Papillomas on the labia are a rather delicate problem that causes dissatisfaction with oneself and a decrease in the quality of sexual life. They are difficult to hide, they can cause discomfort during intercourse, so papillomas should be removed. In addition, in some cases, growths on the genitals in women can be a dangerous risk of developing cancer.
Reasons for papilloma
Papillomas on the lips or genital warts are the result of human papilloma virus infection. In total, there are more than 100 strains of this virus that differ in the type of neoplasm and the degree of risk of developing oncology.
The virus enters the body mainly through sexual contact on the background of a drop in immunity. At the same time, a man who has infected a woman may not have visible signs of the presence of the virus, because papillomas in men do not always appear on the skin.
Decreased immunity occurs against the background of recently transmitted infectious diseases, vitamin deficiency or chronic stress. Papillomas on the labia can be caused by a decrease in local immunity, as a consequence of various inflammatory and infectious diseases of the genital organs, including thrush and bacterial vaginosis. At the same time, for infection, it is enough to use someone else's personal hygiene products, so that after a while unaesthetic growths appear on the labia.
Thus, despite the fact that the virus is transmitted from one person to another, the reasons for the appearance of papillomas on the labia in women are as follows:
- decreased immunity after ARVI, pneumonia, influenza or tonsillitis;
- vaginal infections;
- disrespect for personal hygiene;
- stress;
- unbalanced diet;
- the presence of a chronic focus of infection in the body;
- promiscuous sex.
All these factors lead to a decrease in immunity, both general and local. As a result, the body becomes susceptible to various negative influences and cannot resist the human papilloma virus.
Very often the virus does not manifest itself, hampered by human immunity. This is only valid if the person is completely healthy. Then the virus can be asymptomatic in the body for a long time. The formation of papillomas will occur against the background of reduced immunity. If this does not happen in the following years, the body can deal with the virus on its own, however, self-healing takes at least 18 months.
What do genital papillomas look like?
How an infection on a woman's labia manifests itself depends on several factors:
- type of virus;
- virus concentration in the body;
- localization of growths.
The formation of papillomas on the labia minora is caused by the influence of oncogenic or conditionally oncogenic strains of the virus (16, 18, 31, 32, 45 and other species). It is easy to understand what such papillomas on the labia look like, knowing what condyloma is. These are small papillae with jagged edges that rise above the surface of the mucosa. They usually do not differ in color or are slightly lighter than the mucosa. Manifestations of papilloma virus on the labia, causing the development of genital warts, can spread to the perineum, vulva and vagina of a woman.
Condyloma always forms only on the mucosa. Papillomas on the inner labia in women do not appear, they form only in areas with a thin epidermis.
Papillomas are small balls on the leg that rise above the skin. They have smooth edges of a regular shape, they can be slightly lighter or darker than the rest of the skin. When pressed, papillomas on the labia do not hurt, under the fingers you can feel the homogeneous structure of the growth. This type of neoplasm appears in the groin and on the labia majora.
Almost any of the known methods is used to remove papillomas on the labia, because the risk of burns or deep damage to the epidermis is minimal. Treatment of papillomas on the labia minora is carried out in a comprehensive manner, as such growths are potentially dangerous.
Warts can form in the following areas:
- small labia;
- vulva;
- vagina;
- Cervix;
- anus;
- groin;
- urethra.
A photograph of a papilloma on the labia does not differ from images of growths on other parts of the body, while papillomas or condylomas in the vagina and vagina are difficult to notice.
The formation of papillomas on the labia during pregnancy is associated with decreased immunity. In this case, timely treatment of the consequences of HPV plays an important role, otherwise there is a risk of infection of the child when passing through the birth canal.
Why are papillomas dangerous?
Sexual contact and human papilloma virus on the labia in women are directly related. First, after contact with the affected mucosa, there is a danger of transmitting the virus to a sexual partner. Second, friction during intercourse can damage papillomas and condylomata, which is accompanied by pain. There is a risk of papilloma infection as it becomes inflamed and can begin to degenerate into cancer.
There are cases when due to repeated injuries a woman has a large papilloma on the large labia. No woman is insured against such a risk. Large growths are very dangerous and need to be removed first.
Papilloma on the mucous membrane of the labia minora and in the vagina can lead to the development of cervical cancer. This is due to the activity of the papilloma virus, which is manifested by excessive division of epithelial cells on the labia minora and other parts of the mucosa. In this case, damage to the cells of the cervix develops in several stages. First, erosion is created due to HPV on the labia, then it turns into dysplasia, which is a precancerous condition. Lack of timely treatment of dysplasia leads to the development of cervical cancer.
It should be understood that any papillomas on the mucous membrane of the labia are a potential danger. The papilloma itself can degenerate into cancer and not just cause cervical oncology. Signs of a malignant papilloma include an increase in the size of the growth, pain and itching, a discharge with an unpleasant odor from the body of the growth, and blackening of the skin of the affected area. If you notice such symptoms, you should consult a doctor - oncologist, gynecologist or dermatovenerologist.
Treatment and removal of papillomas
The method of treating papillomas on the labia depends on their number and size. Self-medication is not recommended, but consult a doctor who will tell you in detail what to do to remove and prevent the recurrence of papillomas on the labia.
To get rid of papillomas on the labia, you should be consistent. First, the activity of the virus is suppressed, then the growth itself is removed and, if necessary, immunostimulatory therapy is performed. To accurately determine the sequence of treatment, it is necessary to undergo a PCR analysis that shows the degree of activity and concentration of the virus, and also allows you to determine its strain.
If a woman is found to have a potentially dangerous strain of the virus, 16 or 18, complex therapy is needed. In this case, each removed papilloma is sent for histological analysis and a complete examination of the cervix is performed for changes in the epithelium.
The method of removing papillomas on the labia depends on the exact location. Skin neoplasms are removed in any available way - from surgical to folk. This is due to the fact that the skin of the labia majora is thick enough, so complications rarely occur after removal. It is fair to say that the formations on the labia majora in most cases do not pose a danger to health and do not cause cancer.
Removal of genital warts on the mucosa is performed either by laser exposure or by radiowave method. These two methods are considered the most gentle, but do not clog the vessels that feed growth, so the risk of bleeding is minimal. When removing neoplasms from the cervix or vagina, histological analysis is required to rule out the onset of a pathological process.
You should consult your doctor about how to remove papillomas on the labia. If the analysis showed a high concentration of the virus in the body, there is a risk of recurrence of genital warts, so a complex therapy is carried out, which includes three stages.
- After determining the strain of the virus, the woman was prescribed antiviral and immunomodulatory therapy. This is needed to control the virus and reduce the risk of papilloma recurrence.
- After drug therapy, which lasts on average several weeks, papillomas are removed by the chosen method and in agreement with the doctor. Laser removal or radiowave method is recommended.
- Some time after removal of the growth, the analysis needs to be repeated. If the virus concentration is still high, a second course of drug therapy is prescribed.
Drugs used to treat papillomas are available in the form of tablets and ointments. Antiviral ointments with immunomodulatory properties are recommended for the treatment of skin papillomas. If growths appear on the mucosa, taking pills is indicated.
As a rule, after the removal of papillomas and drug therapy, the body only recovers after a few months or years. To avoid the recurrence of papillomas, a woman must follow the rules of hygiene, maintain her own immunity, and avoid unprotected sex.