Warts on the penis are small growths that are located in the foreskin, frenulum, glans or the axis of the penis. They are also called genital warts. It causes the pathology of papilloma virus of certain strains, which is prone to recurrent manifestations and is never completely eliminated from the body.
Causes of warts on the penis in men
Warts are viral growths caused by the human papilloma virus. HPV is a large group of pathogenic microorganisms. About 100 strains of this pathogen are being studied. Also, these viruses are divided into different categories according to the degree of oncogenicity.
According to rough estimates, about 90% of the world's population is infected with one or another type of papilloma virus. Pathogens live very little in the external environment and die quickly. They are most often transmitted through sexual contact, less often in everyday life or from mother to child. Viral agents are localized in the surface layer of the mucosa and epidermis.
As for warts on the penis in men, they are caused by strains 6 and 11. These viruses are responsible for genital warts. These are conditionally non-oncogenic types, which can quite rarely cause malignancy of neoplasms.
In order for the virus to enter the body, direct contact of infected skin or mucous membranes with healthy skin is necessary. This usually happens during unprotected sex. The risk of infection increases if there are microtraumas on the surface of the body - scratches, cracks, scratches. The virus penetrates these damages especially easily and quickly.
HPV multiplication occurs in the deep layers of the skin within the cells of the human epidermis. As the disease progresses, the epithelial cells move upward with viral agents. Thus, the papilloma virus reaches the surface of the skin and causes rapid chaotic growth of epidermal cells. This leads to the formation of warts on the penis.
A characteristic feature of the papilloma virus is that it can remain in a "dormant" state in the deep layers of the dermis for a long time. Various factors can cause its progress. For example, weakening of the immune system, hypothermia, taking antibiotics, stress, overwork, poor diet, vitamin deficiency, hormonal imbalance, etc.
However, even when the virus is latent, a person is potentially dangerous in terms of transmitting HPV to partners. Knowing the causes of the formation of warts on the penis, it can be concluded that these formations can occur in adolescents who have recently started sexual intercourse and in the elderly.
Symptoms and types of warts on the penis
In most male patients, warts on the penis do not usually manifest in any way. They are most often created in places prone to injury during intercourse. Therefore, neoplasms can be found on the head, frenulum, foreskin. They occur less frequently on the trunk of the penis and scrotum, the testicles.
Warts on the penis usually look like small growths of pink, beige, whitish shade 2-30 mm in size. They can be single or stray into groups, forming neoplasms similar to a rooster's comb.
In the active growth phase, when the immune system fails, warts on the penis can cause itching and burning in the affected area. Also, sometimes neoplasms are palpable during intercourse. Under normal conditions, these growths are painless and do not cause significant discomfort.
Condyloma often affects not a limited area of the genitals, but large areas. Therefore, often the warts on the head of the penis gradually spread across the groin area, affecting the anus.
The types of warts on the penis depend on the strain of the virus that infects the man, as well as their location.
Consider their main types:
- In the preputial zone, neoplasms have the appearance of tubercles of a lighter shade than the skin. Sometimes they have a thin leg. Initially, individual warts appear, and over time, groups of genital warts can form.
- On the frenum, the nipples look like small whitish nodules of chaotic arrangement.
- The warts on the head of the penis look like pale pink protrusions resembling fingers. They usually form clusters similar to broccoli inflorescences.
- Giant Buschke-Levenschein tumors can sometimes form on the axis of the penis. It's a few warts that have grown together. This is a rare but dangerous pathology that is fraught with malignant transformation, because the cells of the neoplasm are prone to rapid mutation.
If suspicious growths are found on the penis, the man should immediately consult a specialist. The urologist examines and interviews the patient. In addition to the penis, the urologist must examine the scrotum, perianal area and groin. Usually, a visual examination is sufficient to make a diagnosis. In some cases, the doctor may refer the man for additional tests.
To identify the pathogen strain and the risk of carcinogenicity, the patient must donate blood for a PCR test. Also, if the frenum is damaged, a meatoscopy procedure may be needed to determine the presence of warts in the urethra.
It should be borne in mind that warts on the head of the penis and scrotum can look like new growths of different nature. For example, papulosis in the second stage of syphilis is also characterized by the appearance of small neoplasms. In order to exclude other sexually transmitted diseases, it is also necessary to be tested for frequent sexually transmitted infections - syphilis, HIV, chlamydia, trichomoniasis, etc.
Danger of warts on the penis in men
Initially, warts on the penis represent an aesthetic defect rather than a serious pathology that threatens a man's health. However, this does not mean that they do not need to be treated. If you let the disease go its course, it can lead to more serious problems in the future.
The danger of these neoplasms is as follows:
- Development of phimosis.In this condition, the foreskin merges with the head of the penis. As a result, problems with normal sperm discharge can occur, pathogens accumulate in the space below the foreskin, and inflammatory processes can occur.
- Inflammation of the head, trunk of the penis.This pathology is a complication of the condition described above, when bacteria penetrate below the foreskin and spread further.
- Erosions on the genitals.They most often develop as a result of systemic trauma to the nipples on the penis. This happens during intercourse, shaving, wearing tight underwear.
- Degeneration of neoplasms into cancerous tumors.This is rare, but there is a potential danger, especially if the nipples on the penis are often damaged.
Also, don't forget that active neoplasms are dangerous in terms of infecting your partner. Moreover, even condoms are not always able to protect a person from infection.
Methods of treating penile warts
Since the appearance of warts on the penis is directly related to a general decrease in immunity, then the treatment of this pathology should be complex and combined. Basically, in relation to neoplasms, various methods of destruction are used. Drugs are used to boost immunity and fight viruses.
Ways to remove warts on the penis
Instrumental and chemical methods of exposure are used to remove warts on the penis. It is worth remembering that these growths themselves are extremely rare, so they will need to be removed if a man wants to minimize the risk of complications.
There are several ways to get rid of warts on the penis:
- Laser destruction.The laser beam evaporates the liquid from the accumulations, it dries, covers with a crust and falls off after a few days. As a rule, no traces remain at the treatment site. The procedure is painless, rarely leading to relapses and complications.
- Remove Cryo. Liquid nitrogen, which has a low temperature, is accurately applied to the neoplasm and leads to its freezing and subsequent death. After processing, a crust forms at the site of accumulation that also disappears after a few days along with the rest of the formation.
- Radiosurgical removal.The neoplasm is affected by radio waves that destroy growth tissue. This is one of the most accurate, effective and safest ways to remove warts on the penis. After removing the radio waves, no traces remain on the skin.
- Electrocoagulation.At a certain frequency, a current is applied to the electrode that destroys the formation. This procedure of removing warts on the penis can lead to burns and then scars. It is therefore prescribed with caution.
- Surgical excision.If the wart on the penis is too large, the scalpel cutting technique can be used in extreme cases. But they rarely resort to such surgery, because there is a risk of serious bleeding and the spread of infection. Also, for extensive lesions of the nipples, complete circular excision of the foreskin is indicated.
Your doctor may also order the removal of chemicals. The procedure is performed using cauterizing drugs.
Medications for nipple penises
To eliminate the risk of recurrence of warts on the head of the penis or other parts of the genitals, it is necessary to take care of increasing immunity, as well as suppressing the virus in the body. For this purpose, different groups of drugs are used - antiviral and immunomodulatory.
It is also important in HPV to stimulate the body's defenses, which for some reason are depressed. Immunity will actively fight pathogens and reduce the risk of recurrence of warts on the penis.
Folk remedies against warts on the penis
If you are thinking about how to treat penile warts, help can be found in traditional medicine. However, keep in mind that these techniques should be used only after consulting a doctor. Self-medication can be at least futile, and in the worst case lead to serious complications.
The following tools are popular:
- Tea tree oil.A powerful herbal antiviral agent that helps suppress pathogen activity. It is necessary to rub the substance into the warts on the head of the penis several times a day, every day until the growth is completely eliminated.
- Propolis.Another natural remedy that helps fight viruses. To remove warts on the penis, apply the substance to the growths before going to bed every day for 10-14 days.
- Egg white.You need to take crude protein and lubricate the neoplasm several times a day.
- Table vinegar.The acid actively corrodes pathological tissues, so you must be careful with it so as not to damage neighboring healthy areas. You need to lubricate carefully and directed.
- Slave juice.The acidic substance contains phytoncides that have antiviral action. Lubricate with freshly squeezed liquid nipples on the penis daily.
The above recipes are only suitable if you know for sure that you are dealing with HPV, and the neoplasm is small and individual. Otherwise you can't do without special therapy.
Prevention of warts on the penis
Timely treatment of penile warts significantly reduces the risk of complications and recurrence in the future. It is also a way to avoid transmitting the virus to your sexual partner.
One of the most effective methods of prevention is vaccination with special polyvalent vaccinations. They work against pathogens of types 6, 11, 16 and 18 - precisely those that cause the appearance of genital warts.
Although a condom cannot guarantee 100% protection against HPV, it should be used as it reduces the risk of infection by 20-30%. Including it protects against other sexually transmitted infections.
If a man is already infected with HPV, it is necessary to follow the rules of a healthy lifestyle in order to reduce the risk of warts on the penis. It is important to timely suppress the worsening of chronic ailments, eat properly, engage in physical activity and maintain immunity in a state of readiness to fight.