Papillomavirus infection is widespread throughout the world. HPV infection occurs regardless of age and gender, but the course and development of the disease has its own characteristics for men and women.
For the stronger sex, the papillomavirus can cause certain disturbances in sexual life and cause related health problems.
The reasons
The human papillomavirus has such a microscopic structure that it can enter the body through the smallest microcracks in the skin and mucous membranes.
In this regard, there are several possible HPV infections, including:
- Sexual transmission. You can get an infection not only through casual intimate contact, but also by mouth. In homosexual men, HPV enters through anal contact through cracks in the skin and rectum. Trauma to the mucous membranes during sex increases the risk of infection.
- Household route of infection. The virus can remain viable for a long time in a moist environment, so there is a high probability that it spreads in a bath, sauna, or through a personal towel. They describe cases of infection in beauty salons, where the rules for disinfecting manicure sets and other tools were ignored. Transmission of the virus is possible through instruments in dental or surgical rooms.
- From mother to baby during childbirth.
Men who change sexual partners frequently are more likely to be HPV positive.
It is believed that the younger the girls, the more likely they are to have the papillomavirus in their bodies - most of the detected infections occur before the age of 25. Virgins can also become infected with HPV, as oral and other sexual relations are often practiced before traditional sex.
Unfortunately, barrier contraception, i. e. condoms, does not provide a 100% guarantee of preventing HPV infection. This is due to the fact that due to the minimal size of this microorganism, it easily penetrates the pores of the latex. Condoms naturally reduce the likelihood of possible infection, but do not eliminate it completely.
It should not be forgotten that the microorganism can be found in certain quantities in saliva and can therefore be transmitted through kissing.
Men with bad habits increase the risk of possible HPV infection. The probability of infection increases with the weakening of the body's defenses, after long-term treatment, while taking antibiotics.
Symptoms
The fact that he is a carrier of the papillomavirus is not suspected until the vital activity of the microorganism is activated. The reason for this change is often the weakening of the immune system.
Latent transmission of the infection lasts from two weeks to a year, and in some cases this interval is significantly extended.
Activation of the virus leads to the fact that part of it accumulates in a certain place on the skin or mucous membrane. The accumulation and development of the papillomavirus changes the function of the epithelial cells, and this results in a tumor-like process.
Papillomas can develop on almost any part of the body, most often appearing in the armpits, face, neck, and genitals. Sometimes the process of formation of papillomas is accompanied by itching and burning.
Papillomavirus formations grow on the body in the form of plaques, warts, filiform bumps on the legs. The biggest danger is genital warts, in men they are located in the penis, they can grow around the anus or inside the urethra.
At first, these growths most often look like small pimples, in advanced cases they can merge with each other, forming growths resembling cauliflower.
By themselves, genital warts are only unpleasant due to a cosmetic defect. But if they are not removed and usually not treated with papilloma infection, there is a risk that the changed epithelial cells will degenerate into cancer cells.
Sometimes, during sexual intercourse or careless movements, the papillomas are damaged, which causes slight bleeding and pain. With the strengthening of the immune system, self-healing often occurs, that is, the papillomas disappear or become smaller.
Effects
The consequences of papillomavirus infection for men are very unpleasant and depend on the strain of this microorganism.
If the inside of the urethra is affected, there is a risk of genital warts rapidly growing and spreading inside the urethra. This leads to its partial or complete blockage, which negatively affects the outflow of urine and affects the development of functional disorders of the urinary organs.
The appearance of growths in the glans penis, around the anus and in the rectum increases the likelihood that a benign formation will become malignant.
Rectal cancer is more common in men who have non-traditional sex. During oral sex, there is a risk of developing papillomas in the throat, which manifests itself in various unpleasant sensations.
A man infected with HPV poses a certain danger to the women around him. For a wife or other sexual partner, such a man will be the most likely source of infection. There is a risk of infection and of sisters, mothers, daughters, if a towel or bathing equipment is used in the family.
Diagnostic methods
The diagnosis begins with an examination of the external genitalia and the patient's entire body.
The doctor must necessarily collect an anamnesis, that is, he must clarify when the formations appeared on the body, what the patient relates to their growth, and determine whether there are certain complaints.
To confirm the diagnosis, the patient must undergo several tests, including:
- A swab or scraping from the lining inside the urethra.
- PCR test to determine the type and quantitative content of the virus. This analysis is performed after taking a smear, prostate secretion or blood.
- Biopsy - examination of a tissue sample taken during the removal of genital warts or from the site of a change in the mucous membrane layer.
- Ureteroscopy helps to visually examine changes in the urethra.
Men in homosexual relationships are advised to examine a swab taken from the anal area.
Methods of treatment of papillomavirus in men
The choice of methods for the treatment of human papillomavirus in men depends on which virus strain was detected in the man.
If a pathogen with high oncogenic activity is detected, effective antiviral treatment is prescribed, and the tests must be repeated continuously in the future.
Papillomas and condylomas are removed from the skin and mucous membranes in several ways. This can be traditional scalpel cutting or more modern methods - laser treatment, electrocoagulation, radio wave method.
After removal of papillomas, the body's resistance to infections should be increased, which reduces the risk of other types of HPV infection.
Prevention
Prevention of human papillomavirus infection is to understand sexual relations and, if possible, have sexual contact only with trusted partners. Prevention methods include following the basic rules in everyday life, such as using only your own towels and underwear, following a healthy lifestyle.
The infection can be prevented by vaccination. A special vaccine against HPV has been developed and is administered three times at certain intervals. Vaccination results in the fact that the body develops immunity against certain strains of the papillomavirus.