Papillomavirus infection is widespread throughout the world. HPV infection occurs regardless of age and sex, but the course of the disease and its development has its own characteristics in men and women.
For the stronger sex, the papilloma virus can cause certain disturbances in sexual life and cause related health problems.
Reasons
The human papillomavirus has such a microscopic structure that it can enter the body through the smallest microcracks on the skin and mucous membranes.
In this regard, there are several possible HPV infections, namely:
- Sexual transmission. You can get the infection not only through ordinary intimate contact, but also through oral contact. In homosexual men, HPV enters through anal contact through cracks in the skin and rectum. Traumatizing the mucous membrane during sex increases the risk of infection.
- Route of infection in the household. The virus can be viable for a long time in a moist environment, so there is a high probability of its transmission in bathrooms, saunas, through a personal towel. Cases of infection in beauty salons were described, where the rules for disinfecting manicure sets and other tools were neglected. It is possible to transmit the virus through instruments in dental or surgical rooms.
- From mother to baby during childbirth.
Men who frequently change sexual partners are most likely to become HPV-positive.
It is believed that the younger the girls, the more likely they are to have the papillomavirus in their body - most cases of detected infection occur before the age of 25. Virgins can also become infected with HPV because oral and other types of intercourse are often practiced before traditional sex.
Unfortunately, barrier contraception, i. e. a condom, does not provide a 100% guarantee of prevention of HPV infection. This is due to the fact that this microorganism, due to its minimal size, easily penetrates through the pores of the latex. Of course, a condom reduces the likelihood of possible infection, but does not eliminate it completely.
It should also be borne in mind that the microorganism is present in a certain amount in saliva and can therefore be transmitted by kisses.
The risk of possible HPV infection increases in men who have bad habits. The probability of infection increases with the weakening of the body's defenses, after prolonged treatment with antibiotics.
Symptoms
The fact that he is a carrier of the papilloma virus, a person cannot suspect until the vital activity of this microorganism is activated. The reason for this change is often the weakening of the functioning of the immune defense.
Latent transmission of infection lasts from two weeks to a year, in some cases this interval is significantly extended.
Activation of the virus causes a part to accumulate in a certain place on the skin or mucous membranes. The accumulation and development of the papilloma virus changes the functions of the epithelial cells and this leads to the tumor process.
Papillomas can form on almost any part of our body, and most often become noticeable when they appear in the armpit area, on the face, neck and genitals. Sometimes the process of papilloma formation is accompanied by itching and burning.
Papillomavirus formations on the body grow in the form of plaques, warts, filiform bumps on the legs. The greatest danger is genital warts, in men they are located on the penis, they can grow around the anus or inside the urethra.
At first, these growths most often look like small pimples, in advanced cases they can merge with each other, forming growths that resemble cauliflower in shape.
By themselves, genital warts are unpleasant only because of a cosmetic defect. But if they are not removed and not treated in general with papillomatous infection, then there is a risk of degeneration of altered epithelial cells into cancerous ones.
Sometimes during sexual intercourse or careless movements, papillomas are injured, which leads to slight bleeding and pain. By strengthening the immune system, self-healing often occurs, i. e. the papilloma disappears or becomes smaller.
Effects
The consequences of papillomavirus infection for men are very unpleasant and depend on the strain of this microorganism.
If the inside of the urethra is affected, there is a risk of rapid growth and spread of genital warts inside the urethra. This leads to its partial or complete blockage, which negatively affects the outflow of urine and affects the development of disorders in the work of the urinary organs.
The appearance of growths on the head of the penis, around the anus and in the rectum increases the likelihood that a benign formation will become malignant.
Rectal cancer is more often detected in men who practice non-traditional sexual relations. During oral sex, there is a risk of the formation of papillomas in the throat, which manifests itself in various unpleasant sensations.
A man infected with HPV also poses a certain danger to the women in his environment. For a woman or other sexual partner, such a man will be the most likely source of infection. There is a risk of infection of sisters, mothers, daughters when using one towel, bathroom accessories in the family.
Diagnostic methods
Making a diagnosis begins with an examination of the external genital organs and the patient's entire body.
The doctor must necessarily collect the medical history, that is, clarify when the formations appeared on the body, what the patient associates their growth with, and determine whether there are certain complaints.
To confirm the diagnosis, the patient must undergo several tests, namely:
- Swab or scraping from the mucous layer inside the urethra.
- PCR test for determining the type of virus, its quantitative content. This analysis is done after taking a smear, prostate secretion or blood.
- Biopsy - a study of a tissue sample taken during the removal of genital warts or from the site of a change in the mucous layer.
- A ureteroscopic examination helps in visual examination of changes in the urethra.
Men who have homosexual contacts are advised to examine swabs from the anal area.
Methods of treatment of papilloma virus in men
The choice of methods for the treatment of human papillomavirus in men depends on which strain of the virus was detected in the man.
If a pathogen with high oncogenic activity is detected, then an effective antiviral treatment is prescribed, and in the future it is necessary to constantly repeat the tests.
Papillomas and condylomas are removed from the skin and mucous membrane in several ways. It can be either a conventional scalpel cut or more modern methods - laser treatment, electrocoagulation, radio wave method.
After papilloma removal, it is necessary to increase the body's resistance to infections, which will reduce the risk of infection with another type of HPV.
Prevention
Prevention of human papilloma virus infection is understanding in sexual relations and, if possible, sexual contacts only with trusted partners. Prevention methods include following elementary rules in everyday life, i. e. using only your own towel and underwear, along with a healthy lifestyle.
Infection can be prevented by vaccination. A special vaccine has been developed against HPV that is administered three times at a certain interval. Vaccination leads to the fact that the body develops immunity to certain strains of papillomavirus.