Papillomas are raised structures that appear on human skin and mucous membranes. They are not actually a disease, but only as an external manifestation of human infection with HPV-human papillomavirus.
Papillomaviruses exist in many different strains, some of which are dangerous because tumors have malignant properties, that is, they can become malignant tumors.
Causes of papilloma on the penis
Papilloma is a benign structure on the skin or mucous membrane that has a warty shape.
Human papillomavirus spreads in many ways, from patients to healthy people. The main method is sexual intercourse, unprotected intercourse. However, if the body or mucous membranes have integrity defects, you can "infect" the virus through blood and other body fluids infected with the virus at home.
It is quite difficult to completely "eliminate" a virus that has entered the body, but in about 90% of the cases, an independent cure will occur, that is, the immune system itself "kills" the virus. However, in some cases, the disease is recurrent and can last for many years.
Strains with malignant ability bring a special danger, that is, transforming tumors into malignancy.
HPV has a long incubation period and strong immunity, which can last from one month to one year.
But once the immune system is weakened, it will immediately make itself feel. Its symptoms are the formation on the body and mucous membranes, which can have round, oval or oval shapes and various sizes, from a few millimeters to a few centimeters.
There are more than 600 virus strains known in medicine, of which more than 40 can cause tumors in the genital and anal areas of men and women. They are the cause of penile papilloma, called genital warts.
Some papillomas are harmless to human health, others cause annoying beauty defects-warts, and still others threaten the body with the most dangerous disease-cancer. There is medical evidence that cervical cancer and breast cancer are caused by certain strains of HPV.
If the virus that can cause genital papilloma enters the human body, the main route of its entry is considered to be sexual transmission. Mixed relationships, bisexual and homosexual contacts are especially dangerous. But the virus is likely to be congenital-the fetus will be infected when it passes through the birth canal of the infected mother. When you go to swimming pools, public toilets, baths, saunas, gyms, hair removal, shaving, skin lesions are also at risk of infection.
Signs and symptoms of the disease
Symptoms depend on the location, the number and size of papilloma.
In most cases, papilloma on the penis affects the head of the organ, "settlement" along the foreskin, forming colonies on the reins, and may even penetrate the urethra.
With the intense proliferation of papilloma in the form of "broccoli", during sexual intercourse, urination may be injured, injured or even bleed.
Since this is a viral disease, the growth and activation phase of papilloma is accompanied by a strong decline in immunity. When a person feels weak and drowsy, his body temperature may rise, most commonly to stay at a low fever level (37-37. 5 °C). Due to the weakened immunity, the infected person can easily catch a cold and "infect" ARVI and ARI.
The proliferation of papilloma can lead to phimosis-narrowing of the foreskin.
Due to this situation, a special lubricant will accumulate on the head of the penis-smegma. Its infection can lead to the development of dangerous diseases, so even if a single papilloma is found, it is urgent to consult a doctor. Individual tumors can be removed very quickly and almost painlessly, thereby preventing their growth and high risk of degeneration into malignant tumors.
Necessary tests and inspections
The presence of papilloma is determined visually by the doctor, but other studies are needed to clarify the strain and the degree of risk to the patient. Patients donate blood for typing using PCR (a Digene screening test) and checking for sexually transmitted diseases, because in most cases, HPV is "bundled" with STDs.
If papilloma is suspected of invading the urethra, perform a urethroscopy. If it grows too large or if the doctor suspects that the tissue has begun to degenerate into a cancerous tumor, the doctor may prescribe a biopsy.
Methods of treatment and removal of papilloma
Human papillomavirus cannot be completely eliminated from the body of an infected person, and sometimes it stays at the end of the patient's life. Anti-HPV drugs are activities that use antiviral drugs and immunomodulators to stimulate the body's own immunity.
Basically, the doctor’s actions are aimed at eliminating the external signs of the virus, namely the papilloma itself, warts, and genital warts.
Only in the case of cancer will complex treatment methods be applied, including surgery and the use of chemotherapy to eliminate the threat of tumor spread.
In order to remove the papilloma on the penis, the following treatments are used:
- Surgery.
- Electrocoagulation.
- Use a laser (neodymium or carbon dioxide) to remove the formation.
- Freeze destruction-use liquid nitrogen to destroy the tumor. Can be applied or atomized to freeze destruction.
- Burn with chemicals.
In most cases, using these methods is sufficient to remove the papilloma and prevent it from reappearing.
The treatment method is selected by the doctor according to the degree of injury, tumor type, patient's health and age.
There is a special vaccine for women to prevent the most dangerous diseases-squamous cell carcinoma or cervical cancer. It has been proven that it is caused by a dangerous strain of human papillomavirus, because this type of cancer does not occur without HPV in the body.
Unfortunately, there is no vaccine today to prevent other types of human papillomavirus infections, including those that cause growth on male intimate organs. The only effective way of protection is still to use condoms during sexual intercourse, pay attention to personal hygiene, and take a cautious approach to infections that may occur in public places.
Prognosis and possible complications
The doctor concluded that in 90% of cases of HPV infection, if a person has a strong immune system, the body will independently respond to the virus within 24 months. But this observation only applies to certain strains of human papillomavirus that cannot cause cancer to develop.
The most dangerous complication should be considered malignant tumors, that is, the transformation of papilloma into cancer. But only a small percentage of HPV strains have this characteristic. Through early access to medical help and timely diagnosis, tragic consequences can be avoided.
In rare cases, after papilloma is removed, if the virus actively multiplies in the patient's body due to weakened immunity, tumors will form in and around the scar tissue. In this case, it is necessary to repeatedly remove the papilloma and fully enhance the patient's immunity to prevent further growth.
In most cases, if the disease is not too advanced, the prognosis is positive. But this rarely happens on genital warts, because their development can cause serious discomfort to a man, and he quickly turns to a doctor for help.