Papillomas of the labia are a very delicate problem that causes self-dissatisfaction and reduced quality of sex life. They are difficult to hide, can cause discomfort during intercourse, so papillomas should be removed. In addition, in some cases, the growth of the genitals in women can be a dangerous risk of developing cancer.
Causes of papilloma formation
Papillomas of the labia or genital warts are the result of a human papillomavirus infection. In total, there are more than 100 strains of this virus, which differ in the type of neoplasms and the degree of risk of developing oncology.
The virus enters the body mainly through sexual contact against the background of reduced immunity. At the same time, a man who has infected a woman may have no visible signs of the virus, as papillomas in men do not always appear on the skin.
Decreased immunity occurs against the background of recent infectious diseases, vitamin deficiencies or chronic stress. Papillomas of the labia can be caused by a decrease in local immunity, as a result of various inflammatory and infectious diseases of the genital organs, including thrush and bacterial vaginosis. At the same time, it is enough to use other people's personal hygiene products for infection, so that after a while unsightly growths appear on the labia.
Thus, despite the fact that the virus is transmitted from one person to another, the reasons for the appearance of papillomas on the labia in women are the following:
- decreased immunity after ARVI, pneumonia, influenza or tonsillitis;
- vaginal infections;
- non-observance of personal hygiene;
- stress;
- unbalanced diet;
- the presence of a chronic focus of infection in the body;
- indiscriminate sex.
All these factors lead to a decrease in immunity, both general and local. As a result, the body becomes susceptible to various negative influences and cannot resist the human papilloma virus.
Quite often the virus does not manifest itself, restrained by human immunity. This is true only if the person is completely healthy. The virus can then be asymptomatic in the body for a long time. The formation of papillomas will occur against the background of reduced immunity. If this does not happen in the following years, the body can deal with the virus on its own, but self-medication usually takes at least 18 months.
What do genital papillomas look like?
How a woman's labial infection manifests itself depends on several factors:
- type of virus;
- the concentration of the virus in the body;
- localization of growths.
The formation of papillomas on the labia minora is caused by the influence of oncogenic or conditionally oncogenic strains of the virus (16, 18, 31, 32, 45 and other species). It is easy to understand what such papillomas of the labia look like, knowing what condyloma is. These are small papillae with jagged edges that rise above the surface of the mucosa. They usually do not differ in color or are slightly lighter than the mucous membranes. Manifestations of the papilloma virus on the labia, provoking the development of genital warts, can spread to a woman's perineum, vulva and vagina.
Condyloma always forms only on the mucous membranes. Papillomas on the inner labia in women do not appear, they form only in areas with thin epidermis.
Papillomas are small balls of the foot that rise above the skin. They have smooth borders with a regular shape, may be slightly lighter or darker than the rest of the skin. When pressed, the papillomas of the labia do not hurt, the homogeneous structure of growth is felt under the fingers. This type of neoplasm occurs in the groin and labia majora.
Almost every known method is used to remove labial papillomas, as the risk of burning or deep damage to the epidermis is minimal. Papillomas of the labia minora are treated completely, as such growths are potentially dangerous.
Warts can form in the following areas:
- small labia;
- vulva;
- vagina;
- Cervix;
- anal opening;
- crotch;
- urethra.
The image of a papilloma on the labia does not differ from the images of growths in other parts of the body, while papillomas or warts in the vagina and vagina are difficult to see on their own.
The formation of papillomas on the labia during pregnancy is associated with reduced immunity. In this case, timely treatment of the effects of HPV plays an important role, otherwise there is a risk of infection of the child when passing through the birth canal.
Why are papillomas dangerous?
Sexual contact and the human papillomavirus on the labia in women are directly related. First, there is a risk of transmitting the virus to a sexual partner through contact with the affected mucosa. Second, with friction during intercourse, papillomas and warts can be damaged, which is accompanied by pain. There is a risk of infection with the papilloma as it becomes inflamed and may begin to degenerate into cancer.
There are cases when a woman has a huge papilloma of the labia majora due to multiple injuries. No woman is insured against such a risk. Large growths are very dangerous and must first be removed.
Papilloma on the lining of the labia minora and in the vagina can lead to the development of cervical cancer. This is due to the activity of the papillomavirus, which is manifested by excessive division of epithelial cells on the labia minora and other parts of the mucosa. In this case, the damage to the cells of the cervix develops in several stages. First, the erosion is formed due to HPV on the labia, then it transforms into dysplasia, which is a precancerous condition. Lack of timely treatment of dysplasia leads to the development of cervical cancer.
It should be understood that any papillomas on the mucous membrane of the labia are a potential danger. The papilloma itself can degenerate into cancer and not only provoke cervical oncology. Signs of malignant papilloma are an increase in the size of the growth, pain and itching, discharge with an unpleasant odor from the body of growth and blackening of the skin of the affected area. If you notice such symptoms, you should consult a doctor as soon as possible - an oncologist, gynecologist or dermatovenerologist.
Treatment and removal of papillomas
How to treat labial papillomas depends on their number and size. It is advisable not to self-medicate, but to consult a doctor who will tell you in detail what to do to remove and prevent the recurrence of papillomas on the labia.
To get rid of papillomas of the labia should be consistent. First, the activity of the virus is suppressed, then the growth itself is removed and, if necessary, immunostimulatory therapy is performed. To determine the exact sequence of treatment, you need to undergo PCR analysis, which shows the degree of activity and concentration of the virus, and also allows you to determine its strain.
If a woman is found to have a potentially dangerous strain of the virus, 16 or 18, complex therapy is needed. In this case, each removed papilloma is sent for histological analysis and a complete examination of the cervix is performed for changes in the epithelium.
How to remove labial papillomas depends on the exact location. Skin neoplasms are removed in any available way - from surgical to folk. This is due to the fact that the skin of the labia majora is thick enough, so after removal there are rarely complications. It is fair to say that the formations of the labia majora in most cases do not pose a health hazard and do not provoke cancer.
Removal of genital warts on the mucous membranes is performed either with the help of laser exposure or by radio wave method. These two methods are considered the most gentle as long as they do not clog the vessels that feed the growth, so the risk of bleeding is minimal. When removing neoplasms from the cervix or vagina, histological analysis is required to rule out the onset of the pathological process.
You should consult your doctor about how to remove labial papillomas. If the analysis showed a high concentration of the virus in the body, there is a risk of recurrence of genital warts, therefore, a complex therapy involving three stages.
- After determining the strain of the virus, the woman is prescribed antiviral and immunomodulatory therapy. This is necessary to suppress the virus and minimize the risk of recurrence of papillomas.
- After drug therapy, which takes an average of several weeks, the papillomas are removed by the chosen method and agreed with the doctor. Laser removal or radio wave method is recommended.
- Some time after removal of the growths, the analysis should be repeated. If the concentration of the virus is still high, a second course of drug therapy is prescribed.
Medicines used to treat papillomas are available in the form of tablets and ointments. Antiviral ointments with immunomodulatory properties are recommended for the treatment of skin papillomas. If growths appear on the mucous membranes, taking pills is indicated.
As a rule, after removal of papillomas and drug therapy, the body heals itself after a few months or years. To avoid the recurrence of papillomas, a woman should follow the rules of hygiene, maintain her own immunity and avoid unprotected intercourse.