Papillomas on the labia are quite a delicate problem, causing self-dissatisfaction and a decrease in the quality of sex life. They are difficult to hide, they can cause discomfort during intercourse, so papillomas should be removed. In addition, in some cases, genital growths in women can pose a dangerous risk of developing cancer.
Reasons for the formation of papillomas
Papillomas on the labia or genital warts are a result of an infection with the human papillomavirus. In total, there are more than 100 strains of this virus, which differ in the type of neoplasm and the degree of risk for developing oncology.
The virus enters the body mainly through sexual contact against a background of a decrease in immunity. At the same time, a man who infected a woman may not have any visible signs of the presence of the virus, since papillomas do not always appear on the skin in men.
A decrease in immunity occurs against the background of recently transmitted infectious diseases, a lack of vitamins or chronic stress. Papillomas on the labia can be caused by a decrease in local immunity as a result of various inflammatory and infectious diseases of the genital organs, including thrush and bacterial vaginosis. At the same time, in the event of an infection, it is enough to use other people's personal care products, so that after a while, unaesthetic growths appear on the labia.
Despite the fact that the virus is transmitted from one person to another, the reasons for the appearance of papillomas on the labia in women are as follows:
- decreased immunity after ARVI, pneumonia, flu, or tonsillitis;
- vaginal infections;
- Failure to observe personal hygiene;
- emphasize;
- unbalanced diet;
- the presence in the body of a chronic focus of infection;
- promiscuous sex.
All of these factors lead to a decrease in immunity, both general and local. As a result, the body becomes susceptible to various negative influences and cannot withstand the human papillomavirus.
Quite often the virus does not manifest itself, limited by human immunity. This only applies if the person is completely healthy. Then the virus can be asymptomatic in the body for a long time. The formation of papillomas occurs against the background of a decrease in immunity. If this does not happen in the coming years, the body can cope with the virus on its own, but self-healing usually takes at least 18 months.
What do papillomas look like on the genitals?
How the infection manifests itself on a woman's labia depends on several factors:
- Type of virus;
- the concentration of the virus in the body;
- Localization of growths.
The formation of papillomas on the labia minora is caused by the influence of oncogenic or conditionally oncogenic virus strains (16, 18, 31, 32, 45 and other types). It is easy to understand what such papillomas look like on the labia if you know what condylomas are. These are small papillae with serrated edges that protrude above the surface of the mucous membrane. As a rule, they do not differ in color or are slightly lighter than mucous membranes. The manifestations of the papillomavirus on the labia, provoking the development of genital warts, can spread to a woman's perineum, vulva, and vagina.
Condylomas are only ever formed on the mucous membranes. Papillomas on the inner labia do not occur in women, they are formed only in areas with thin epidermis.
Papillomas are small balls on the leg that rise above the skin. They have smooth edges of the right shape, can be a little lighter or darker than the rest of the skin. When pressed, the papillomas on the labia do not hurt, under the fingers you can feel the homogeneous structure of the growth. This type of neoplasm occurs in the inguinal folds and on the labia majora.
Papillomas on the labia are removed by almost all known methods, since the risk of burns or deep injuries to the epidermis is minimal. Treatment of papillomas on the labia minora is extensive because such growths are potentially dangerous.
Warts can form in the following areas:
- labia minora;
- Vulva;
- Vagina;
- Cervix;
- Anal opening;
- Gore;
- Urethra.
The photo of papillomas on the labia is no different from the pictures of growths on other parts of the body, while papillomas or condylomas in the vagina and vagina alone are difficult to see.
The formation of papilloma on the labia during pregnancy is associated with a decrease in immunity. In this case, the timely treatment of the consequences of HPV plays an important role, otherwise there is a risk of infection of the child when passing through the birth canal.
Why are papillomas dangerous?
Sexual contact and the human papillomavirus on the labia in women are directly related. On the one hand, when there is contact with the affected mucous membrane, there is a risk of transmitting the virus to the sexual partner. Second, if there is friction during intercourse, papillomas and condylomas can be damaged, which is accompanied by pain. There is a risk of papilloma infection while it becomes infected and can develop into cancer.
There are cases when a woman has a huge papilloma on the labia majora due to repeated injuries. No woman is insured against such a risk. Large growths are very dangerous and should be removed first.
Papilloma on the lining of the labia minora and in the vagina can lead to the development of cervical cancer. This is due to the activity of the papillomavirus, which is manifested by excessive division of epithelial cells on the labia minora and other parts of the mucous membrane. In this case, the damage to the cells of the cervix develops in several stages. First, HPV forms an erosion on the labia, which then turns into dysplasia, which is a precancerous condition. The lack of timely treatment for dysplasia leads to the development of cervical cancer.
It should be understood that any papillomas on the mucous membrane of the labia are a potential hazard. The papilloma itself can degenerate into cancer and not only provoke cervical oncology. Signs of malignant papilloma include an increase in growth, pain and itching, discharge with an unpleasant odor from the body of the growth, and blackening of the skin of the affected area. If you notice such symptoms, then as soon as possible you should consult a doctor - an oncologist, gynecologist or dermatovenerologist.
Treatment and removal of papillomas
How papillomas on the labia are treated depends on their number and size. It is recommended not to self-medicate, but to see a doctor who will tell you in detail what to do to remove and prevent the recurrence of papillomas on the labia.
To get rid of papillomas on the labia should be consistent. First, the activity of the virus is suppressed, then the growth itself is removed and, if necessary, immunostimulating therapy is carried out. In order to accurately determine the treatment sequence, a PCR analysis should be carried out, which will indicate the level of activity and concentration of the virus and allow you to determine its strain.
If a potentially dangerous strain of the virus (16 or 18) is detected in a woman, complex therapy is required. In this case, each removed papilloma is sent for histological analysis and a full examination of the cervix for changes in the epithelium is carried out.
How papillomas on the labia are removed depends on the exact location. Skin neoplasms are removed in every available way - from surgical to folk. This is because the skin of the labia majora is thick enough that complications rarely occur after removal. It is fair to say that the formations on the labia majora in most cases do not pose a health risk and do not provoke cancer.
Genital warts on the mucous membranes are removed either with the help of laser exposure or the radio wave method. These two methods are considered to be the gentlest, but they do not clog the vessels that nourish the growth, so the risk of bleeding is minimal. When removing neoplasms from the cervix or vagina, histological analysis is necessary to exclude the beginning of the pathological process.
You should consult your doctor about removing papillomas on the labia. If the analysis revealed a high concentration of the virus in the body, there is a risk of new genital warts, so complex therapy with three stages is carried out.
- After determining the strain of the virus, the woman is prescribed antiviral and immunomodulatory therapy. This is necessary to suppress the virus and minimize the risk of new papillomas forming.
- After drug therapy, which lasts several weeks on average, papillomas are removed using the method chosen and agreed with the doctor. Laser removal or radio wave method is recommended.
- Some time after the growths are removed, the analysis should be repeated. If the concentration of the virus is still high, a second drug therapy will be prescribed.
The drugs used to treat papillomas are available in the form of tablets and ointments. For the treatment of papillomas on the skin, antiviral ointments with immunomodulatory properties are recommended. When the growths appear on the mucous membranes, taking pills is indicated.
As a rule, after removal of papillomas and drug therapy, the body heals on its own after a few months or years. In order to avoid the formation of new papillomas, a woman must adhere to the rules of hygiene, maintain her own immunity and avoid unprotected sexual intercourse.