male papilloma

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is spread through contact and/or sexual contact. HPV has been known for more than 70 years. In 1935, this group of viruses was able to cause papilloma and skin cancer in rabbits. Since then, the ability of HPV to cause cancer in mammals, including humans, has not been questioned, but for some reason, it is only now that they have begun to scare us about the disease and its consequences. Different types of HPV manifest themselves in different ways in the human body. But what these viruses have in common is their ability to cause the appearance of papillomas (warts) of various shapes.About 1-3% of people infected with HPV develop papillomas at the site of initial exposure. Papillomas are considered benign tumors by doctors and do not pose a significant threat. Although any change in normal cell growth in the form of tumors or spots should alert both patients and doctors. In some cases, HPV appears simply as a skin disease that is spread through household contact. HPV can also occur as an STD, causing genital forms of papillomas through sexual transmission. Because cases of cancer caused by cutaneous HPV are extremely rare, we will focus more on genital HPV because this type of cancer occurs more frequently. Genital HPV is caused by about 40 of the 130 known virus types. It is estimated that up to 70% of sexually active adults will be infected with genital HPV at some point in their lives.Of course, sexual activity does not mean "outdated" monogamous relationships. In fact, as long as both parties have never had other sexual contact, the likelihood of genital HPV infection is almost zero. The risk of infection increases significantly with each new partner. Additionally, it is possible to be infected with multiple types of HPV at the same time, not to mention other sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). Unlike most other infections, where the primary agent of transmission is body fluids, contact with skin and mucous membranes is sufficient to spread HPV. If condom use is a relatively reliable treatment for typical STDs, for HPV, such as genital herpes, its effectiveness is rather questionable.

male papilloma

Male papilloma is a clinical manifestation of human papilloma virus infection in patients. It should be said that this virus is very common, but it has the ability to stay in the human body for a long time and almost never manifests outside the body. Under the influence of predisposing factors, human papillomavirus is activated, leading to the formation of various tumors of the skin and mucous membranes. Certain types of viruses have carcinogenic activity, so any tumors on the skin and mucous membranes should be treated with extreme caution and under the supervision of a doctor.

Male papilloma: causes

Papillomas in men and women are caused by viruses, which can enter the body in a variety of ways:

• Due to unprotected sexual contact: The most common type of infection, including because a person can become a carrier of the virus for a long time without knowing it, since the virus only has the ability to manifest under the influence of external factors. It can also be transmitted through direct contact with mucous membranes. In this case, if the skin or mucous membranes are damaged (cracks, scratches, cuts, etc. ), the risk of infection increases. Due to the prevalence of this infectious cause, it is understandable that papillomas (genital warts) in both men and women often appear at contact points in intimate areas, with men generally at a higher risk of infection due to their greater sexual activity, But women's mucous membranes are less protected.
• Through household contact: It has been proven that the HPV virus can enter the human body through ordinary contact (even handshakes), especially in public places (baths, swimming pools, gyms, etc. ).

It's also important to remember that being infected with a specific virus doesn't mean it will manifest.Most often, the disease becomes active and felt if::

• The patient's immunity is reduced;
• Having great physical or mental stress, tension, or exhaustion;
• There are many types of sexually transmitted diseases.

Characteristics of the course of human papillomavirus infection in men

Under natural conditions, most viruses exhibit low pathogenicity due to low infectivity and low host resistance to infection. After DNA viruses invade human cells, they usually do not integrate into the cell's genome. Instead, the viral genome encodes proteins (or proteomes) that rapidly activate the cell's DNA replication system. "Nonproductive infection occurs if the virus replicates in sync with the cell without harming the cell, " otherwise the process is called persistent or asymptomatic carriage. If the virus multiplies rapidly in cells, the process is called asymptomatic carriage, or the release of thousands of active virus particles. This period is characterized by the appearance of rounded structures and growths on the skin and mucous membranes. However, HPV types 16 and 18 can integrate into cellular genomes without hijacking cellular genes. This phenomenon is called "insertional mutation, " whereby the altered gene is inherited by all descendants of a given cell. As a result, oncogenes are activated and tumors appear. Therefore, from the moment the fetus is formed, throughout the woman's pregnancy and the child's birth, all offspring inherit these cells.

Main infectious factors

• multiple sexual partners;
• use of birth control pills;
• smokes;
• Insufficient cellular immunity (anemia, thyroid pathology, the presence of chronic coccal infection foci - tonsillitis, sinusitis, dental caries);
• Artificial dietary restriction, weight loss.

If the immune status is good, the virus is cleared from a woman's body within a year in 50% of cases of HPV infection and within 4 years in 85% of cases. This is why the number of women infected with HPV decreases with age. The occurrence of cancer in men and women is closely related to human papillomavirus infection. Studies of men and women infected with human papillomavirus have found genital warts, body papillomas, warts and flat warts.

HPV in men: consequences

The virus can cause genital warts, or genital warts, which, as the name suggests, are found in the groin, glans penis, and foreskin. This type of genital warts can have very dangerous consequences for men and requires treatment. Genital warts on the penis can cause the foreskin to narrow, making it difficult to expose the glans penis and causing problems in your personal life. It is also important to remember that in some cases this pattern is not an indicator of HPV, but of other sexually transmitted diseases that have not yet manifested themselves (such as syphilis). Another danger of HPV is that carriers can spread it to their partners, which also puts them at risk for cancer. An infected mother may also transmit the virus to her fetus, so couples hoping to have children should pay special attention to HPV and other such diseases.

HPV in men: symptoms

In most cases, HPV can remain in the body for long periods of time without manifesting itself. However, the most important sign (symptom) that men and women may have of HPV is the development of genital warts and papillomas, which are warts, bumps and irregularities in the skin, on the skin and mucous membranes, including the groin or pubic area. , its color is indistinguishable from the main skin.genital warts- This is a genital type of papilloma that looks like a small growth attached to the mucous membrane and has a kind of "legs". Genital warts can vary in size from a few millimeters to several centimeters – in the latter case, we are talking about a buildup of genital warts. Such papillomas can appear on the glans penis, foreskin, or around the anus (then genital warts may also appear in the rectum). Most of the time, they are painless, but in some cases, men may experience other symptoms of human papillomavirus if the disease manifests as:

• Pain during urination, defecation, or sexual intercourse;
• Bleeding genital warts: Sometimes long-term non-healing ulcers may form at their location;
• Sometimes genital warts can also itch.

The symptoms listed generally indicate damage to genital warts.

Treatment of HPV in Men

preliminary inspection

The presence of papillomas, in addition to indicating the presence of HPV in a person, also indicates immune system failure and the possible presence of other sexually transmitted diseases. In addition, certain types of papillomas, especially genital warts on the glans penis, have a high neoplastic potential, so you should consult a specialist when you first notice signs of the disease. The sooner treatment for human papillomavirus is started, the better a man's chance of avoiding the serious health consequences of genital warts. (All of the above applies to women, too. )

First appointment

The initial appointment with the specialist includes a thorough visual examination of the patient's mucous membranes and skin, as well as questioning and examination of him. Although papillomas have a characteristic appearance in most cases, additional testing and diagnosis can determine with absolute accuracy whether HPV is present in a patient's body.If a man is suspected of having HPV, the following tests are usually done::

• Blood tests (in the case of genital warts, urethral secretions can also be analyzed): modern diagnostic methods allow the isolation of viral DNA from existing material, thereby confirming its presence in the patient;
• Papilloma (genital warts) biopsy: used to determine whether cancer cells are present in the tumor.

Further treatment options

Treatment of human papillomavirus in men depends largely on the presence of genital warts on the genitals. As with herpes viruses, complete clearance of HPV is nearly impossible, so therapeutic efficacy and surgical intervention are often aimed at eliminating its manifestations and increasing periods of remission. Not all cases require removal of HPV papillomas. If the papilloma does not pose a threat and does not disturb the patient, then at the patient's request it may not be removed, but then he must undergo regular preventive examinations. Due to its special location, excision is a mandatory treatment for male genital warts.Treatment methods vary and need to be chosen individually, including based on the location of the tumor. In addition to removing the tumor, treatment for male genital warts includes the use of medications that help strengthen the immune system so that the body can fight the virus and suppress it, thereby suppressing its manifestations. Depending on the method chosen to remove genital warts, patients may also take anti-inflammatory medications.By the way, no technique can completely eliminate a person's infection: the disease is simply "suppressed". The treatment is a combination of removing the growth from the skin and using medications. The duration depends on the area affected.All skin tumors can be removed in several ways:

• Use cryo-destruction (liquid nitrogen);
• Diathermic coagulation (high frequency current);
• electrocoagulation (cautery with electric current);
• laser;
• Chemical or surgical methods, etc.

In addition to topical treatments, various antiviral drugs are used.The main interferon preparations are:

• In addition to topical treatments, various antiviral drugs are used: human interferon;
• Viferon;
• cyclosiderin;
• Revron;
• Interleukins, etc.

InterferonIt is a substance produced by the body's immune system to protect itself from viruses. Thanks to modern scientific advances in the field of genetic engineering, interferon-based drugs can be obtained synthetically. This allows you to get a purer medication (free of impurities) and less allergenic. Interferon drugs are absorbed into the bloodstream and have systemic effects throughout the body. However, in some cases, interferon treatment can cause allergic reactions. In response, these medications were discontinued and the doctor prescribed another course of medication.Dietary Supplements(Dietary Supplement) Foods containing indole-3-carbinol, a naturally occurring substance found in broccoli and a recent scientific discovery. This compound has strong anti-cancer effects (prevents malignant formation in the intestines, lungs, etc. ). It’s worth noting that indole-3-carbinol is present in most varieties of cabbage. The use of indole has been established to enhance the effectiveness of interferon therapy. However, the drug is still being tested and its effects on the body need to be studied in detail. Doctors may prescribe nonspecific immune modulators.It is important to remember that the function of the immune system is not yet fully understood, as its status changes depending on any intervention: whether therapeutic or microbial. Therefore, immunomodulators should not be taken indiscriminately. It should be remembered that antiviral drugs, such as those that are particularly effective against herpes simplex, shingles (shingles), and chickenpox viruses, have no effect in treating PVI. Therefore, their use is impractical. During treatment, patients may also be advised:

• Avoid sexual intercourse, especially unprotected intercourse, to prevent the virus from entering your partner's body;
• Boost your immune system through diet and moderate physical activity.

Treatment results:It must be remembered that the course, timing and effectiveness of HPV treatment depend largely on the general condition of the patient's body, concomitant diseases and possible complications of the disease (above all, oncological complications).

complication

The presence of papillomas and genital warts is a cosmetic defect. Growths located in the genital area can have a negative impact on a man's psychological and sexual health and lead to difficulties communicating with the opposite sex. In addition, such men are also a source of infection to their sexual partners. As immunity declines, genital warts will grow rapidly and occupy a large area. When the rectum is involved in the process, foreign body sensation in the rectum, anal fissures, and other rectal problems may occur. Spread of growth into the urethral area leads to the development of urological pathology. When the formation is injured, bleeding occurs. When infection occurs, inflammation and suppuration begin, along with pain, fever, weakness, and impaired general condition.

prevention

The complexity of treating HPV and the serious health problems the virus can cause dictate the importance of preventive measures, including:

• Ask to have sex with a trusted partner and use barrier contraception. At the same time, modern research shows that only high-quality protective equipment can significantly reduce the risk of HPV infection in both partners;
• Strengthen the immune system: diet, taking vitamins, etc. ;
• Use of a special vaccine: Human papillomavirus medication for men, three injections into the brachialis muscle, can minimize the risk of contracting the disease. The injection must be carried out after initial consultation with a specialist (this precaution is only suitable for people who are not infected with HPV);
• A preventive visit to a urologist to check for sexually transmitted diseases and other possible problems with the genitourinary system and to get tested for viruses.

If characteristic structures are discovered in the intimate area, as well as other parts of the body, skin and mucous membranes, it is necessary to seek expert help as soon as possible. This will avoid complications and other negative consequences for men's health. In these cases, it is strongly recommended not to self-treat, as only a specialist can diagnose and properly treat male genital warts.

FAQ

What symptoms does papilloma cause in men?

Male papillomas may appear as small or flat warts on the genitals, anus, or nearby skin. Itching, discomfort, or mild pain may also occur in the affected area.

How do papillomas spread in men?

Male papilloma is spread through contact with infected skin or mucous membranes of the reproductive organs. It can be spread through sexual intercourse as well as direct contact with affected areas.

How to prevent male papilloma infection?

To prevent male papilloma infection, it is recommended to use condoms during sexual intercourse. Getting the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine can also reduce your risk of infection. Regular doctor visits and testing will also help identify the infection in its early stages and prevent its spread.

Useful tips

Tip #1

Contact a dermatology and venereology specialist for professional advice and diagnosis. Only an experienced specialist can accurately determine whether a papilloma is dangerous and needs to be removed.

Tip #2

Avoid damaging the papilloma. Do not try to remove it yourself as this may lead to infection and complications. If the papilloma is in an area of friction or injury (such as the neck or armpits), try using a soft bandage or tape to prevent damage.

Tip #3

Follow hygiene rules. Clean and dry the area around the papilloma regularly to prevent bacterial growth and infection. Avoid sharing hygiene products (such as towels or razors) with other people to avoid spreading infection.