People generally do not suspect that human papillomavirus (HPV) is present in their bodies. This is due to the fact that papillomavirus is usually present in a latent form that is suppressed by natural immunity. Problems arise when they get out of control and begin to manifest themselves actively in the form of growths in different parts of the body. Men are less likely to suffer from the effects of the virus than women, but for them, its effects can become serious problems in the form of papillomas on the penis.
Causes of Occurrence
Viral DNA enters the body through microcracks in the skin or mucous membranes. When a man’s immunity is weakened, the first manifestations of HPV appear a few months after infection.
80% of transmission is sexual. Preventive contraception minimizes the risk of infection but does not completely eliminate it.
Other ways to infect:
- Household journey.The virus, along with the infected person's personal belongings: clothing, hygiene items, etc. The risk of infection increases if the skin is damaged, even lower. This pathway is characterized by low oncogenic infection of the virus. They do not lead to serious health problems, but they occur in the form of genital warts, papillomas, and warts, causing 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 to be infected.
If a man has good immune protection, the virus will not manifest and may remain in the body in a latent form for a long time. Therefore, it is not the infection caused by the virus itself that is dangerous, but the weakening of the immune system that leads to the activation of HPV.
Several factors influence the confirmation of the virus:
- chronic diseases;
- hormonal problems;
- incorrectly selected contraception or no contraception at all;
- viral infections;
- long-term use of alcohol, smoking, or antibiotics;
- common stress.
All of these factors negatively affect the immune system. If there is more than one provocative factor in a man’s life, but more, it leads to faster development of the papillomavirus.
Symptoms
Papillomas often occur only externally, but in some casesNon-specific symptoms may occur:
- itching and burning 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 affect not only the area of the penis, but also the anus and pubis.
What do papillomas look like
The papilloma of the penis is a small neoplasm. It may appear alone at first, but without proper treatment, the number of papillomas increases. However, they can merge with each other.
These growths appear to be fleshy or pink cauliflower inflorescences. Most often, the foreskin, head, and frenum are localized. They are less commonly diagnosed in the urethra and scrotum. Papillomas can also appear as small white pimples that appear in long lines. This shape is characteristic of localization in the area of the bridle.
One manifestation of HPV is the Buschke-Levenshtein wart. It has rapid growth, outstanding size and resistance to various treatments. Its appearance is due to several existing papillomas and warts that merge to form a large area of lesion. The presence of Buschke-Levenshtein warts is dangerous because the cells it changes can easily develop into cancer.
Which doctor to go to
As a general rule, a urologist deals with the diagnosis of male papillomas. You can also seek advice from a dermatovenerologist or proctologist if you have genital warts in the rectal area. However, papillomas are usually referred to a surgeon for removal. Overall, the diagnosis is made in several stages:
- The urologist examines and asks the patient.An oral interview is needed to assess the patient's lifestyle and determine the cause of the viral infection. Visual inspection involves an assessment not only of the condition of the penis, but also of the adjacent organs — the scrotum, the anal area. This is necessary to get a complete picture of the localization of the virus.
- Urethral smear.Determines the presence of various sexually transmitted diseases.
- PCR.This analysis not only shows the presence of HPV in the body, but also most likely determines its type.
- Meat inspection.This procedure is an examination of the urethra when the papillomavirus has infected the frenum.
- After removing the papilloma, your doctor may order a biopsyto assess the condition of the removed tumor. This is necessary to eliminate the risk of developing cancer and to ensure the benign condition of the papilloma.
In this case, it is desirable to perform both surveys. Usually, a woman is also infected with one type of papillomavirus. If only one man is treated, it is very likely that he will get sick again after a while.
Why are papillomas dangerous?
Human papillomavirus is often accompanied by other related diseases. The appearance of papillomas in the area of the vaginal penis contributes to the accumulation of urine in the folds. This creates the conditions for the appearance and multiplication of various microorganisms, which later 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 urinary problems, pain and high fever.
Another danger is trauma to the neoplasms, which leads to bleeding. This is due to the fact that many blood vessels form around the papillomas that supply them with blood. Even minor injuries can lead to infection as a result of injury.
Tumors can also rub against movement, causing pain and discomfort to the person.
HPV and cancer
When the virus is just beginning to spread, the neoplasms are sporadic and benign. They grow and merge with each other without treatment. Over time, the cells degenerate into malignancy.The risk of cancer is especially high if a person is highly infected with oncogenic viruses - 16 or 18.They contribute to the appearance of cancer of the penis and bladder.
Treatment of papillomas
HPV treatment involves not only the removal of external manifestations, but also the strengthening of the immune system, which must block the manifestations of the virus.Immunostimulatory drugs are used to maintain immunity.
As an antiviral drug, an effective ointment suppresses the growth of the virus and removes tiny growths. It is not always able to cope with the task of complete removal, but it prevents the appearance of new growths. Antiviral ointment is prescribed to stimulate immunity. The ointment does not remove papillomas, but promotes the activation of cells in the immune system, which stops their growth and development.
Removal Methods
There are several ways to get rid of new growth:
- Laser removal.The papilloma is affected by a laser beam that completely burns out the growth. At this point, a crust forms, which subsides after a few weeks. The method is considered effective due to the lack of relapses. Removal is performed under anesthesia. No bleeding, no scarring or scarring.
- Cryodestruction.Papillomas are exposed to liquid nitrogen. It immediately freezes the desired area, the tumor on it collapses and dies. The disadvantage of this method is that it cannot control the depth of cryodestruction. Bark also remains at the site of the removed papilloma, which disappears after a while.
- Radiosurgery.The principle of the method is similar to laser removal. Radio waves do not leave scars and scars, the procedure is preceded by preliminary anesthesia with a special spray. After that, there are no complications and the body recovers quickly.
- Electrocoagulation.Growth is affected by electric current, causing the foot to disappear, after which the papilloma disappears. If necessary, superficial anesthesia may be given. The procedure takes several minutes, is widespread and affordable. But this method can leave scars after healing.
- Surgery.Used in rare cases where the tumor becomes too large. It occurs under anesthesia, with long healing and trauma. The method is good because it allows retained growth to be retained for histological examination.
The cost of each method depends on the complexity of the work, the size and number of papillomas to be removed.
Consult your doctor before choosing a method. He will tell you what is best in the situation, detail how the procedure will be carried out. It is also advisable to take histological material after removal of the neoplasm. This is necessary to determine if the process of degeneration of benign tumors into malignancy has begun. This method helps detect early cell changes and prevent cancer from spreading.