Papillomas are prominent growths that appear on a person's skin and mucous membranes. They are not actually a disease, but only serve as an external manifestation of the body's infection with HPV, the 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 turn into malignant tumors.
The causes of penile papillomas
Papillomas are benign growths on the skin or mucous membranes with warts.
The human papillomavirus is transmitted in several ways - from a sick person to a healthy one. The main method is sexual intercourse with unprotected sexual intercourse. But you can "get" the virus at home, by contact with a carrier, if there are defects in the integrity of the body or mucous membranes, through blood and other fluids infected with the virus.
It is quite difficult to completely "destroy" 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, in some cases, the disease becomes recurrent and can last for many years.
Particularly dangerous are strains with the ability to malignant disease, ie to transform a neoplasm into a malignant one.
HPV has a long incubation period, with strong immunity, can last from a month to a year.
But once the immune system is weakened, it will be felt immediately. Symptoms of its presence are formations on the body and mucous membranes, which can have a round, oval or oblong shape and vary in size, from a few millimeters to several centimeters.
More than 600 strains of the virus are known in medicine, of which more than 40 are capable of causing neoplasms in the genital and anal areas in men and women. They are the ones that cause papillomas of the penis, which are called genital warts.
Some of the papillomas are harmless to human health, others are able to provoke an annoying cosmetic defect - warts, and others threaten the body with the most dangerous disease - cancer. There is medical evidence between cervical cancer and breast cancer developing with an infection with certain HPV strains.
If a virus that can cause genital papillomas enters the body, then the main route of entry is considered sexual. Promiscuous relationships, bisexual and homosexual contacts are especially dangerous. But the virus can be congenital - the fetus becomes infected by passing through the birth canal of an infected mother. There is also a risk of infection in skin lesions when visiting the pool, public toilet, bath, sauna, fitness, during hair removal, shaving.
Signs and symptoms of the disease
Symptoms depend on the location, number and size of papillomas.
Most often, papillomas of the penis affect the head of the organ, "settle" on the foreskin, form colonies on the bridle and can even penetrate the urethra.
With strong proliferation of papillomas take the form of "cauliflower", during intercourse, urination can be injured, injured and even bleeding.
As this is a viral disease, the period of activation of papilloma growth is accompanied by a strong decrease in immunity. The person feels weak, lethargic, his body temperature may rise, most often it stays below subfebrile levels (37 - 37, 5 ° C). Because immunity is reduced, an infected person can easily catch a cold and "take" ARVI and ARI.
The proliferation of papillomas can lead to phimosis - narrowing of the foreskin.
Due to this condition, a special lubricant - smegma - accumulates on the head of the penis. Its infection can lead to the development of a dangerous disease, therefore, if even single papillomas are found, it is necessary to urgently 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.
Necessary research and examinations
The presence of papilloma is determined by the doctor visually, but other tests are needed to clarify the strain and the degree of its risk to the patient. The patient donates blood for typing by PCR, Digene screening test and is tested for the presence of sexually transmitted diseases, as in the majority of cases HPV is "associated" with sexually transmitted diseases.
If papillomas are suspected to enter the urethra, urethroscopy is performed. The doctor may prescribe a biopsy if the growth is too large or if doctors suspect that the tumor has begun to degenerate into a cancerous tumor.
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 for the rest of the patient's life. Anti-HPV drugs are the use of antiviral drugs and immunomodulators that stimulate the activity of a person's own immunity.
In general, the actions of doctors are aimed at eliminating the external signs of the presence of the virus, ie the papillomas, warts and genital warts themselves.
Only in the case of cancerous degeneration is a comprehensive treatment applied, which includes surgery and the use of chemotherapy to eliminate the threat of tumor spread.
The following treatment methods are used to remove penile papillomas:
- Surgical removal.
- Electrocoagulation.
- Removal of formations with a laser (neodymium or carbon dioxide).
- Cryodestruction - destruction of a neoplasm with liquid nitrogen. Cryodestruction can be applied or aerosolized.
- Cauterization with chemicals.
In most cases, the use of these methods is sufficient to remove the papilloma and prevent its recurrence.
The method of treatment is chosen by the doctor depending on the degree of damage, the type of neoplasm, the patient's health condition and his age.
There is a specialized vaccine that is used in women to prevent the most dangerous disease - squamous cell carcinoma, or cervical cancer. It has been shown to be caused by one of the dangerous strains of the human papillomavirus, because in the absence of HPV in the body, this type of cancer does not occur.
Unfortunately, today there is no vaccine to prevent infection with other types of human papillomavirus, including those that provoke growths on the male intimate organs. The only effective way of protection is still the use of condoms during sexual intercourse, as well as the observance of personal hygiene, a cautious attitude to possible infection in public places.
Prognosis and possible complications
Doctors have concluded that in 90% of all cases of HPV infection, if a person has a strong immunity, the body copes with the virus on its own within 24 months. But this observation applies only to certain strains of human papillomavirus that are unable to provoke the development of cancer.
The most dangerous complication should be considered a malignant disease, ie the transformation of papilloma into cancer. But only some HPV strains have such properties. Sad consequences can be prevented with early access to medical care and timely diagnosis.
In rare cases, neoplasms may form on and around scar tissue after removal of the papilloma if the virus is actively multiplying in the patient's body due to weakened immunity. In such a situation, repeated removal of papillomas and complete strengthening of the patient's immunity will be necessary to prevent further growth of the formations.
In most cases, the prognosis is positive if the disease is not too advanced. But this rarely happens with genital warts, as their development causes severe discomfort to the man and he quickly turns to doctors.