Penis warts are small growths located in the axis of the foreskin, frenum, vagina, or 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 removed from the body.
Causes of wart formation 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 have been tested. These viruses are classified into different categories according to the level of oncogenicity.
It is roughly estimated that about 90% of the world's population is infected with one type or another of papillomavirus. Pathogens live very little in the external environment and die quickly. It is most commonly transmitted through sexual contact, less frequently in daily life or from mother to child. Viral agents are localized in the surface layer of the mucous membranes and epidermis.
As for men's penile warts, they are caused by strains 6 and 11. These viruses are responsible for genital warts. These are conditionally non-oncogenic types that can quite rarely cause malignant neoplasms.
Direct contact of infected skin or mucous membranes with healthy skin is required for the virus to enter the body. This usually occurs during unprotected sex. The risk of infection increases if there are microtraumas on the body surface - abrasions, cracks, scratches. The virus penetrates these lesions particularly easily and quickly.
HPV multiplies in the deep layers of skin in the cells of the human epidermis. As the disease progresses, the epithelial cells travel upward along with the viral agents. Thus, the papillomavirus reaches the surface of the skin and causes rapid chaotic growth of epidermal cells. This leads to the formation of warts on the penis.
A distinctive feature of papillomavirus is that it can dormant in the deep layers of the dermis for long periods of time. Various factors can provoke your progress. For example, weakening of the immune system, hypothermia, taking antibiotics, stress, overload, malnutrition, vitamin deficiency, hormonal imbalance, and so on.
However, even if the virus is latent, a person is potentially dangerous for transmission to HPV partners. Knowing the causes of warts on the penis, we can conclude that these formations can appear both in adolescents who have recently begun to have sex and in the elderly.
Symptoms and types of warts on the penis
In most male patients, warts on the penis usually do not manifest in any way. They most often develop in places that are prone to injury during intercourse. Therefore, there are neoplasms on the head, frenulum, foreskin. They appear less frequently on the trunk of the penis and on the scrotum, the testicles.
Warts on the penis usually look like small growths of a pink, beige, whitish hue 2-30 mm in size. They may be single or grouped, forming neoplasms similar to rooster fungi.
During the active growth phase, when the immune system is not working, warts on the penis can cause itching and burning in the affected area. In addition, neoplasms can sometimes be palpated during contact. Under normal conditions, these increases are painless and do not cause significant discomfort.
Condylomas often do not affect a limited area of the genitals, but large areas. Therefore, often warts on the head of the penis gradually spread throughout the lumbar region, affecting the anus.
The types of warts on the penis depend on the strain of virus that infects humans and their location.
Let's look at their main types:
- Tubers of the neoplasms appear in the foreskin zone with a lighter shade than the skin. Sometimes their legs are thin. Initially, single warts appear, over time, groups of genital warts may develop.
- In a wart, the warts look like tiny, whitish lumps with a chaotic arrangement.
- Warts appear as pale pink finger-like growths on the vaginal penis. They usually form groups similar to the broccoli inflorescence.
- Huge Buschke-Levenschein tumors can develop on the axis of the penis. Several warts that grew together. It is a rare but dangerous pathology associated with malignant transformation because neoplasm cells are prone to rapid mutation.
If suspicious growths are detected in the penis, the person should contact a specialist immediately. The urologist examines and asks the patient. In addition to the penis, the urologist should examine the scrotum, perianal area, and groin. In general, visual inspection is sufficient to make a diagnosis. In some cases, your doctor may refer you for further tests.
To identify the pathogen strain and the risk of oncogenicity, the patient should donate blood for a PCR test. Furthermore, if the frenum is damaged, a meat test may be needed to determine the presence of warts in the urethra.
Keep in mind that warts on the head of the penis and scrotum may be similar to other types of tumors. For example, in the second stage of syphilis, papullosis is also characterized by the appearance of small neoplasms. To rule out other sexually transmitted diseases, common genital infections - syphilis, HIV, chlamydia, trichomoniasis, etc. - should be investigated.
Danger of warts on the penis in men
Initially, warts on the penis are an aesthetic defect rather than a serious pathology that endangers human health. However, this does not mean that they should not be treated. If you let the disease go away, it can lead to more serious problems in the future.
The risk of these tumors is as follows:
- Development of phimosis.In this state, the foreskin merges with the head of the penis. This can cause problems with normal sperm emptying, pathogens build up in the space under the foreskin, and inflammatory processes can occur.
- Inflammation of the head, the trunk of the penis.This pathology is a complication of the above condition where bacteria invade the foreskin and spread further.
- Genital erosions.Most often they develop as a result of systematic trauma to the warts on the penis. This happens while having sex, shaving, wearing tight underwear.
- Degeneration of neoplasms into cancerous tumors.This is a rare but potential danger, especially if the warts on the penis are often damaged.
Remember that active neoplasms are dangerous to infect partners. Moreover, even condoms are not always able to protect a person from infection.
Penis Warts Treatment Methods
Because the appearance of warts on the penis is directly related to the general decrease in immunity, the treatment of this pathology must be complex and combined. Basically, various methods of destruction are used in connection with neoplasms. Medicines are used to boost immunity and suppress the virus.
Ways to remove warts on the penis
Instrumental and chemical exposure methods are used to remove penile warts. It is worth remembering that these increases are in themselves extremely rare and should therefore be removed if one is trying to minimize the risk of complications.
There are several ways to get rid of warts on your penis:
- Laser destruction.The laser beam evaporates liquid from the accumulation, dries it, covers it with crust and falls off after a few days. As a general rule, no traces remain at the treatment site. The procedure is painless and rarely leads to relapses and complications.
- Cryo removal.Low-temperature liquid nitrogen is applied from point to point in the neoplasm and leads to freezing and then death. After processing, a crust forms at the site of accumulation, which disappears after a few days along with the rest of the formation.
- Radiosurgical removal.The neoplasm is affected by radio waves that destroy growth tissue. This is one of the most accurate, effective, and safest ways to remove warts on your penis. After removing the radio waves, no trace remains on the skin.
- Electrocoagulation.At a certain frequency, a current is applied to the electrode, which destroys the formation. This procedure of removing warts on the penis can cause burns and later scarring. Therefore, it is prescribed with caution.
- Surgical excision.If the wart on the penis is too large, the scalpel cutting technique can be used in extreme cases. But they rarely resort to such an operation because of the risk of severe bleeding and the spread of infection. In addition, complete circular excision of the foreskin is also indicated for extensive wart lesions.
Your doctor may also require chemical removal. The process is performed using cauterizing drugs.
Before treating warts on the penis with chemicals, it is imperative to consult a doctor, as these funds have many contraindications and improper use threatens complications.
Medications for penis warts
To prevent the risk of recurrence of warts on the head of the penis or other parts of the genitals, care should be taken to increase immunity and suppress the virus in the body. Different classes of drugs are used for this purpose - antiviral and immunomodulatory.
It is also important for HPV to stimulate the body's defenses, which are depressed for some reason. Immunity actively fights the pathogen and reduces the recurrence of warts on the penis.
It should be understood that drug therapy cannot completely solve the problem of warts on the penis. To get rid of them, instrumental techniques must be used to stop the growth.
Folk remedies for penile warts
If you are thinking about how to treat penis warts, you can find help in traditional medicine. Keep in mind, however, that these techniques should only be used after consultation with your doctor. Self-healing can at least be futile and, in the worst case, can lead to serious complications.
The following tools are popular:
- Tea tree oil.A powerful plant antiviral that helps suppress pathogen activity. It is necessary to rub the material several times a day into the warts on the head of the penis, every day until the growth has completely stopped. Propolis
- .Another natural medicine that helps cope with viruses. To remove warts on the penis, apply the material to the tumors before going to bed every day for 10-14 days.
- Egg white.It is necessary to take crude protein and lubricate the neoplasm several times a day.
- Table vinegar.Acid actively corrodes abnormal tissues, so care must be taken not to damage adjacent healthy areas. You need to lubricate carefully and accurately.
- Rowan juice.The acidic substance contains phytoncides that have antiviral effects. Lubricate daily with freshly squeezed liquid warts on the penis.
The above recipes are only suitable if you know exactly that you are dealing with HPV and the neoplasm is small and unique. Otherwise, it cannot be without special therapy.
Preventing warts on the penis
Timely treatment of penile warts significantly reduces the risk of complications and recurrence in the future. This is a way to avoid transmitting the virus to your sexual partner.
One of the most effective ways to prevent this is to use special multivalent vaccines. They fight against types 6, 11, 16 and 18 pathogens - exactly those that cause genital warts.
Although a condom cannot guarantee 100% protection against HPV, it should be used as it reduces the risk of infection by 20-30%. Including protects against other sexually transmitted infections.
If a man is already infected with HPV, he or she should follow the rules of a healthy lifestyle to reduce the risk of warts on the penis. It is important to suppress the aggravation of chronic diseases in a timely manner, eat correctly, exercise, and maintain immunity in a “ready-to-fight” state.
If you are thinking about how to remove warts on your penis, see a doctor right away. Self-healing in this case can only cause harm. The procedure for removing neoplasms is fast and almost painless. In addition, it is important to strengthen the body’s protective functions to avoid subsequent relapses.