Human papillomavirus (HPV) causes the formation of papillomas, warts, and genital warts and is a trigger for the development of cervical and laryngeal cancers. It may affect the mouth, the esophagus and the conjunctiva of the eye less frequently. According to the World Health Organization, the incidence of this infection has increased tenfold in the last 10 years. According to studies in the regions, the prevalence of HPV infection in Hungary varies between 29% and 45%. The medical community is particularly cautious because about one-third of the isolated viral genotypes provoke the development of oncological pathology.
Classification of the course of papillomavirus infection
Once in a woman's body, HPV can show different activities, depending on the state of immunity. Depending on how the pathogen behaves, there are several variants of human papillomavirus infection:
- latent flow. The virus remains in the body but does not cause pathological changes in the cells. There are no symptoms - the presence of the micro-organism can only be detected by molecular biological research methods.
- HPV-Related Inflammation The background of HPV is commonly referred to as cervicitis or vulvovaginitis, which leads the patient to a gynecologist. During the consultation, you will learn how to treat HPV in women. It should be understood that the virus alone does not cause inflammation but creates conditions for activating the inflammatory process.
- Condylomas in the anogenital region and in the mucosa of the genital tract are a form of the course of PVI (papillomavirus infection) in which modern surgical techniques become necessary to remove the formations. After surgical removal, laser destruction, cryodestruction, or radio wave coagulation, complex treatment is required to prevent complications and relapses.
- Cervical dysplasia. May be asymptomatic or cause discharge. Severe forms of the disease are preventive of cancer - to avoid this, it is more important than ever to have a correct understanding of HPV treatment for women.
Classification helps the physician select the most effective treatment tactics. Pathogenic strains are also divided into groups according to their ability to cause oncological diseases: high, moderate, and low oncogenic risk HPV. Of the 40 sexually transmitted variants of the virus, 14 are at high and moderate oncogenic risk: -16, -18, -31, -33, -35, -39, -45, -51, -52, - 56, - 58, -Types 59, -66 and -68.
How does the human papillomavirus spread?
Among the female population, HPV infection reaches 70%. However, the presence of the pathogen in the body does not mean a disease. If a person's immune system is healthy, HPV infection is in most cases temporary - it will go away on its own within 2 years. If this does not happen, the question of how to treat human papillomavirus in women will become relevant.
The main way the virus spreads is through contact:
- sexual;
- vertical (from mother to fetus during childbirth);
- household (when using a towel, razor, underwear).
Young people between the ages of 13 and 30 are most susceptible to viral infection. The risk of infection at the first sexual contact is about 60%. The virus can enter the body without direct intercourse. Girls are most at risk for HPV and then its consequences. This is due to the structure of their genitals.
Human papillomavirus in women: causes
Among the female population, HPV infection reaches 70%. However, the presence of the pathogen in the body does not mean a disease. If a person's immune system is healthy, HPV infection is in most cases temporary - it will go away on its own within 2 years. If this does not happen, the question of how to treat human papillomavirus in women will become relevant.
- concomitant pathology of the reproductive system;
- endocrine disorders;
- immunodeficiency diseases and beriberi;
- common acute infectious diseases - SARS, other viral and bacterial infections;
- early sexual intercourse;
- abortions;
- smoking and alcohol consumption;
- chronic psycho-emotional stress that weakens the immune system;
- excessive physical and emotional stress, irregular daily routine;
- postpartum - due to stress and hormonal changes;
- long-term use of immunosuppressive drugs and oral contraceptives.
Frequent exchange of sexual partners also increases the risk of infection with new virus strains and activation of an existing infection. When immunity is reduced, the virus is incorporated into the cell genome, most likely leading to cancer - at this stage of medicine, it has not yet been discovered how to cure HPV in women. Therefore, it is very important to control the activity of the virus and to stimulate the immune system properly.
The first signs of HPV in women and additional symptoms
The most obvious sign of the presence of HPV in the female body is the appearance of papillomas on the mucous membranes of the genitals and the skin of the anogenital region. They do not cause pain and usually go unnoticed for a long time. However, the activity of the virus can also cause other unpleasant symptoms, which cause the woman to contact a gynecologist immediately:
- abnormal discharge from the vagina accompanied by itching and burning;
- frequent relapse of vaginitis, bacterial vaginosis;
- foul-smelling vaginal discharge.
During the examination, the doctor sees benign formations on the skin, changes in the epithelium of the cervix, and signs of inflammation. Cancer can only occur later in the chronic papillomavirus infection.
Is there a cure for human papillomavirus?
To understand how HPV is currently treated in women, it is necessary to understand the approaches that exist in the treatment of human papillomavirus infection. Currently, therapy for HPV infection is limited to the following activities:
- preventing the progression of HPV infection;
- elimination of clinical manifestations;
- stimulation of systemic and local antiviral immunity.
There are no drugs that can lead to the complete disappearance of the virus from the body. However, research is ongoing in this area - doctors are focusing on the need for combined treatment of different manifestations of HPV. Research in the field of genetic engineering is promising. Scientists are considering "rewriting" the virus to self-destruct instead of spreading it. Reducing copies of the virus restores local immunity and eliminates chronic inflammation.
Information for physicians on "How to treat HPV in women" is currently detailed in current clinical guidelines.
When to see a doctor?
Women should have a preventive examination with a gynecologist at least once a year. In addition, you should consult a doctor if you experience any disturbing symptoms:
- genital neoplasms;
- warts on other areas of the skin and mucous membranes;
- pain in the lower abdomen;
- unusual discharge or bad smell from the vagina;
- itching, swelling, redness of the genitals.
In case of accidental sexual intercourse, it is recommended to consult a gynecologist. She performs a test, gynecological smear and scraping to detect HPV.
If papillomas occur in other parts of the body, a dermatovenereologist should be consulted. When papillomas or condylomas grow in the anus, the intervention of a proctologist may be necessary. This will help determine treatment tactics and what treatments the patient should be prescribed to treat the papilloma in order to make a purchase at the pharmacy.
The general scheme of therapy
The primary weapon in the fight against HPV is the stable immunity of man himself. The American Center for Disease Control and Prevention draws attention to the fact that 90% of cases of exposure to the virus do not result in clinical manifestations due to self-suppression of the virus by natural immunity.
Treatment for HPV infection should be comprehensive and focus on:
- therapy of concomitant diseases;
- elimination of the external manifestations of diseases - medically and, if necessary, surgically;
- reduction of viral load;
- stimulating the body’s own defenses.
Chronic psycho-emotional stress, poor environment, and comorbidities reduce a woman’s immune system’s ability to cope with the virus on its own. There are drugs that have direct antiviral and immunomodulatory effects, help the body's strength and reduce viral load. These modern medicines include activated glycyrrhizic acid spray, which is obtained from licorice. It helps stop the virus from replicating early and reduces the number of copies of HPV genetic material in the body. The tool has a special intravaginal nozzle for delivering the drug to the cervix and distributing it evenly along the walls of the vagina. Antiviral and immunomodulatory therapy in the latent course of papillomavirus infection may prevent the onset of unpleasant symptoms and the transition to more aggressive forms of infection. If the virus has caused changes in the genital area and the epithelium of the cervix, the spray will help:
- relieves inflammation;
- eliminates itching;
- restores mucosal integrity;
- increases local immunity.
It is also indicated for the treatment of HPV-induced benign lesions, to reduce viral activity and to prevent relapse. The drug promotes skin regeneration and prevents secondary infection from sticking.
Removal of papillomas and warts
Benign formations caused by HPV can be removed by the following methods:
- cryodestruction - exposure to the neoplasm with cold;
- electrocoagulation - high frequency current treatment;
- laser removal - layer-by-layer exposure to laser irradiation until scarring appears;
- chemical destruction - treatment with special chemical solutions applied to warts and destroyed;
- surgical removal, given the high risk of recurrence after this type of death, is selectively prescribed - if other methods are not possible.
New developments in the treatment of HPV include the CRISPR / Cas9 system, which cuts off DNA almost completely and embeds parts of it, thereby inactivating the spread of the virus.
Prevention
As a primary prevention, barrier contraception (a condom) is recommended, which does not protect against absolute HPV but reduces exposure to the virus. You need to select when choosing sexual partners. In case of accidental contact, a special spray can be used to protect against HPV, herpes simplex virus and cytomegalovirus infection.
To date, HPV vaccination is the most effective. It provides protection against the most common and malignant types of human papillomavirus. In many countries, vaccination against HPV is on the mandatory immunization schedule. The most effective time for vaccination is in childhood and adolescence. Previously, it was thought that after 20 years, vaccination made no sense. However, recent studies have shown that HPV vaccination is appropriate and effective for those aged 45-47 years.
In the case of a viral infection, the task of secondary prevention is to maintain the good health of the patient, especially with regard to the good condition of the immune system. Women should visit their gynecologist regularly for early detection of viral-related illnesses.