Human papillomavirus (HPV) manifests itself in the body with various diseases, depending on the type and location. It can be dormant for a long time without causing disease, and then, for no apparent reason, appear in the form of various growths on the skin or mucous membranes.
Penile papillomas: causes
Papillomas, warts or warts can be harmless, but their danger lies in the fact that altered epithelial cells can degenerate into cancer cells. Therefore, if the penis has developed papillomas, you should immediately consult a doctor for diagnosis of the disease and timely treatment.
What is this
HPV is a large group of DNA-containing intracellular pathogens that are divided into twenty-seven species, five families and more than one hundred strains.
They are also characterized by the degree of risk of malignancy (oncogenic properties). According to statistics, these viruses affect more than ninety percent of adults. Papillomaviruses exist and develop only in the human body. They are more likely to be transmitted through sex than other viruses. HPVs do not have a shell, but they are extremely vital and can exist for some time in the external environment. Pathogenic microorganisms are localized in the main layer of the skin or mucous membranes.
Penile papillomas are often caused by a group of viruses that can quickly provoke the process of malignancy. In this regard, they are often called a precancerous condition or the first step in the development of oncology. In this case, doctors may prescribe Helixor to the patient.
What they are
Genital papilloma is a small neoplasm. The growths are outwardly similar to cauliflower, mushrooms or roosters. What the pathological growths of the epithelium look like can be seen in the photo. Most often they can be seen on the foreskin, nodes and glans of the penis, less often on the shaft of the penis or scrotum.
- On the foreskin you can see genital warts that are light in color and have a thin stem. At first, single elements are found, but as the disease progresses, they grow and become similar to cauliflower.
- If the papillomas of the penis have arisen in the area of the frenum, then they can be seen as small white pimples located in several rows.
- Pale pink villous growths can be seen on the head of the penis. They represent numerous growths as well as the foreskin.
- A type of disease caused by HPV on the genital trunk, scrotum or groin is a giant Bushke-Levinstein condyloma. It is classified as a precancerous condition because the altered cells grow rapidly.
Causes
Viral agents that cause penile papillomas penetrate the epithelium through microcracks in the skin or mucous membranes. The main way is sexual contact of any form. You can also become infected with the papillomavirus at home if you use personal hygiene items, such as towels on a person infected with HPV. The risk of contracting the virus is high in public places such as bathrooms, swimming pools, showers. The causative agent is not immediately disclosed.
The latency period can last from several months to one year. In addition, if the man is healthy and has a high level of immune protection, the disease may not appear and the person may simply become a carrier of the virus. The impetus for the multiplication of papillomavirus and the appearance of papillomas on the penis is a decrease in immunity.
Thus, there are two reasons for the formation of growths on the genital organ:
- papillomavirus infection;
- Activation of HPV due to weakened immunity.
Provoking factors:
- frequent change of sexual partners;
- lack of contraception during sex;
- chronic diseases of the genitourinary tract;
- hormonal disorders;
- AIDS or HIV infection;
- frequent hypothermia;
- viral infections, constant colds;
- prolonged intoxication of the body (taking antibiotics, alcohol consumption, smoking, etc. );
- stress, unhealthy diet and similar factors that negatively affect the immune system.
Papillomas of the glans penis: symptoms and diagnosis
HPV masses of the penis are usually not symptomatic. Men often do not even notice the activity of the papillomavirus. Papillomas of the head of the penis can be detected, manifested by itching or burning during intercourse.
If the pathological formations have grown and become noticeable, it can cause discomfort to the man due to the unaesthetic appearance of the penis. Papillomas located on the head of the penis can cause phimosis, which is accompanied by corresponding symptoms. In the case of oncogenic formations, when the growths reach large sizes, men may complain of pain in the affected area and a foul odor.
Diagnostics
If a man sees suspicious formations on his penis, then you should get rid of the false shame and seek medical help. Diagnostic measures to identify papilloma of the head of the penis are performed by a urologist. He carefully collects the anamnesis - interrogates and examines the patient.
In addition to the penis, the doctor examines the scrotum, groin and anal area, ie those places where the virus can be localized. If the urologist finds papillomas on the head of the man's penis, then he sets it up for tests to determine the type of virus. If the frenulum is affected, meatoscopy may be needed to identify foci of HPV lesions in the urethra.
Men take a swab from the urethra for cytological examination, which determines the type of viral agent. The presence and type of virus can be identified with a probability of up to ninety-five percent using the polymerase chain reaction method. Any fluid - blood or urethral contents - is suitable as a test medium.
Penile warts: danger of pathology
Once the disease is diagnosed, the doctor will prescribe the appropriate treatment. Do not self-medicate, as this may not be effective and dangerous. If the disease is not treated, then unsightly warts on the penis can cause more serious problems.
Why are penile papillomas dangerous?
- In the first stage of papilloma development, phimosis can occur, which is characterized by the fusion of the foreskin with the head of the penis. If this condition is not treated, the following complication occurs, caused by the accumulation of smegma in the space between the head and the foreskin.
- Inflammation of the head and body of the penis due to the penetration of pathogenic bacteria under the inner sheets of the foreskin.
- The appearance of erosive defects of the head and foreskin, degeneration of altered epithelial cells in cancer.
Why they are dangerous for women
A man with genital papillomas, in the first place, becomes a source of infection for the woman. If the papilloma virus has entered a woman's genitals, then, as a rule, its activity is very difficult to detect in the early stages of the disease. Oncogenic types of viruses are especially dangerous because they cause cervical cancer. If the woman does not undergo a preventive examination, then oncology is detected in the late stages of cancer.
How to transform into cancer
At the beginning of the development of papilloma, single benign neoplasms are observed. They then increase in number and combine with each other to form a conglomerate. If the disease is not treated, over time, the altered cells can degenerate into malignant. The risk of degeneration of cancer education increases tenfold if the type of virus is oncogenic.
Therefore, it is very important to diagnose the disease in a medical institution. The most common oncogenic HPVs that cause genital warts are type sixteen or eighteen. They cause cancer of the penis, cervix and bladder.
How to get rid of penile papillomas: treatment and prevention
As the appearance of pathological growths on the genitals is preceded by a decrease in immunity, treatment should be comprehensive. The growths themselves are removed by surgery or cauterization. Medicines that contain a component that blocks the development and reproduction of viral agents, such as Viferon, Acyclovir, Epigen-intim and similar drugs, help fight viruses.
In addition to antiviral drug therapy, the doctor prescribes immunomodulators, vitamin complexes and gives recommendations for a healthy diet and lifestyle. It is important to identify all the factors that led to the activation of the virus and to eliminate them. Therefore, before deciding how to get rid of penile papillomas, you should undergo a thorough examination of your health.
Delete
Genital growths do not disappear on their own, so radical treatment is needed to get rid of them. There are several methods to remove nasty growths.
- Laser removal. Papillomas are melted by a laser beam and replaced by a crust that disappears naturally after two weeks.
- Cryodestruction. Neoplasms are cauterized with liquid nitrogen. Also, as in the first case, a crust remains, which after a while disappears without a trace.
- Radiosurgery. The papilloma is affected by radio waves. The method is considered the most accurate, safe and does not cause complications.
- Electrocoagulation. Growth is eliminated with the help of an electric current, which is applied with a certain frequency. This method of removal can cause complications in the form of tissue scars.
- Chemical Disposal. The method consists in cauterizing the papilloma with medical solutions: Condolin or Solkoderm. The drugs are administered by health professionals. After a course of treatment, the tumors dry up and disappear.
- Ointment treatment. If the growths are insignificant, you can use an ointment to remove them. Oxolinic ointment or Aldara will help you deal with the papillomavirus.
How to get rid of papillomas of the penis, through cryodestruction or with the help of drugs, the doctor decides, taking into account the individual characteristics of the patient. Tumor removal procedures do not require anesthesia and give a positive result in ninety-five percent of cases. Sometimes relapses occur in the same place.
Unconventional methods
The answer to the question of how to get rid of papillomas of the penis can be found in the recipes of traditional medicine. It should be borne in mind that the use of such methods must be agreed with the attending physician. Otherwise, treatment may be in vain, time will be lost and this will lead to complications.
Popular folk recipes:
- Tea tree oil, which is rubbed daily into the affected area, will help get rid of the buildup until the wart disappears;
- good treatment results can be achieved if propolis is applied to the papilloma;
- The simplest way is to crush tumors with egg white;
- vinegar will help get rid of papillomas, which should be carefully cauterized against growth once a day;
- you can get rid of small formations with the help of rowan strawberry juice (lubricate);
- Be careful when applying ammonia lotion as it can burn thin skin.
These recipes will help get rid of new growths that have not had time to grow. If the papilloma has already formed and protrudes strongly above the skin, then it must be removed using radical methods.
Prevention
The safest way to rule out an unpleasant and dangerous disease is safe sex and good personal hygiene. If these conditions are violated, then preventive measures should be taken to maintain a sufficient level of immunity so that the virus does not show activity in the body.
You can have a positive effect on immunity if you treat chronic diseases, eat right, exercise, harden and treat infectious diseases on time. It is important to give up bad habits that lead to intoxication of the body. To prevent papillomas from complications, men should visit a urologist regularly to identify the initial signs of the disease.