at the site of the build-up, which, along with the rest of the formation, also disappears after a few days.
- Radiosurgical removal.The neoplasm is affected by radio waves that destroy the growth tissue. This is one of the most accurate, effective, and safest ways to remove warts on the penis. After removing the radio waves, no stains are left on the skin.
- electrocoagulation.At a certain frequency, a current is applied to the electrode, which destroys the formation. This procedure for removing warts on the penis can result in burns and then scarring. Therefore, it is prescribed with caution.
- Surgical removal.If the wart on the penis is too large, the technique of cutting with a scalpel can be used in extreme cases. However, they rarely resort to such surgery because of the risk of severe bleeding and the spread of infection. With extensive wart lesions, complete circular removal of the foreskin is also indicated.
The doctor can also prescribe the removal of chemicals. The procedure is carried out with the use of cauterizing drugs.
Before using chemicals to cure warts on the penis, it is imperative to consult a doctor, as these agents have a number of contraindications and their improper use has complications.
Medicines for penile warts
In order to exclude the risk of recurrence of warts on the head of the penis or other parts of the genitals, it is necessary to take care of increasing immunity, as well as suppressing the virus in the body. For this purpose, different groups of drugs are used - antiviral and immunomodulatory.
Even with HPV, it is important to stimulate the body's defenses, which for whatever reason are in a depressed state. The immunity actively fights the pathogen and reduces the risk of warts reappearing on the penis.
It goes without saying that drug therapy cannot completely solve the problem of warts on the penis. To get rid of them, it is necessary to resort to instrumental techniques to eliminate growths.
Folk remedies for warts on the penis
If you are thinking about how to treat penile warts, you can find help in traditional medicine. Remember, however, that you should only use these techniques after consulting your doctor. Self-medication can at least be in vain and, in the worst case, lead to serious complications.
The following tools are popular:
- tea tree oil.Powerful herbal antiviral that suppresses the activity of pathogens. It is necessary to rub the substance into the warts on the head of the penis several times a day until the growth is completely eliminated.
- propolis.Another natural medicine that helps deal with viruses. To remove warts on the penis, apply the substance to the growths before going to bed every day for 10-14 days.
- protein.It is necessary to take crude protein and lubricate the neoplasm with it several times a day.
- vinegar.Acid actively corrodes pathological tissue, and therefore you must be careful with it so as not to damage adjacent healthy areas. You need to lubricate carefully and selectively.
- Mountain ash juice.The acidic substance contains phytoncides with an antiviral effect. Lubricate on the penis daily with freshly squeezed liquid warts.
The above recipes are only suitable if you are certain that you are dealing with HPV and that the neoplasm is small and simple. Otherwise, you can not do without special therapy.
Prevention of warts on the penis
Timely treatment of penile warts significantly reduces the risk of complications and recurrence in the future. This is also a way to avoid transmitting the virus to your sexual partner.
One of the most effective prevention methods is vaccination with special polyvalent vaccinations. They work against types 6, 11, 16 and 18 pathogens - the very ones that cause genital warts to appear.
Although a condom cannot guarantee 100% protection against HPV, it should be used as it reduces the risk of infection by 20-30%. Including, it protects against other sexually transmitted infections.
If a man is already infected with HPV, the rules of a healthy lifestyle must be followed to reduce the risk of penile warts. It is important to timely suppress exacerbations of chronic diseases, eat properly, exercise, and maintain immunity in a "ready to fight" state.
If you are thinking about how to remove warts on the penis, see a doctor right away. Self-medication can only hurt in this case. The procedure for removing neoplasms is quick and almost painless. In addition, it is important to strengthen the protective functions of the body in order to avoid relapses in the future.