If you need to pass an analysis to identify HPV, then there is nothing to worry about. Most procedures are absolutely painless, and some are quite tolerated by every patient. Consider the most common questions about passing the tests.
What is HPV?
Human papillomavirus is a microorganism that contains the cellular structure of DNA. When introduced into the human body, HPV DNA causes a mutation, which leads to irreversible processes. Most of the population is already a carrier of the virus, but few people realize this, as the virus does not appear in any way.
Once the body fails, the immune system weakens and growths appear in the body. For all formations on the skin, except for moles and acne, it is HPV that affects. If the growths are not treated immediately, then malignancy occurs and a harmless wart can turn into cervical cancer in women and urethral cancer in men.
Why is the human papilloma virus dangerous?
When papillomas, genital warts or warts appear on the body, an ordinary person is hardly able to distinguish them from each other, confusing them with something that is not capable of causing harm.
It is not so simple - a small papilloma can grow to such a size that it will cause a lot of inconvenience - from aesthetic discomfort to the development of cancerous tumors. More than 130 species of human papillomavirus are known and each manifests itself in different ways.
The most common of these are types 16 and 18, which provoke cancer of the mucous membranes, cervix, vagina, penis and other similar diseases. Since at first a person is unaware of the presence of the virus in the body, HPV gradually develops and after 5-10 years a person sees changes in his body in the form of growths.
Papilloma testing can be done at any clinic. After 40 years, more than half of the lesions become malignant. A timely diagnosis gives a person a chance for a painless old age, which will not be overshadowed by cancer.
Why test for human papillomavirus?
To protect yourself from oncogenic diseases, you need to identify in time a potential threat to life and health. With a wide list of reasons for its spread, HPV is transmitted from person to person through close contact - hugging, kissing, having sex, using common hygiene products.
The virus takes root under the skin and destroys the healthy structure of DNA, mutating throughout the body. When immunity fails, HPV appears on the skin in the form of warts, papillomas and similar rashes. Only an examination can detect the virus at an early stage and block its further spread.
When is an HPV test scheduled?
When the first signs of the disease appear on the body, the doctor can see them even with a visual examination. An HPV test is prescribed to understand where the virus came from in the body, to identify the type and then to eliminate it.
Even considering that not every infected person is capable of becoming a cancer patient, no one wants to be tempted by fate, which means that tests need to be performed. If a woman plans to become pregnant, she should be tested for HPV, as the virus will easily penetrate the baby. The father, too, should not be indifferent because he may be a carrier of the papilloma virus.
Characteristics of passing the test for HPV
It is believed that the detection of HPV before the age of 30 is not informative, as the disease persists beyond the human eye. After 30, the first tests are prescribed that can detect papillomavirus even in the earliest stages.
The less time that has elapsed since the moment of infection, the more effective the subsequent treatment will be. It is necessary to identify the moment when normal cells begin to grow into cancerous ones. Methods for diagnosing human papillomavirus depend on several factors:
- Identification of the virus and the very fact of its presence in the body
- Discover the variety
- Assess the damage caused during the period in which the person did not seek medical help
- Recommend quality and effective treatment
You remember:the virus will never leave the host completely, as it already interacts with the body's DNA cells. HPV will remain quiet until the immune defense is weakened.
What kind of test should be done to detect HPV?
- Colposcopic examination. HPV tests in women are performed with this method. It was created to detect genital warts. Womenshte prescribed for women to detect genital warts located in the cervical region.
- Cytology. A stain is taken, which contains epithelial cells, then the samples taken are examined under a microscope. If the cells change, then there is a risk of developing HPV. There is a risk of a false result.
- Histology. It is an addition to cytology to rule out an error. A small piece of affected tissue is taken and the doctor assesses the difficulty of the position through a microscope. With the help of histological examination, it is possible to determine the nature of the formation.
- PCR diagnosis. The truest way with 98% accuracy. Take a swab, urine, blood or amniotic fluid
If at least one examination detects the presence of a virus, then the patient will be sent for additional tests in order to ensure the accuracy of the result. If the result turns out to be a false positive, then contaminated test material or a violation of generally accepted sampling technique may be the cause.
Sometimes patients mistakenly prepare for the test or choose the wrong time for the procedure - these factors can also cause false results.
Testing rules
In addition to relying on the attending physician, the patient himself must follow the process of passing the analysis and know the basic processes. The doctor is a specialist, but health belongs to the patient.
How is biomaterial obtained?
The strokes are dealt with with a soft brush, which looks like a brush. In free clinics, a Volkmann spoon is sometimes used - it is a small spoon on a long stalk. Such a brush is gently inserted into the channel, then removed by rotational motion. The brush is placed in a sterile balloon and sent for further research.
How to prepare for the procedure for women
2 days before the procedure, you can not live sexually, use soap with antibacterial effect, wash, use tampons. If a stain has been taken from the cervix, then after the procedure for 3 weeks, you can not have sex, do sports, get hot, swim in public places and take medicines that affect blood thinning.
How to prepare for the procedure for men
Sexual intercourse is excluded, take a shower for 2 days without cleanser. Do not urinate before the procedure.
General preparation for the procedure
It is necessary to inform the doctor about all the medicines that have been taken by a person in the last 2 months.
How is an HPV blood test obtained?
Used to diagnose PCR. From a finger, sometimes from a vein, depending on the type of analysis the person will receive. A tingling sensation from the injection is the maximum discomfort from the procedure. If the vessels in the elbow area are narrow, then the blood draw process will become difficult, but the doctor will show you how to properly dilate the vein.
The procedure is performed on an empty stomach, you can not even drink water. It is advisable to take a chocolate bar with you. 3 days before donating blood, it is necessary to exclude from the diet all foods that cause an allergic reaction.
How is urine tested?
Better yet take care of the sterile jar yourself. You can buy it at the pharmacy. Collect morning urine in a jar on an empty stomach. Then get examined, preferably immediately, the maximum period is 4 hours or the result will be invalid. The method is not as accurate as taking blood, but if it is not possible to donate blood, you will have to use this method.
How long does it take to get tested for HPV in women and men?
If a colposcopic examination is performed, then the result is released immediately. With a cytological examination, the results will be ready in just a week. Histology is done for 3 days, then you can get the test result in your hands. With PCR diagnostics, you can get results immediately or wait up to 2 days.
When and how often should you get tested for HPV?
Until the age of 30, only those who have clear signs of growth in their body are examined. Usually at this age, HPV is dormant and does not spread throughout the body.
From 30 to 60 years old, it is necessary to go for examination every 3 years. The level of immunity is falling, so the signs of human papillomavirus should be detected in time.
After 60 years, no examinations are usually done. If during the last two tests, the presence of a virus was not detected, then you do not need to worry. If there are manifestations, then you will have to engage in treatment until the last 2 results are negative.
Cost and prices for delivering HPV tests
In the presence of acute disease or upon completion of a cancerous tumor, most examinations are free. They can be prescribed by the attending oncologist.
For a complete picture of the development of the virus, 2 methods are usually used to eliminate the possibility of false information.
Decoding the results
Decryption should only be done by the attending physician. Patient intervention will do nothing good. To understand what the results are, you need to pay attention to the following words:
- reference values- HPV absent;
- positive result - a type of oncogenic HPV was detected;
- the result is negative - no cancerous manifestations were found, but there is a possibility of finding other types of HPV.
If the patient decided to get healthy and learn about the presence of human papillomavirus in his body, then you should resort to the above methods. Timely diagnosis saved millions of people and helped them find a peaceful and healthy life. Only after you have fully passed the tests is it possible to prescribe a quality treatment.
Sometimes the patient is sent for tests without external signs of disease, and the procedure shows that there is HPV in the body. In this case, the treatment will not last long. Fisht for this reason that doctors recommend seeking help in time.