Human Papillomavirus (HPV, HPV-Human Papillomavirus) or Papillomavirus is a group of infections, including more than 100 viruses, 80 of which are pathogenic in humans. According to statistics from the World Health Organization, 70% of the world’s population are carriers of HPV. In most cases, the infection occurs after the start of sexual activity and may be asymptomatic for a long time.
Causes of HPV infection
The symptoms of female papillomavirus infection may be: various types of warts, flat warts and genital warts, cervical dysplasia. However, the most dangerous manifestation of pathology is the development of cervical cancer. There is also evidence that the development of anal cancer, external genital organs, and vagina is related to certain types of human papillomavirus (HPV 16, 18, 45, 56) infections.
Transmission method:
- Sexual contact.is the main route of transmission of human papillomavirus infection. Using condoms during sexual intercourse can greatly reduce the risk of human papillomavirus infection. However, because the virus particles are small, they cannot provide a reliable guarantee that infection will not occur.
- Contact's home path.The cause of the infection is the use of joint personal hygiene products: towels, soap, public toilets, bathrooms.
- Natural childbirth.HPV can be transmitted to a child who is infected when the child passes through the birth canal of an infected woman.
The source of this infection is the cells of the patient's skin and mucous membranes. In this case, a person may not know that he has become a carrier of the virus, because the size of the warts and papillomas may be microscopic and still not visible during visual inspection.
Reasons leading to the development of virus infection:
- Have sex since childhood;
- Sexual intercourse without condoms;
- Frequent abortions;
- The existence of infectious diseases of the reproductive organs;
- Long-term use of oral contraception;
- reduces the body's immune response;
- Failure to comply with personal hygiene rules;
- If the sex partner has HPV;
- Exposure to frequent stress situations;
- Bad habits.
The virus enters the basal layer of the epithelium through the pores, cracks, and microtraumas of the skin and mucous membranes to ensure the normal growth and renewal of the skin and mucous membranes. The DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) of the basal cells carries information about the healthy structure of the cell. Virus particles incorporated with DNA can alter this information, leading to the formation of affected cells and causing disease symptoms during growth and division.
Symptoms of women infected with human papillomavirus
One of the possible manifestations of human papillomavirus infection is the appearance of genital warts and papilloma. They are special forms, with the appearance of broccoli, a bunch of grapes or a rooster's comb, pink or flesh-colored. Depending on the type and type of virus, they can infect human skin and mucous membranes.
Genital warts can form around or near the anus, especially during anal intercourse.
Papilloma can appear on the skin around the fingers, toes, hands, eyes, armpits, and scalp. They sometimes form on the soles of the feet and cause typical soreness when walking.
This type of disease rarely degenerates into malignant tumors and cancer, but in order to prevent the development of the disease, it needs to be removed by surgery.
Consequences of HPV infection
Women's human papillomavirus can cause the obvious growth of condyloma acuminata, papilloma, and flat warts, which can cause discomfort, pain, and varying degrees of bleeding when injured.
The eighteenth and sixteenth types of HPV are the most dangerous because they cause the development of cancer. Cervical cancer has been reliably linked with human papillomavirus infection, ranking second among various malignant diseases of women. The resulting mortality rate reached 50%.
Flat warts
The disease is characterized by the formation of flat patches that do not actually exceed the level of the skin.
Most commonly, the mucous membranes of the vagina and cervix are affected.
Their appearance defects are much smaller than genital warts.
This type of pathology has a higher risk of degenerating into cancer.
Cervical mucosal dysplasia
Pathology is the change of normal cell structure in the cervical mucosa, which is called atypical. This condition in gynecology is considered precancerous and requires observation and intensive treatment.
In most cases, the disease is asymptomatic and is detected by a gynecologist during routine examinations. Developmental abnormalities of different severity can be distinguished: mild, moderate, and severe. The choice of treatment depends on the severity.
Cervical cancer
This is the most dangerous manifestation of the disease. Cervical cancer ranks second in women's tumor pathology and is related to HPV type 16, 18 infection.
This disease can proceed without clinical symptoms, or manifest as non-specific symptoms: weakness, increased fatigue, weight loss, spotting bleeding outside the menstrual cycle.
Disease treatment methods
If there are signs of HPV infection, do not take the medicine yourself due to the danger of the consequences.
In order to choose the best treatment strategy, it is necessary to consult a gynecologist who will prescribe an appropriate treatment plan after a thorough examination and necessary tests.
So far, no drugs have been invented that can cure HPV forever. The main purpose of treatment is to reduce the concentration of the virus in the body to prevent the further development of the disease.
The main areas of treatment:
- Treatment of manifestations (warts, papilloma, dysplasia);
- Antiviral therapy;
- Use funds designed to improve immunity.
If there are papilloma, condyloma acuminatum, warts, dysplastic areas, even if they are small, it is recommended to remove them, because the presence of tumors will increase the concentration of virus particles in the female body, which will help further the pathologydevelopment of.
Surgical treatment
The method to remove genital warts, papilloma, warts and dysplasia is as follows:
- Surgical;
- Cryotherapy;
- Diathermy condensation;
- Laser condensation;
- Radio wave therapy;
- Chemical attack.
Surgical methods include removing growths with a scalpel. This is the cheapest treatment, but after this, there are still obvious cosmetic defects and the healing period is significantly longer. There is also a risk of secondary infection. Therefore, use this intervention in extreme situations.
During cryotherapy, liquid nitrogen is applied to the affected area, thereby freezing the pathology. A few days later, the papilloma or condyloma acuminata disappeared and a small wound was formed under it, which can heal in 10 to 14 days.
Diathermy coagulation is the application of high temperature to the affected skin area. The procedure is very painful, so anesthesia is required. The disadvantage of this method is that rough scars are formed instead of pathological formation.
During laser coagulation, the effect of the laser beam on the affected area causes the tumor to dry out. Dry crust forms in its place and disappears after a period of time without leaving a scar. This type of treatment is the mildest, but the high cost is considered disadvantageous.
Radio wave therapy involves exposing the affected area to radio frequency waves. When using this type of treatment, there is no risk of bleeding and no obvious scars are formed, but the disadvantage is that it is expensive.
Use chemical methods when the ground is small. Apply special medicine to the affected area. After multiple applications, a layer of skin formed on the treated area, which disappeared after a few days.
Drug abuse
Drug treatment for human papillomavirus infection includes the use of the following drugs:
- Antiviral drugs;
- Immunostimulant.
In order to reduce the concentration of the virus in women and prevent its further reproduction, a long-term antiviral treatment plan has been prescribed. The drug is used in the form of tablets and suppositories, and the dosage and duration of the course of treatment should only be determined by the attending doctor.
After the analysis and detection of reduced immunity, immunostimulants should be prescribed to enhance the body's defense capabilities, accelerate the emergence of immune cells and stimulate the production of antibodies designed to fight the virus.
Treatment of HPV infection in pregnant women
The presence of human papillomavirus infection in women does not affect the reproductive system and is not a contraindication to pregnancy. If HPV worsens during pregnancy, no treatment for this disease is performed during this period, and treatment is required after delivery.
However, the doctor must be monitored throughout the pregnancy. As severe discomfort developed, mild treatments were prescribed. In extreme cases, if there are contraindications to vaginal delivery due to HPV progression, a cesarean section is performed.
Get rid of HPV through folk remedies
At home, you can use folk remedies, such as herbal soups and infusions-treatment of papillomatosis, ointments-to remove the resulting warts, papillomas and warts.
Method of preparing decoction and infusion for the treatment of human papilloma virus infection:
- Horsetail, nettle, rose hips, dandelion root, and plantain leaves are mixed in equal amounts. At 3. l. Add 800 ml of water to the resulting mixture, simmer for 10 minutes, and then infuse for 3 hours. 1 cup 3 times a day 30 minutes before meals.
- Oregano, arrow grass, helichrysum, St. John's wort, birch bud, nettle, marigold, coltsfoot, brown root, chamomile flower, thread, plantain leaf, celandine, tree flower, Coriander seeds and sage are evenly mixed. Pour 2 tablespoons into the thermos. l. The resulting mixture was poured into 500 ml of boiling water and allowed to stand overnight. 0. 5 times a day, 0. 5 cups each time.
- Valerian root, lemon balm herb, oregano, tree flower, hop cones, motherwort are mixed in equal amounts. Pour 1 tablespoon into a thermos. l. The resulting mixture was poured into 0. 5 liters of boiling water and allowed to stand for 3-5 hours. Apply 250ml twice a day.
Applicable to the treatment of local manifestations:
- Celandine juice. The juice is made from fresh leaves or purchased from a pharmacy. Before using this product, the skin of the affected area must be steamed and the healthy area near the affected area must be treated with grease cream. Celandine must be carefully applied to the affected skin. This process should be repeated every two days for a week until the pathology disappears.
- Garlic. Vegetables should be grated on a fine grater and mixed with the skin cream until it forms a thick consistency. Apply the resulting mixture to the formation area every month for 2-3 hours for one month. After the operation, wash the skin with soap and water.
- Young walnuts. They must be crushed using a meat grinder, the resulting mixture is poured into a 0. 5-liter glass jar to fill to 2/3, and then kerosene is poured into the rest of the container. Let stand for 20 days, then filter with cheesecloth. Infusion 2 times a day to treat the affected skin.
After treatment and getting rid of the external manifestations of HPV, a woman needs to see a gynecologist every six months to monitor and prevent the further development of the disease.