Papillomas are bulging formations that appear on a person's skin and mucous membranes. They are not actually a disease, but serve only as an external manifestation of the infection of the body with HPV - the human papillomavirus.
The papillomavirus exists in many different strains, some of which are dangerous because neoplasms have the property of turning malignant, that is, they can turn into malignant tumors.
The reasons for the appearance of papillomas on the penis
Papillomas are benign formations on the skin or mucous membranes of a warty nature.
The human papillomavirus is spread in several ways, from a sick person to a healthy person. The main method is sexual, with unprotected sex. But you can "catch" the virus at home, from a carrier, if there are integrity defects on the body or mucous membranes, through blood and other fluids infected with the virus.
It is quite difficult to completely "exterminate" a virus that has already entered the body, but in about 90% of cases, an independent remedy occurs, that is, the immune system itself "kills" the virus. However, in some cases the disease takes on a recurring nature and can last for many years.
A particular danger is posed by strains having the capacity to be malignant, that is to say to transform a neoplasm into a malignant neoplasm.
HPV has a long incubation period, with strong immunity, it can last from a month to a year.
But once the immune system is weakened, it will immediately kick in. Symptoms of its presence are formations on the body and mucous membranes, which can have a round, oval or oblong shape and different sizes, from a few millimeters to a few centimeters.
More than 600 strains of the virus are known in 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 on the penis, called genital warts.
Some of the papillomas are harmless to human health, others are able to cause an annoying cosmetic defect - warts, and still others threaten the body with the most dangerous disease - cancer. There is medical evidence between cervical cancer and breast cancer developing with infection with certain strains of HPV.
If a virus that can cause papillomas on the genitals enters the body, then the main route of entry is considered sexual. Promiscuous relationships, bisexual and homosexual contacts are particularly dangerous. But the virus may very well be congenital - the fetus becomes infected when it passes through the birth canal of an infected mother. There is also a risk of infection of skin lesions when visiting the swimming pool, public toilet, bath, sauna, gym, waxing, shaving.
Signs and symptoms of the disease
Symptoms depend on the site of localization and the number and size of the papillomas.
Most often, papillomas on the penis affect the head of the organ, "settle" along the foreskin, form colonies on the bridle, and can even enter the urethra.
With a strong proliferation of papillomas taking the form of "cauliflower", during sex, urination can be hurt, hurt and even bleed.
Being a viral disease, the period of activation of the growth of papillomas is accompanied by a sharp decrease in immunity. A person feels weak, lethargic, his body temperature may rise, most often remaining at subfebrile levels (37 - 37, 5 ° C). Because immunity is reduced, an infected person can easily catch a cold and "catch" ARVIs and ARIs.
Overgrowth of papillomas can lead to phimosis - a narrowing of the foreskin.
Due to this condition, a special lubricant accumulates on the head of the penis - smegma. Its infection can lead to the development of a dangerous disease. Therefore, even if single papillomas are detected, it is urgent to 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.
Tests and examinations required
The presence of papilloma is visually determined by the doctor, but more studies are needed to clarify the strain and the degree of its risk to the patient. The patient donates blood for PCR typing, a Digene screening test, and is examined for the presence of sexually transmitted diseases, as in the overwhelming majority of cases HPV is "lumped together" with STDs.
If there is a suspicion of penetration of papillomas into the urethra, urethroscopy is performed. The doctor may order a biopsy if the growth is too large or if doctors suspect that the formation has started to degenerate into a cancerous tumor.
Methods of treatment and removal of papillomas
It is impossible to completely remove the human papillomavirus from the body of the infected person, sometimes it remains there until the end of the patient's life. Medicines to fight HPV are the use of antiviral drugs and immunomodulators that stimulate the activity of a person's immunity.
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 risk of the tumor spreading.
In order to remove papillomas on the penis, the following treatment methods are used:
- Surgical removal.
- Electrocoagulation.
- Removal of formations with a laser (neodymium or carbon dioxide).
- Cryodestruction - destruction of a neoplasm with the help of 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 injury, the type of neoplasm, the patient's state of health and age.
There is a specialized vaccine that is used in women to prevent the most dangerous disease - squamous cell carcinoma or cancer of the cervix. It has been proven to be caused by one of the dangerous strains of the human papillomavirus, because in the absence of HPV in the body, this type of cancer does not occur.
Unfortunately, there is no vaccine today that can prevent infection with other types of human papillomavirus, including those that cause growths to appear on male intimate organs. The only effective means of protection remains the use of condoms during sexual intercourse, as well as respect for personal hygiene, a cautious attitude in the face of possible infection in public places.
Prognosis and possible complications
Doctors came to the conclusion that in 90% of all cases of HPV infection, if a person has strong immunity, the body independently copes with the virus within 24 months. But this observation only applies to certain strains of the human papillomavirus, which are not capable of causing the development of cancers.
The most dangerous complication should be considered malignancy, that is, the transformation of the papilloma into cancer. But only a fraction of the HPV strains have such properties. The sad consequences can be avoided with early access to medical help and timely diagnoses.
In rare cases, after the papilloma is removed, neoplasms can form on and around scar tissue, if the virus is actively multiplying in the patient's body due to weakened immunity. In such a situation, repeated removal of papillomas and an overall strengthening of the patient's immunity will be necessary to prevent the growth of the formations.
In most cases, the prognosis is positive if the disease is not too advanced. But this rarely happens with genital warts, because their development causes severe discomfort in a man, and he quickly turns to doctors.