HPV, or human papillomavirus, is a disease that can affect the skin and mucous surfaces of the body. This deviation is observed in most cases in women, and not in men. It arises as a result of various provoking factors. Diagnosed after a thorough examination. Treatment is carried out by several methods, traditional medicine can be used. To avoid infection, it is recommended to carry out preventive measures. If therapy is excluded, then this will entail serious irreversible consequences. Therefore, at the first sign of infection, you should immediately seek qualified help.
What it is?
HPV is a viral disease that can be transmitted from person to person in many ways. Pathology is accompanied by severe symptoms, which helps with the diagnosis. In modern medicine, about 200 types of the virus are isolated, the disease itself and its course depends on them.
HPV is diagnosed in men using molecular methods. If timely treatment of this viral disease is not carried out, then this can lead to serious consequences and complications, up to oncology. Therefore, do not neglect the first symptomatology, engage in self-therapy, and immediately seek qualified help from a specialist.
How does HPV damage cells?
In men, HPV (the photo of the disease is presented below) penetrates the body through the damaged mucous surface, as well as the skin.
First, the virus infects the deeper layers of the epithelium, where for a period of time it is in a dormant state. As the cells begin to mature and develop, due to their growth, the virus gradually appears on the surface, where it begins to multiply intensively.
In the process of development, damage to the cellular level occurs, which provokes the uncontrolled growth of this site. Papillomavirus is specific for its location on the body, as one type can affect the mucous membrane, and the other - the skin. Each species affects only a specific area of the body. A virus that has entered the body is able to attach itself to the DNA of cells and provoke their transformation. Therefore, this pathology is considered quite dangerous.
Classification
HPV is able to affect any part of the epithelium in the form of a wart or develop into a malignant tumor, oncology. All types of HPV in men and women are divided into groups such as:
- Non-oncogenic. These include 1, 3, 2, 5 types. They pass without treatment and are not able to degenerate into a malignant formation.
- Low oncogenic. These include types 6, 42, 43, 44 and 11. In rare cases and under certain conditions, they can develop into oncology. Sexually transmitted, as a result, condylomas form.
- Highly oncogenic. These include 16, 31, 35, 45, 52, 18, 33, 39, 51, 56, 59, 68, 58, 66, 82, 73. In most cases, malignant urinary tract infections are provoked. The most common types of HPV in men are 16 and 18, which lead to oncology of the male genital organ.
Only a specialist can determine the type of disease after a thorough examination and passing all the tests.
Danger of disease
If a man has normal functionality of the immune system, then when a virus enters the body, it is able to overcome it and destroy it. If the system, on the contrary, is weakened, then the progression of this type of infection in the body will be observed. At first, the virus will be in sleep mode, but gradually get out of it and develop. In this situation, the man is already a carrier and is a danger to his sexual partner.
There are some provoking factors that can “wake up” the virus and cause it to actively penetrate into cellular structures, changing DNA and provoking epithelial division. As a result, the patient will have condyloma, papilloma, a wart or some other type of rash on the skin. A serious danger is precisely papilloma, which is located on the surface of the penis, since it can degenerate into a malignant formation.
If the neoplasm is located on the mucous surface of the penis, then it can turn into a cancerous formation, which provokes irreversible consequences and complications. It is also worth noting that HPV in men poses a certain danger to each roommate, as it can be transmitted through common objects.
HPV in men on the head
If any formations are noticeable on the male genital organ, then this indicates that the virus progresses in the body, which was obtained as a result of sexual contact with the carrier of the infection. A case of infection can also be noted in the household way, but in this situation it is a rarity.
These growths should not be ignored, but it is better to immediately begin their treatment. A urologist will help to cope with HPV in men. It should be understood that formations on the head of a member can cause some discomfort. If a papilloma occurs, then this indicates that the immune system has malfunctioned. It can be single or in a group arrangement. After the papilloma has formed on the head, it begins to gradually spread throughout the body. Thus, the situation becomes neglected, and treatment becomes a more laborious and lengthy process. If you abandon therapy, then the growths will go into the urethra, touch the bladder and disrupt the process of emitting urine.
How can I get infected?
This type of virus is considered quite active, so it is easy to get infected, especially if the immune system is significantly weakened. HPV in men can occur after a normal handshake, as a result of visiting public places, when using common things with an infected person, and also through sexual contact, especially if there are microtrauma and cuts on the surface of the body.
To exclude infection through sexual contact, it is worth protecting yourself and carefully choosing a partner. If the contact was unprotected, it should be understood that microtrauma of the mucosal surface occurs during the act and the virus enters the body without any problems.
In addition to the above, specialists identify other provoking factors that can increase the likelihood of developing HPV:
- Strongly weakened immune system. This occurs as a result of frequent respiratory diseases, due to stressful situations, overstrain, as well as poor nutrition.
- Venereal diseases.
- Sores, sores, fissures on the mucous surface of the genital organ.
To exclude the development of HPV in the body, you need to be regularly examined by a specialist.
HPV Symptoms in Men
In modern medicine, several categories of symptoms of this viral disease are distinguished. These include external manifestations such as:
- Warts. They are most often diagnosed in the groin area. Represented by convex formations. At the initial stage, they are not accompanied by pain. Do not differ in color from the rest of the skin. Other parts of the body may appear in parallel.
- Condylomas Genital warts . They are localized in the groin, on the mucous surface and on the skin of the genital organ. It is mainly diagnosed on the head or on the protective skin.
- Bowenoid papulosis. It develops simultaneously with HPV. It is represented by a rash, which is localized on the skin of the genital organ. It has a pink tint and rises above the surface.
- Bowen's disease. It is represented by a red velvety plaque, clear and rounded in shape, which has a certain outline. It can be located on the skin of the penis for a long time, without causing any discomfort. To get rid of it, you need to organize treatment for HPV in a man.
At the first manifestation of the virus, it is worth starting complex therapy.
Diagnostics
Diagnosis of this disease involves a complete examination of the body. The patient is recommended to undergo a PCR analysis. Also, one should not exclude such types of diagnostics, which will also be informative:
- HPV analysis in men. In this situation, a smear from the urethra or scraping is taken.
- Neoplasm biopsy.
- Immunological research.
Such diagnostics will help determine the type of virus, its danger to the body, as well as prescribe high-quality and effective treatment.
Drug treatment
Treatment of this pathology involves an integrated approach. Mandatory therapy includes the use of drugs. Alternative remedies may also be prescribed. With a running situation, hardware treatment or surgery is recommended.
How to treat HPV in men will depend on the type, clinical manifestations, neglect of the disease and form. Drug therapy is aimed at suppressing the active virus, as well as strengthening immunity. The dosage of any prescribed drug is strictly determined by a specialist and is selected individually.
Treatment of HPV in men with drugs involves the use of:
- Immunomodulators. The patient may be prescribed to take Amiksin, Cycloferon and other similar drugs.
- Cytotoxic drugs. These include Kondilin, Podofillin.
- Local medicines, for example, Solcoderm.
If therapy does not give a positive result, a second examination is carried out and a different course of treatment is prescribed.
Hardware therapy
How to treat HPV in men on the head of the penis using devices? This type of treatment involves several methods. Laser removal is considered the most popular and effective. Before the procedure, the area where there is an education is treated with an analgesic cream to exclude pain. Then, with the help of a special laser, complete removal occurs, after which only a dry crust remains in place.
Also, do not forget about electrocoagulation, which involves the elimination of education using current discharges. Helps to get rid of papillomas and cryodestruction, involving the removal of liquid nitrogen.
It should be understood that the elimination of the external manifestation of the disease will not help get rid of the infection in the body, therefore, drug therapy is required.
Surgery
Removal surgery is performed if multiple lesions of the genital organ are diagnosed. During the procedure, anesthesia is necessarily used. The excision of education is carried out. In parallel, local therapy is prescribed. The recovery period after surgery is no more than a week.
As for the preparation before the operation, it is not required. After the intervention, the patient is referred for an additional examination to make sure that the intervention was of good quality and that the therapy was effective.
Treatment with folk remedies
You can get rid of papilloma with folk remedies, but from the virus it is almost impossible. Therefore, in parallel, you still need to use medication. The most popular methods include:
- Freshly squeezed dandelion juice or celandine juice. They need to treat the affected areas until the formation disappears.
- Castor oil and vitamin A. Helps reduce the amount of virus in the body. In parallel, it is recommended to use other means that help strengthen immunity.
- Egg white. They are treated with a newly emerged education.
- Freshly squeezed potato juice.
Treatment with folk remedies implies a course of at least 2-3 months.
Preventive actions
Prevention of this disease is an important fact. It helps not only prevent infection, but also the spread of the virus throughout the body, to eliminate a variety of complications.
Experts recommend:
- Protect yourself during sexual intercourse, carefully select a partner.
- Avoid rudeness during intercourse.
- Conduct timely diagnosis and treatment.
- You need to adhere to a healthy lifestyle, exercise and eat right. Strengthen the immune system. To refuse from bad habits.
- Visit a doctor every six months for a routine examination.
- It is necessary to use a vaccine against papillomavirus.
It should be understood that even following the recommendations and carrying out preventive measures will not always be able to protect against infection with this virus.