Papillomas are swollen formations that appear on a person's skin and mucous membranes. They are not actually a disease, but only serve as an external manifestation of the body infection with HPV - human papillomavirus.
Papillomavirus exists in many different types, some of which are dangerous because neoplasms have the property of malignant transformation, i. e. they can turn into malignant tumors.
Reasons for the appearance of papillomas on the penis
Papillomas are benign formations on the skin or mucous membranes of a warty nature.
Human papillomavirus is transmitted in several ways, from a sick person to a healthy one. The main method is sexual, with unprotected intercourse. But you can "get" the virus at home, after contact with a carrier, if there are defects of integrity in the body or mucosa, through the blood and other fluids infected with the virus.
It is quite difficult to completely "eradicate" a virus that has already entered the body, but in about 90% of cases, an independent cure occurs, that is, the immune system itself "kills" the virus. However, in some cases, the disease takes on a recurrent nature and can last for many years.
A special risk is posed by strains with malignant ability, ie the transformation of a neoplasm into malignant.
HPV has a long incubation period, with strong immunity, can last from one month to one year.
But once the immune system is weakened, it will immediately be felt. Symptoms of its presence are formations in the body and mucous membranes, which can have a round, oval or elongated shape and different sizes, from a few millimeters to several centimeters.
More than 600 strains of the virus are known to medicine, of which more than 40 are capable of causing neoplasms in the genital and anal regions in men and women. They are the ones that cause papillomas in the penis, which are called genital warts.
Some of the papillomas are harmless to human health, others are capable of provoking an annoying cosmetic defect - warts, and others threaten the body with the most dangerous disease - cancer. There is medical evidence between cervical and breast cancer that develops with infection with certain types of HPV.
If a virus that can cause papillomas in the genitals enters the body, then the main route of its entry is considered to be sexual. Promiscuous relationships, bisexual and homosexual contacts are especially dangerous. But the virus can be congenital - the fetus becomes infected when it passes through the birth canal of an infected mother. There is also a risk of infection in skin lesions when visiting the pool, public toilet, bath, sauna, gym, during epilation, shaving.
Signs and symptoms of the disease
Symptoms depend on the site of localization, the number and size of papillomas.
Most often, papillomas on the penis touch the head of the organ, "settle" along the foreskin, form colonies in the bridle, and can even penetrate the urethra.
With a strong spread of papillomas take the form of "cauliflower", during sexual intercourse, urination can hurt, hurt and even bleed.
Since this is a viral disease, the period of activation of papilloma growth is associated with a strong decline in immunity. A person feels weak, lethargic, his body temperature may rise, most often maintaining subfebrile levels (37 - 37, 5 ° C). Since immunity is reduced, an infected person can easily catch a cold and "pick up" ARVI and ARI.
The spread of papillomas can lead to phimosis - a narrowing of the foreskin.
Due to this condition, a special lubricant accumulates in the head of the penis - smegma. Its infection can lead to the development of a dangerous disease, therefore, if even single papillomas are found, it is necessary to urgently consult a doctor. Individual neoplasms can be removed very quickly and almost painlessly, preventing their growth and a high risk of degeneration into a malignant tumor.
Necessary tests and examinations
The presence of papilloma is determined by the doctor visually, but further studies are needed to clarify the strain and the degree of its risk to the patient. The patient donates blood for typing using PCR, a Digene screening test, and is examined for the presence of sexually transmitted diseases, as in the vast majority of cases HPV is "associated" with STDs.
If there is a suspicion of papilloma penetration into the urethra, urethroscopy is performed. The doctor may prescribe a biopsy if the growth is too large or if doctors suspect the formation has begun to degenerate into a cancerous tumor.
Methods for treating and removing papillomas
It is impossible to completely remove human papillomavirus from the body of an infected person, sometimes it remains in it for the rest of the patient's life. Medications to fight HPV are the use of antiviral drugs and immunomodulators that stimulate a person's immune activity.
Basically, the actions of doctors are aimed at eliminating the external signs of the presence of a virus, namely the papillomas themselves, warts and genital warts.
Only in the case of cancerous degeneration is complex treatment applied, which includes surgery and the use of chemotherapy to eliminate the threat of tumor spread.
To remove papillomas on the penis, the following treatment methods are used:
- Surgical removal.
- Electrocoagulation.
- Laser removal of formations (neodymium or carbon dioxide).
- Cryodestruction - the destruction of a neoplasm using liquid nitrogen. Cryodestruction can be applied or aerosolized.
- Cauterization with chemicals.
In most cases, the use of these methods is sufficient to remove the papilloma and prevent its recurrence.
The method of treatment is chosen by the doctor depending on the degree of damage, the type of neoplasm, the health condition of the patient and his age.
There is a specialized vaccine used in women to prevent the most dangerous disease - squamous cell carcinoma, or cervical cancer. It has been proven to be caused by one of the dangerous strains of human papillomavirus, as in the absence of HPV in the body, this type of cancer does not appear.
Unfortunately, today there is no vaccine that can prevent infection with other types of human papillomavirus, including those that provoke the appearance of growths in the male intimate organs. The only effective way of protection is still the use of condoms during sexual intercourse, as well as the observance of personal hygiene, a careful attitude towards the possible infection in public places.
Prognosis and possible complications
Doctors concluded that in 90% of all cases of HPV infection, if a person has strong immunity, the body independently resists the virus within 24 months. But this observation applies only to certain strains of human papillomavirus, which are unable to provoke the development of cancer.
The most dangerous complication should be considered malignancy, ie the transformation of papilloma into cancer. But only some types of HPV have such properties. The sad consequences can be prevented with early access to medical help and timely diagnosis.
In rare cases, after removal of the papilloma, neoplasms may form in and around the scar tissue if the virus actively multiplies in the patient's body due to weakened immunity. In such a situation, repeated removal of the papillomas and a comprehensive strengthening of the patient's immunity will be required to prevent further growth of the formations.
In most cases, the prognosis is positive if the disease is not very advanced. But this rarely happens with genital warts, as their development causes great concern to the man and he quickly turns to doctors.