There can be a large number of diseases caused by the human papillomavirus. In addition, several types of this pathogen can cause the same pathology. The papilloma virus on the penis usually affects the mucous membranes and skin of the male body, localized on the external genitalia.
Papilloma is a benign tumor, usually small in size, resembling cauliflower. This oncological process develops from flat epithelial cells. The tumor rises above the skin and may be flesh-colored and some other (white, dark brown, etc. ). The causative agent of all variants of oncology is the human papillomavirus.
HPV is a DNA-containing virus and has tropism against epithelial tissues, so it only affects the skin and mucous membranes of the human body. The pathogen has no shell but is very resistant to environmental conditions. HPV is a huge group of viruses that are divided into:
- Types with minimal malignancy risk;
- Types with an average risk of malignancy (special conditions required);
- A type with a high risk of malignant transformation.
Papillomas of the glanis penis are considered to be a precancerous condition, i. e. they belong to the latter group of viruses. Therefore, at the first signs of pathology, a doctor should be consulted and treatment should be started. Once the malignant process has begun, therapy becomes very difficult.
Reasons for appearance
The appearance of papilloma on the penis of men requires direct contact with the infected person. Microscopic or obvious damage to the skin is considered a particularly important predisposing factor. The main route of transmission of the disease is sexual. Moreover, not only people with a clear clinical picture of papilloma are infected, but also latent carriers of the virus. During traditional sex, the head of the penis is affected, during contact between the mouth and genitals - the mucous membranes of the mouth and throat, and during anal - the anus and rectum.
If a man has HPV elsewhere, papillomas may appear on the skin of the penis during shaving and other manipulations related to injuries. A household route of infection is also possible, which is related to the high resistance of the virus to environmental conditions. Baths and saunas are particularly dangerous.
Predisposing factors for the manifestation of the disease:
- Decreased immune power of the body;
- Prolonged stress;
- Presence of chronic diseases;
- Excessive ultraviolet radiation;
- Taking certain medicines.
Clinical picture
The incubation period of papilloma on the skin of the penis is about 8-12 weeks, but can vary significantly as the clinical picture depends primarily on the protection of the body.
Although HPV most often causes harmless pathologies that do not cause discomfort to patients, the viruses that cause papillomas to appear in the penile region are highly oncogenic. That is, the appearance of tumors can be considered the first stage of the cancer process.
Papillomas on the penis appear to be small flesh-colored neoplasms, single or multiple, not accompanied by subjective symptoms. Sometimes they resemble cauliflower, sometimes swelling on the stem. In the absence of proper treatment, the disease progresses and the following stages are distinguished:
- Phimosis (narrowing of the foreskin sheets that makes it impossible to remove the penis glans);
- Accumulation of smegma and consequent formation of the infectious process (narrowing makes it difficult to clean the space between the leaves of the head and foreskin);
- Inflammation of both parts of the head of the penis and the foreskin (local signs are expressed as edema, redness, purulent discharge);
- Erosion defects in the head of the penis and foreskin (this condition is defined as the first stage of cancer).
Treatment of papillomas on the penis should be performed in an immediate and radical manner in order to avoid dangerous complications that can lead to significant disruption to life and even death.
Diagnostics
Removal of papillomas on the penis can only be planned after a definitive diagnosis. The main diagnostic measures for this disease are:
- Evaluation of complaints, medical history and clinical picture. The presence of unprotected sex is clarified, and the affected area is examined in the presence of a flesh-colored growth reminiscent of cauliflower. It is possible to detect such formations on the oral mucosa, around the anus, and on other external genitalia other than the penis.
- Polymerase chain reaction. This technique is difficult to implement, but is more than 95% effective, which is why it is considered the gold standard. With the help of PCR, it is possible to detect the DNA of the virus in the human body and to determine the exact type.
- Cytological examinations. Antibodies to HPV are detected using a variety of techniques, allowing the presence of infection to be assessed.
Treatment of penile papillomas is performed immediately after accurate determination of the type of HPV and the stage of development of the disease.
How to get rid of penile papillomas?
There is no effective conservative treatment for this infection. The only possible measure is to radically remove papillomas from the penis. Different techniques are used in therapy:
- Laser removal;
- Cryosurgery;
- Radio wave method (the most optimal option, without leaving cosmetic defects, painless);
- Open surgery;
- Cauterization (chemicals are used).
Medications can be used in addition to radical therapy. Basically, cytostatic drugs are preferred. In addition, antiviral drugs are prescribed to reduce the risk of relapse.
Sexual intercourse should be avoided during treatment to prevent the spread of infection. It is also recommended that all sexual partners of the patient be tested for the presence of HPV.
Prophylaxis
Preventive measures mainly consist of introducing a protected sex life with a proven partner. You should be very careful when visiting public baths and saunas, and avoid contact with any tumor in a person, especially in the presence of microtraumas.
To prevent complications, see a doctor in a timely manner and follow all of your appointments and recommendations.
Unfortunately, curing the symptoms of the disease does not guarantee the patient’s complete recovery (i. e. , if the penile papilloma is removed, the virus cannot be removed from the body), so a man should be careful to monitor his condition, notice the slightest changes, and see a doctor. The HPV carrier must maintain a high level of immunity to prevent recurrence of clinical manifestations (relapses).