If you need to have an HPV test, then you have nothing to worry about. Most of the procedures are completely painless, and some are well tolerated by each patient. Think about the most common questions about test delivery.
What is HPV?
Human papillomavirus is a microorganism that contains the cellular structure of DNA. When introduced into the human body, HPV DNA causes a mutation that leads to irreversible processes. The majority of the population is already a carrier of the virus, but few people realize this because the virus does not manifest itself in any way.
As soon as the body fails, the immune system weakens and growths appear on the body. For all skin formations except moles and acne, HPV affects. If the growths are not treated in time, then malignancy occurs and a harmless wart can turn into cervical cancer in women and urethral cancer in men.
Why is the human papillomavirus dangerous?
When papillomas, genital warts or warts appear on the body, an ordinary person can hardly distinguish them from each other by confusing them with something that is not able to cause harm.
It's not that simple - a small papilloma can grow to such a size that it can cause a lot of inconvenience - from aesthetic discomfort to the development of cancerous tumors. More than 130 strains of human papillomavirus are known, and each manifests itself in different ways.
The most common of these are types 16 and 18, which provoke cancer of the mucous membranes, cervix, vagina, penis and other similar diseases. Because initially a person does not know about the presence of the virus in the body, HPV gradually develops and after 5-10 years a person sees changes in his body in the form of growths.
Papilloma analysis can be done in any clinic. After 40 years, more than half of the lesions become malignant. Early diagnosis gives a person a chance for a painless old age that will not be overshadowed by cancer.
Why test for human papillomavirus?
To protect yourself from oncogenic diseases, you need to identify a potential threat to life and health in a timely manner. With an extensive list of reasons for its spread, HPV is transmitted from person to person through close contact - hugs, kisses, sexual intercourse, using common hygiene products.
The virus takes root under the skin and destroys the healthy structure of DNA, mutating throughout the body. When the immune system fails, HPV appears on the skin in the form of warts, papillomas and similar rashes. Only an examination can detect the virus at an early stage and block its further spread.
When is an HPV test scheduled?
When the first signs of the disease appear on the body, the doctor can see them even on visual inspection. An HPV test is prescribed to find out where the virus came from in the body, to identify the species, and then to eliminate it.
Even considering that not every infected person is capable of becoming a cancer patient, no one wants to tempt fate, which means that tests need to be done. If a woman is planning to become pregnant, she should be tested for HPV, as the virus will easily enter the baby. The father should also not be indifferent, because he may be a carrier of papillomavirus.
Characteristics of passing the HPV test
It is believed that the detection of HPV before the age of 30 is not informative, as the disease extends far beyond the human eye. After 30, the first tests are prescribed, which can detect papillomavirus even in the earliest stages.
The less time has passed since the infection, the more effective the subsequent treatment will be. It is necessary to identify the moment when normal cells begin to grow into cancer. Methods for diagnosing human papillomavirus depend on several factors:
- Identification of the virus and the very fact of its presence in the body
- Understand diversity
- Assess the damage caused during the period in which the person did not seek medical help
- Prescribe high quality and effective treatment
I remember:the virus will never leave the host completely as it already interacts with the body's DNA cells. HPV will remain calm until the immune system is weakened.
What test to submit for HPV detection?
- Colposcopic examination. HPV tests are performed on women in this method. It is designed to detect genital warts. Women are prescribed to detect genital warts located in the neck area.
- Cytology. A smear containing epithelial cells is taken and then the samples taken are examined under a microscope. If the cells change, there is a risk of developing HPV. There is a risk of a false result.
- Histology. This is an addition to cytology to rule out error. A small piece of the affected tissue is taken and the doctor assesses the difficulty of the position with a microscope. With the help of histological examination it is possible to determine the nature of the formation.
- PCR diagnostics. The truest way with 98% accuracy. Taken swab, urine, blood or amniotic fluid
If at least one test detects the presence of a virus, then the patient will be sent for further analysis to ensure the accuracy of the result. If the result is found to be false positive, the cause may be contaminated test material or a breach of generally accepted sampling technique.
Sometimes patients prepare incorrectly for the analysis or choose the wrong time for the procedure - these factors can also cause false results.
Testing rules
In addition to relying on the attending physician, the patient himself must monitor the process of passing the analysis and know the basic processes. The doctor is a specialist, but the health belongs to the patient.
How is the biomaterial accepted?
The strokes are taken with a soft brush that looks like a brush. In free clinics, a Folkman spoon is sometimes used - this is a small spoon on a long trunk. Such a brush is carefully inserted into the channel, then removed by rotational movements. The brush is placed in a sterile flask and sent for further examination.
How to prepare for the procedure for women
2 days before the procedure you can not live sexually, use soap with antibacterial effect, shower, use tampons. If a smear is taken from the cervix, after the procedure for 3 weeks you can not have sex, exercise, overheat, swim in public places and take drugs that affect blood thinning.
How to prepare for the procedure for men
Sexual intercourse is excluded, shower 2 days without detergents. Do not urinate before the procedure.
General preparation for the procedure
You need to tell your doctor about all the medicines you have taken in the last 2 months.
How is a blood test for HPV done?
Used for PCR diagnostics. From a finger, sometimes from a vein, depending on the type of analysis a person will do. Slight tingling from the injection is the maximum discomfort of the procedure. If the vessels in the elbow area are narrow, then the process of taking blood will become difficult, but the doctor will tell you how to properly dilate the vein.
The procedure is performed on an empty stomach, you can not even drink water. It is advisable to bring chocolate with you. 3 days before blood donation it is necessary to exclude from the diet all foods that cause an allergic reaction.
How is urine tested?
It is better to take care of the sterile jar yourself. You can buy it at the pharmacy. Collect morning urine in a jar on an empty stomach. Then take it for examination, preferably immediately, the maximum period is 4 hours or the result will be invalid. The method is not as accurate as blood donation, but if blood donation is not possible, you will need to use this method.
How long does it take to test for HPV in women and men?
If a colposcopic examination is performed, the result is issued immediately. With a cytological examination, the results will be ready in a week. Histology is done for 3 days, after which you can get the result of the test on your hands. With PCR diagnostics you can immediately get the results or wait up to 2 days.
When and how often should you be tested for HPV?
Until the age of 30, only those who have clear signs of growths on their bodies are examined. Usually at this age, HPV is dormant and does not spread throughout the body.
From 30 to 60 years it is necessary to go for an examination every 3 years. The level of immunity is falling, so the signs of human papillomavirus must be detected in time.
After 60 years, no examinations are usually performed. If no virus has been found during the last two tests, then you don't need to worry. If there were manifestations, then you will have to join the treatment, while the last 2 results are negative.
Costs and prices for delivery of HPV tests
In the presence of acute diseases or the conclusion of a cancerous tumor, most examinations are free. They can be prescribed by your treating oncologist.
For a complete picture of the development of the virus, 2 methods are usually used to eliminate the possibility of false information.
Decoding the results
Deciphering should only be performed by the treating physician. The patient's intervention will not bring anything good. To find out what the results are, you need to pay attention to the following words:
- reference values - no HPV;
- positive result - an oncogenic strain of HPV was found;
- the result is negative - no cancers have been detected, but there is a possibility of detecting other types of HPV.
If the patient decides to take care of his health and find out about the presence of human papillomavirus in his body, then the above methods should be resorted to. Timely diagnosis has saved millions of people and helped to find a peaceful, healthy life. Only after a thorough test is it possible to prescribe quality treatment.
Sometimes the patient is sent for tests without external signs of the disease, and the procedure shows that there is HPV in the body. In this case, the treatment will not take long. For this reason, doctors recommend seeking help in a timely manner.