If it is necessary to pass an analysis to identify HPV, there is nothing to worry about. Most of the procedures are absolutely painless, and some are quite tolerated by any patient. Consider the most common questions regarding test delivery.
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 that leads to irreversible processes. Most of the population already carries the virus, but few people realize it, since the virus does not manifest itself in any way.
As soon as the body fails, the immune system weakens and growths appear on the body. For all formations on the skin except moles and acne, it is HPV that affects. If the growths are not treated quickly, a malignant tumor appears and a harmless wart can turn into cervical cancer in women and urethral cancer in men.
Why is the human papillomavirus dangerous?
When papillomas, genital warts, or warts appear on the body, an ordinary person is barely able to distinguish them from each other, mistaking them for something that is not capable of causing harm.
It's not that simple - a small papilloma can grow to such a size that it will cause a lot of inconvenience - from cosmetic discomfort to the development of cancerous tumors. More than 130 strains of human papillomavirus are known and each of them manifests in different ways.
<1_img_centerxx>The most common of these are types 16 and 18, which cause cancer of the mucous membranes, cervix, vagina, penis, and other similar diseases. Since at first a person does not know about the presence of the virus in the body, HPV gradually develops, and after 5-10 years a person sees changes on his body in the form of growths.
Papilloma analysis can be done at any clinic. After 40 years, more than half of the lesions become malignant. Timely diagnosis gives a person a chance to live a pain-free old age, which will not be eclipsed by cancer.
Why test for human papillomavirus?
To protect yourself from oncogenic diseases, you need to timely identify a potential threat to life and health. With a long list of reasons for its spread, HPV is spread 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 as 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 is coming from in the body, identify the type and then eliminate it.
Even considering that not all infected people are capable of becoming cancerous, no one wants to tempt fate, which requires testing. If a woman is planning to become pregnant, she should be tested for HPV, as the virus will easily enter the baby. The father should not be indifferent either, because he can be a carrier of the papillomavirus.
Characteristics of successful testing for HPV
It is believed that detection of HPV before the age of 30 is not informative, as the disease spreads far beyond the human eye. After 30 years, the first tests are prescribed that can detect the papillomavirus even in the early stages.
The less time has passed since the moment of infection, the more effective the subsequent treatment will be. It is necessary to identify when normal cells begin to turn into cancer cells. Methods of 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 that was caused during the time the person did not see a doctor
- Prescribe quality and effective treatment
Remember:the virus will never leave the host completely, as it is already interacting with DNA cells in the body. HPV will remain calm until the immune system is weakened.
What type of analysis to transmit on the detection of HPV?
- Colposcopic examination. HPV testing in women is done by this method. It is designed to detect genital warts. It is prescribed for women to detect genital warts located in the cervical region.
- Cytology. A smear is taken, which contains epithelial cells, and then the collected samples are examined under a microscope. If the cells are damaged, there is a risk of developing HPV. There is a risk of false results.
- Histology. It is an addition to cytology in order to exclude an error. A small piece of the affected tissue is removed and the doctor assesses the difficulty of the position under a microscope. With the help of a histological examination, it is possible to determine the nature of the formation.
- PCR diagnosis. The most truthful way with 98% accuracy. Swab, urine, blood or amniotic fluid collected
If at least one test reveals the presence of a virus, then the patient will be sent for further analysis to ensure the accuracy of the result. If the result is found to be a false positive, then contaminated test material or a violation of generally accepted sampling technique may be the cause.
Sometimes patients do not properly prepare for the scan or choose the wrong time for the procedure - these factors can also lead to false results.
Testing rules
In addition to relying on the attending physician, the patient himself must follow the process of successful analysis and know the basic processes. The doctor is a specialist, but the health belongs to the patient.
How is the biomaterial collected?
The strokes are taken with a soft brush, which looks like a paintbrush. In free clinics, a Volkmann spoon is sometimes used - this is a small spoon on a long rod. Such a brush is gently inserted into the channel, and then removed with rotational movements. The brush is placed in a sterile bottle 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 an antibacterial effect, shower, use tampons. If a smear was taken from the cervix, then after the procedure for 3 weeks you can not have sex, play sports, overheat, swim in public places and take drugs that affect thethinning of the blood.
How to prepare for the procedure for men
Sexual intercourse is excluded, shower for 2 days without detergents. Do not urinate before the procedure.
General preparation for the procedure
It is necessary to inform the doctor about all medicines that have been taken by a person in the last 2 months.
How is an HPV blood test done?
Used for PCR diagnostics. From a finger, sometimes from a vein, depending on the type of analysis the person is going to do. A slight tingling sensation from the injection is the maximum discomfort of the procedure. If the vessels in the elbow area are narrow, the process of taking blood will become difficult, but the doctor will tell you how to properly widen the vein.
The procedure is carried out on an empty stomach, you can not even drink water. It is advisable to take a candy 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?
It is best to 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 have it 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 need to use this method.
How long does it take to test for HPV in women and men?
If a colposcopic examination has taken place, the result is published immediately. With a cytological examination, the results will only be ready after a week. Histology is done for 3 days, then you can get the test result on your hands. With PCR diagnostics, you can immediately take results or wait up to 2 days.
When and how often should you be tested for HPV?
Until the age of 30, only those who show obvious signs of growth on their body are examined. Usually, at this age, HPV is dormant and does not spread throughout the body.
From 30 to 60 years old, you have to take an exam every 3 years. The level of immunity is falling, so signs of human papillomavirus should be detected in time.
After 60 years, no exam is usually done. If during the last two tests the presence of a virus was not detected, then you do not have to worry. If there have been manifestations, then you will need to take treatment until the last 2 results are negative.
Cost and price for the delivery of HPV tests
In the presence of acute illnesses or at the conclusion 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 generally used to eliminate the likelihood of false information.
Decode the results
Decryption should only be performed by the attending physician. The patient's intervention will not do any good. To understand what the results are, you should pay attention to the following words:
- reference values - HPV is absent;
- positive result - an oncogenic HPV strain 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 regain health and find out the presence of the human papillomavirus in his body, then the above methods should be resorted to. Timely diagnostics have saved millions of people and helped them return to calm and healthy lives. It is only after having passed the tests perfectly that it is possible to prescribe a quality treatment.
Sometimes the patient is sent for tests without external signs of the disease, and the procedure shows that there is HPV in the body. In this case, the treatment will not take long. It is for this reason that doctors recommend seeking help in time.