Papillomas are raised formations that appear on the skin and mucous membranes of a person. They are not actually a disease, but only act as an external manifestation of infection of the body with HPV - human papillomavirus.
Papillomavirus exists in many different strains, some of which are dangerous because neoplasms have the property of malignant transformation, that is, they can transform into malignant tumors.
Causes of the appearance of papillomas on the penis
Papillomas are benign formations on the skin or mucous membranes of a warty nature.
Human papillomavirus is transmitted in several ways, from a sick person to a healthy person. The main method is sexual, with unprotected intercourse. But you can "get" the virus in the home way, coming in contact with the carrier, if the body or mucous membranesHowever, there are integrity defects through blood and other fluids infected with the virus.
It is quite difficult to completely "eliminate" a virus that has already entered the body, but in about 90% of cases, there is an independent cure, that is, the immune system itself "kills" the virus. However, someIn cases, the disease takes on a recurrent nature and can last for many years.
A particular danger is posed by strains with the potential for malignancy, that is, to transform a neoplasm into a malignant one.
HPV has a long incubation period, with strong immunity, it can last from a month to a year.
But once the immune system is weakened, it makes itself felt immediately. Symptoms of its presence are formations on the body and mucous membranes, which can have a round, oval or oblong shape and various sizes from a few millimeters to a few centimeters. Huh.
More than 600 strains of the virus are known for medicine, of which more than 40 are capable of causing neoplasms in the genital and anal regions in men and women. They are the ones that cause papillomas on the penis, also known as genital warts. is called.
Some papillomas are harmless to human health, others are capable of provoking an annoying cosmetic defect - warts, and still others threaten the body with the most dangerous disease - cancer. Cervitis that develop with infection with some HPV strainsThere is medical evidence between it and breast cancer.
If a virus that can cause papillomas on the genitals enters the body, its main route of entry is considered to be sexual. Unofficial, bisexual and homosexual contacts are especially dangerous. But the virus can also be congenital -The fetus becomes infected while passing through the birth canal of an infected mother. Skin lesions in pools, public toilets, bathing, saunas, going to the gym, epilating, shaving are also prone to infection.
Signs and symptoms of disease
Symptoms depend on the site of localization, the number and size of papillomas.
Most often, papillomas on the penis affect the head of the organ, "settle" with the foreskin, colonize on the bridle, and can even penetrate the urethra.
With a strong spread of papillomas take the form of "cauliflower", during sexual intercourse, urine can be sore, bruising and even blood.
Since this is a viral disease, the period of activation of the development of papillomas is accompanied by a sharp decrease in immunity. A person feels weak, lethargic, his body temperature may rise, most often at subfebrile levels (37 - 37. 5 ° C). Since immunity is reduced, an infected person can easily catch a cold and "pick up" ARVI and ARI.
The spread of papillomas can lead to phimosis - a narrowing of the foreskin.
Due to this condition, a special lubricant accumulates on the head of the penis - smegma. Its infection can lead to the development of a dangerous disease, therefore, if even a single papilloma is found, there is an urgent need to consult a doctor. Individual neoplasms can be removed very quickly and almost painlessly, preventing their growth and a high risk of degeneration into a malignant tumor.
Required tests and exams
The presence of papillomas is determined visually by the doctor, but other studies are needed to clarify the degree of stress and its risk for the patient. The patient donates blood for typing using PCR, a digeneScreening tests, and are screened for the presence of sexually transmitted diseases, as in most cases HPV is "bundled" with STDs.
If penetration of papillomas into the urethra is suspected, urinalysis is performed. If the growth is very large or doctors suspect that the formation has begun to turn into a cancerous tumor, doctors may prescribe a biopsy.
Methods of treatment and removal of papillomas
It is impossible to completely remove the human papillomavirus from the body of an infected person, sometimes it remains in it until the end of the patient's life. Medicines to combat HPV use antiviral drugs and immunomodulators that increase a person's own immunity. stimulate activity.
Basically, the actions of doctors are aimed at eliminating external signs of the presence of the virus, that is, the papillomas themselves, warts and genital warts.
Only in the case of cancerous degeneration is complex treatment applied, including surgery and the use of chemotherapy, to eliminate the risk of tumor spread.
To remove papillomas on the penis, the following treatment methods are used:
- surgical removal.
- Electrocoagulation.
- Removal of formations with a laser (neodymium or carbon dioxide).
- Cryodestruction - destruction of a neoplasm using liquid nitrogen. Cryodestruction can be applied or aerosolized.
- stain with chemicals.
In most cases, the use of these methods is enough to remove the papilloma and prevent its reappearance.
The method of treatment is selected by the doctor depending on the degree of damage, the type of neoplasm, the patient's state of health and his age.
There is a special vaccine that is used to prevent the most dangerous disease in women - squamous cell carcinoma, or cervical cancer. It has been proven that it is caused by one of the dangerous strains of human papillomavirus, because in the bodyIn the absence of HPV, this type of cancer does not occur.
Unfortunately, today there is no vaccine that can prevent infection with other types of human papillomavirus, including those that provoke the appearance of growths on the intimate male organs. Still the only effective method of protection is the use of condoms during intercourse. There is use, as well as adherence to personal hygiene, a cautious attitude to possible infection in public places.
Prognosis and potential complications
Doctors came to the conclusion that in 90% of all cases of HPV infection, if a person has strong immunity, the body independently copes with the virus within 24 months. But this observation only applies to certain strains of human papillomavirus. which are not capable of provoking the development of cancer.
The most dangerous complication should be considered malignancy, that is, the transformation of papillomas into cancer. But only a fraction of HPV strains have such properties. Early access to medical assistance and timely diagnosis can prevent tragic consequences.
In rare cases, after removal of the papilloma, neoplasms can form in and around scar tissue, if the virus is actively multiplying in the patient's body due to weakened immunity. In such a situation, repeated removal of the papilloma and the patientwill need to be extensively strengthened to prevent further development of the formations.
In most cases, if the disease is not very advanced, the prognosis is positive. But this rarely happens with genital warts, because their development causes severe discomfort to the man, and he quickly turns to doctors. .