Papillomas are bulging formations that appear on a person’s skin and mucous membranes. In fact, they are not a disease, but only an external manifestation of the body's infection with HPV, the human papillomavirus.
Papillomavirus exists in a number of different strains, some of which are dangerous because tumors have a malignant transformation property, i. e. , they can develop into malignant tumors.
Causes of papillomas in the penis
Papillomas are benign formations on the skin or mucous membranes that are warty in nature.
The human papillomavirus spreads in a variety of ways, from the sick to the healthy. The main method is sexual, unprotected intercourse. But you can "get" the virus at home, when you come in contact with a carrier, if there are defects in your body or mucous membranes, through blood and other fluids infected with the virus.
It is quite difficult to completely "kill" a virus that has already entered the body, but in about 90% of cases there is a self-healing, ie the immune system itself "kills" the virus. In some cases, however, the disease is recurrent and can last for many years.
A particular threat is strains that can become malignant, i. e. , the tumor can become malignant.
The incubation period for HPV is long, with strong immunity ranging from one month to one year.
But if the immune system weakens, it will feel right away. Symptoms of its formation on the body and mucous membranes, which are round, oval or oblong in shape and vary in size, can range from a few millimeters to a few centimeters.
More than 600 strains of the virus are known in medicine, more than 40 of which can cause tumors in the genitals and anus in men and women. They are the ones that cause papillomas in the penis, called genital warts.
Some papillomas are harmless to human health, others can provoke an annoying cosmetic defect - warts - and others threaten the body with the most dangerous disease - cancer. There is medical evidence between cervical and breast cancer that develops through infection with certain HPV strains.
When a virus that can cause papillomas in the genitals enters the body, the main route of penetration is through sex. Promiscual relationships, bisexual and homosexual relationships are particularly dangerous. But the virus may be innate - the fetus becomes infected as it passes through the birth canal of the infected mother. There is a risk of infection in skin lesions when visiting a swimming pool, public toilet, bath, sauna, gym, shaving or shaving.
Signs and symptoms of the disease
Symptoms depend on the location of the localization, the number and size of the papillomas.
Papillomas on the penis most often affect the head of the organ, "settle" along the foreskin, form colonies on the bridle, and can even penetrate the urethra.
With the strong proliferation of papillomas, they take the form of "cauliflower", and urination can be damaged, sore and even bleed during intercourse.
Because it is a viral disease, the period of activation of papilloma growth is accompanied by a strong decrease in immunity. A person feels weak and lethargic, his body temperature may rise, most often maintaining subfebrile levels (37-37, 5 ° C). As immunity declines, the infected person can easily catch a cold and "take up" ARVI and ARI.
The proliferation of papillomas can lead to phimosis, a narrowing of the foreskin.
Because of this, a special lubricant accumulates on the head of the penis - smegma. Your infection can lead to a dangerous disease, so if even a single papilloma is found, you should see a doctor immediately. Individual neoplasms can be removed very quickly and almost painlessly, preventing their growth, and there is a high risk of degenerating into a malignant tumor.
Necessary tests, examinations
The presence of papilloma is determined visually by the physician, but other tests are needed to clarify the risk to the strain and the patient. The patient donates blood for typing using PCR, a Digene screening test, and is examined for the presence of sexually transmitted diseases, as the vast majority of cases are HPV "bundles" with STDs.
If papillomas are suspected of penetrating the urethra, urethroscopy is performed. Your doctor may prescribe a biopsy if the growth is too great or if doctors suspect that the formation has started to degenerate into a cancerous tumor.
Methods of treating and removing papillomas
It is impossible to completely remove the human papillomavirus from the body of an infected person, sometimes it remains in the patient for the rest of his life. Drugs used to combat HPV include the use of antiviral drugs and immunomodulators that stimulate the activity of a person's own immunity.
Basically, the doctor's measures are aimed at eliminating the external signs of the presence of the virus, i. e. the papillomas themselves, the warts and the genital warts.
Only in the case of cancer degeneration is complex treatment used, which includes surgery and the use of chemotherapy to eliminate the risk of the tumor spreading.
The following treatments are used to remove papillomas from the penis:
- Surgical removal.
- Electrocoagulation.
- Laser removal of formations (neodymium or carbon dioxide).
- Cryodestruction - the destruction of a tumor using liquid nitrogen. Cryodestruction can be used or aerosolized.
- Cauterization with chemicals.
In most cases, the use of these methods is sufficient 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 a dangerous strain of the human papillomavirus, as this type of cancer does not occur in the body in the absence of HPV.
Unfortunately, there is no vaccine today that prevents infection with other types of human papillomavirus, including those that cause growth in intimate male organs. The only effective way to protect yourself is to use a condom during sexual intercourse, as well as to observe personal hygiene and to be careful about possible infections in public places.
Prognosis and possible complications
Doctors have concluded that in 90% of cases of HPV infection, if a person has strong immunity, the body can cope with the virus on its own within 24 months. However, this observation only applies to certain strains of human papillomavirus that are unable to induce cancer.
The most dangerous complication is considered to be the malignancy, i. e. the transformation of the papilloma into cancer. But only a fraction of HPV strains have such properties. Sad consequences can be prevented with early medical help and timely diagnosis.
In rare cases, after removal of the papilloma, tumors may develop in and around the scar tissue if the virus multiplies actively in the patient's body due to a weakening of immunity. In such a situation, repeated removal of the papillomas and comprehensive reinforcement of the patient's immunity are necessary to prevent further growth of the formations.
In most cases, the prognosis is positive if the disease is not very advanced. But this is rare with genital warts, as their development causes severe discomfort to the man and he or she sees a doctor quickly.