Papillomas are plump formations that appear on a person's skin and mucous membranes. They are actually not a disease, but only serve as an external manifestation of the infection of the body with HPV - the human papillomavirus.
Papillomaviruses exist in many different strains, some of which are dangerous because neoplasms have the property of turning malignant, that is, they can turn into malignant tumors.
The reasons for the appearance of papillomas on the penis
Papillomas are benign formations on the skin or mucous membranes of a warty nature.
The human papillomavirus is transmitted from sick to healthy in a number of ways. The main method is sexual, with unprotected intercourse. However, as is common in the home, you can "get" the virus in contact with a carrier, if there are integrity defects in the body or mucous membranes, through blood and other fluids infected with the virus.
It is quite difficult to completely "wipe out" a virus that has already entered the body, but in about 90% of cases there is a self-healing process, that is, the immune system itself "kills" the virus. In some cases, however, the disease takes on a recurring character and can last for many years.
A particular danger arises from strains with the ability to malignancy, that is, to transform a neoplasm into a malignant one.
HPV has a long incubation period with strong immunity that can last anywhere from a month to a year.
But as soon as the immune system is weakened, it is immediately noticeable. Symptoms of its presence are formations on the body and mucous membranes, which can have a round, oval or elongated shape and various sizes from a few millimeters to a few centimeters.
More than 600 strains of the virus are known to medicine, of which more than 40 are able to cause neoplasia in the genital and anal areas in men and women. They are the ones that cause papillomas on the penis called genital warts.
Some of the papillomas are harmless to human health, others can provoke an annoying cosmetic defect - warts, and still others threaten the body with the most dangerous disease - cancer. There is medical evidence that cervical and breast cancers develop when infected with certain strains of HPV.
When a virus that can cause papillomas on the genitals enters the body, the main route of entry is considered sexual. Promiscuous relationships, bisexual and homosexual contacts are particularly dangerous. But the virus can be innate - the fetus becomes infected while passing through the birth canal of an infected mother. There is also a risk of infection with skin lesions when visiting swimming pools, public toilets, baths, saunas, fitness studios, when epilating, shaving.
Signs and Symptoms of the Disease
Symptoms depend on the site of localization, the number and size of papillomas.
Most often, papillomas on the penis affect the head of the organ, "sag" along the foreskin, form colonies on the bridle, and can even enter the urethra.
With a proliferation of papillomas in the form of "cauliflower", urination during sexual intercourse can hurt, hurt and even bleed.
Since it is a viral disease, the phase of activation of papilloma growth is accompanied by a sharp decrease in immunity. A person feels weak, lethargic, their body temperature may rise, and most of the time they hold on to subfebrile levels (37-37. 5 ° C). Because immunity is reduced, an infected person can easily catch a cold and "ingest" ARVI and ARI.
The proliferation of papillomas can lead to phimosis - a narrowing of the foreskin.
Because of this condition, a special lubricant accumulates on the glans - smegma. Its infection can lead to the development of a dangerous disease, so if even single papillomas are found, it is imperative to consult a doctor. Individual neoplasms can be removed very quickly and almost painlessly, which prevents their growth and a high risk of degeneration into a malignant tumor.
Necessary tests and exams
The presence of a papilloma is determined visually by the doctor, but more studies are needed to clarify the burden and the degree of its risk to the patient. The patient donates blood for typing using PCR, a Digene screening test, and is examined for sexually transmitted diseases, since HPV is "bundled" with sexually transmitted diseases in the vast majority of cases.
Urethroscopy is performed if papillomas are suspected of penetrating the urethra. The doctor may prescribe a biopsy if the growth is too large or if the doctor suspects that the formation has started to degenerate into a cancerous tumor.
Methods of treatment and removal of papillomas
It is impossible to completely remove the human papillomavirus from the infected person's body, sometimes it remains in it until the end of the patient's life. Medicines to fight HPV are the use of antiviral drugs and immunomodulators, which stimulate the activity of a person's own immunity.
Basically, the actions of doctors are aimed at eliminating external signs of the presence of a virus, that is, the papillomas themselves, warts and genital warts.
Only for cancerous degeneration is complex treatment applied, which includes surgery and the use of chemotherapy to remove the risk of tumor spread.
To remove papillomas on the penis, the following methods of treatment are used:
- Operative removal.
- Electrocoagulation.
- Removal of formations with a laser (neodymium or carbon dioxide).
- Cryodestruction - destruction of a neoplasm with liquid nitrogen. Cryodestruction can be applied or aerosolized.
- Chemical cautery.
In most cases, using these methods is enough to remove the papilloma and prevent its recurrence.
The method of treatment is chosen by the doctor depending on the degree of damage, the type of neoplasm, the patient's state of health and age.
There is a special vaccine that is used in women to prevent the most dangerous disease - squamous cell carcinoma or cervical cancer. It has been shown to be caused by one of the dangerous strains of the human papillomavirus because this cancer does not appear in the body in the absence of HPV.
Unfortunately, there is no vaccine today that can prevent infection with other types of human papillomavirus, including those that cause growths on male genital organs. The only effective protection is still the use of condoms during sexual intercourse and the observance of personal hygiene, a cautious attitude towards possible contamination in public places.
Prognosis and possible complications
Doctors concluded that in 90% of all cases of HPV infection, if a person has strong immunity, the body can manage the virus on its own within 24 months. However, this observation only applies to certain strains of the human papillomavirus that are unable to provoke the development of cancer.
The most dangerous complication should be considered malignancy, that is, the transformation of papilloma into cancer. But only a fraction of the HPV strains have such properties. The sad consequences can be prevented with early access to medical help and timely diagnostics.
In rare cases, after the papilloma is removed, neoplasms may form on and around the scar tissue, when the virus is actively multiplying in the patient's body due to a weakened immunity. In such a situation, repeated removal of papillomas and a comprehensive strengthening of the patient's immunity is necessary to prevent further growth of formations.
In most cases, the prognosis is positive if the disease has not progressed too far. However, this rarely happens with genital warts, since their development causes severe discomfort to the man, and he quickly turns to doctors.