Penile warts are small growths located on the skin of the foreskin, frenulum, glans or shaft of the penis. They are also called genital warts. Provokes the pathology of the papilloma virus of several 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 species of this pathogen have been studied. Also, these viruses are divided into different categories according to the level of oncogenicity.
According to approximate estimates, about 90% of the world's population is infected with one or another type of papillomavirus. Pathogens live very little in the external environment and die quickly. Most often they are transmitted through sexual contact, less often in everyday life or from mother to child. Viral agents are localized in the superficial layer of the mucosa and epidermis.
Regarding penile warts in men, types 6 and 11. These cause them. These viruses are responsible for genital warts. These are non-oncogenic conditional species, which can rarely cause malignancy of neoplasms.
For the virus to enter the body, direct contact of infected skin or mucosa with healthy skin is necessary. This usually happens during unprotected sex. The risk of infection increases if there is microtrauma to the surface of the body - scratches, cracks, scratches. The virus penetrates these lesions particularly easily and quickly.
HPV multiplication occurs in the deeper layers of the skin within the cells of the human epidermis. As the disease progresses, epithelial cells move upward with viral agents. So the papilloma virus reaches the surface of the skin and provokes a rapid chaotic growth of epidermal cells. This leads to the formation of warts on the penis.
A distinctive feature of papillomavirus is that it can remain dormant for a long time in the deep layers of the dermis. Various factors can provoke its progress. For example, weakening of the immune system, hypothermia, taking antibiotics, stress, overload, poor diet, lack of vitamins, 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 warts on the penis, it can be concluded that these formations can appear both in adolescents who have recently started having sex and in the elderly.
Symptoms and types of warts on the penis
In most male patients, warts on the penis, as a rule, do not appear in any way. Most often they form in places prone to injury during sexual intercourse. Therefore, neoplasms can be found on the head, in the bridle, in the foreskin. Rarely, they appear in the trunk of the penis and in the scrotum, testicles.
Warts on the penis usually look like small growths of a shade of pink, beige, white, 2-30 mm in size. They may be single or lost in clusters, forming a bladder-like neoplasm.
In the active growth phase, when the immune system fails, warts on the penis can provoke itching and burning in the affected area. Also, sometimes neoplasms are susceptible during sexual intercourse. Under normal circumstances, these growths are painless and do not cause any significant discomfort.
Often, warts affect not a limited area of the genitals, but large areas. Therefore, often warts on the head of the penis gradually spread throughout the groin area, affecting the anus.
The types of warts on the penis depend on the type of virus that infects the man, as well as their location.
Let's look at their main types:
- In the foreskin area, neoplasms have the appearance of tubercles with a lighter shade than the skin. Sometimes they have a thin leg. Initially, single warts appear, over time, clusters of genital warts may form.
- In frenum, warts look like small, white nodules with a chaotic arrangement.
- Warts on the head of the penis look like pale pink discharge. Usually they form groups similar to broccoli blossoms.
- Giant Buschke-Levenschein tumors can sometimes form on the shaft of the penis. They are some warts that have grown together. This is a rare but dangerous pathology that is fraught with malignant transformation, as neoplasm cells are prone to rapid mutation.
If suspicious growths on the penis are detected, a man should contact a specialist immediately. The urologist examines and interviews the patient. In addition to the penis, the urologist should examine the scrotum, perianal area, and groin. Usually a visual examination is enough to make a diagnosis. In some cases, the doctor may refer the man for additional tests.
To identify the type of pathogen and the risk of oncogenicity, the patient should donate blood for a PCR test. Also, if the frenum is damaged, a microscopy procedure may be needed to determine the presence of warts in the ureter.
It should be remembered that warts on the head of the penis and scrotum can look like neoplasms of a different nature. For example, papules in the second stage of syphilis are also characterized by the appearance of small neoplasms. To rule out other sexually transmitted diseases, it is necessary to be tested for common genital infections - syphilis, HIV, chlamydia, trichomoniasis, etc.
Risk of penile warts 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 take its course, it can lead to more serious problems in the future.
The risk of these neoplasms is as follows:
- Development of phimosis.In this condition, the foreskin joins the head of the penis. Because of this, problems with normal sperm discharge can arise, pathogens accumulate in the space below the foreskin and inflammatory processes can occur.
- Inflammation of the head, the trunk of the penis.This pathology is a complication of the condition described above, when bacteria penetrate under the skin of the foreskin and spread further.
- Erosions in the genitals.Most often they develop as a result of systemic trauma to the warts on the penis. This occurs during sexual intercourse, shaving, wearing tight footwear.
- Degeneration of neoplasms into cancerous tumors.This is rare, but there is a potential risk, especially if warts on the penis are often damaged.
Also, remember that active neoplasms are dangerous in terms of infecting partners. Moreover, even condoms are not always able to protect a person from infection.
Methods of treatment of penile warts
Since the appearance of warts on the penis is directly related to a general decline in immunity, then the treatment of this pathology should be complex and combined. Basically, in connection with neoplasms, different methods of destruction are used. Drugs are used to boost immunity and suppress the virus.
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 in themselves these growths are extremely rare, and therefore they will have to be removed if a man seeks 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 accumulation, dries, is covered with a crust and falls off after a few days. As a rule, no trace remains at the treatment site. The procedure is painless, rarely leads to relapse and complications.
- Cryo removal.Liquid nitrogen, which has a low temperature, is applied directly to the neoplasm and leads to its freezing and subsequent death. After processing, a crust forms at the collection site, which also disappears after a few days along with the rest of the formation.
- Radiosurgical removal.Neoplasm is affected by radio waves, which destroy growth tissue. This is one of the most accurate, effective and safe ways to remove warts on the penis. After the radio wave is removed, no marks remain on the skin.
- Electrocoagulation.At a certain frequency, a current is applied to the electrode, which destroys the formation. This procedure to remove warts on the penis can lead to burning and then scarring. Therefore, it is carefully described.
- Surgical incision.If the wart on the penis is very large, the technique of cutting it with a scalpel can be used in extreme cases. But they rarely resort to such an operation, as there is a risk of severe bleeding and the spread of infection. Also, a complete circular incision of the foreskin is indicated for wide warts.
Your doctor may also prescribe chemical removal. The procedure is performed with the use of cauterizing drugs.
Before treating warts on the penis with chemicals, it is necessary to consult a doctor, as these funds have a number of contraindications and their improper use threatens complications.
Remedies for penile warts
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 boosting immunity as well as suppressing the virus in the body. For this purpose, different groups of drugs are used - antiviral and immunomodulatory.
Also with HPV, it is important to stimulate the body's defenses, which for some reason are in a depressive state. Immunity will actively fight the pathogen and reduce the risk of recurrence of warts on the penis.
It should be understood that drug therapy is not able to completely solve the problem of warts on the penis. To get rid of them, it is necessary to resort to instrumental techniques to eliminate growths.
Folk remedies for warts on the penis
If you are thinking about how to treat penile warts, then help can be found in traditional medicine. However, remember that you should use these techniques only after consulting your doctor. Self-medication can be at least in vain, and in the worst case can lead to serious complications.
The following tools are known:
- Tea tree oil.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 growing substance before going to bed every day for 10-14 days.
- Egg white.it is necessary to take crude protein and lubricate the neoplasm with it several times a day.
- Uthull table.The acid actively erodes pathological tissues, and therefore you need to be careful with it so as not to damage neighboring healthy areas. You need to lubricate carefully and directly.
- Rowan juice.The acidic substance contains phytoncides that have antiviral effects. Lubricate with freshly squeezed liquid warts 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 single. Otherwise, you can not 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 vaccines. They act against pathogens of types 6, 11, 16 and 18 - exactly those that cause the appearance of genital warts.
Although a condom may not 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, then it is necessary to adhere to the rules of a healthy lifestyle to reduce the risk of warts on the penis. It is important to suppress chronic disease exacerbations in a timely manner, eat well, exercise, and maintain immunity in a "combat-ready" state.
If you are thinking about how to remove warts on the penis, then see a doctor immediately. Self-medication in this case can only do harm. The procedure for removing neoplasms is quick and almost painless. In addition, it is important to strengthen the body's defenses in order to avoid future relapses.