Papillomavirus infection is widespread throughout the world. HPV infection occurs regardless of age and sex, but the course of the disease and its development have their own characteristics in men and women.
For the stronger sex, the papilloma virus can bring certain disturbances in the sexual life and cause the occurrence of related health problems.
The reasons
The human papilloma virus has such a microscopic structure that it can enter the body through the smallest microcracks in the skin and mucous membranes.
In this regard, there are several possible HPV infections, namely:
- Sexual transmission. You can get an infection not only through ordinary intimate contact, but also through oral contact. In gay men, HPV enters through anal contact through cracks in the skin and in the rectum. Traumatization of the mucous membranes during sexual intercourse increases the risk of infection.
- Domestic route of infection. The virus can be in a viable state for a long time in a humid environment, and therefore there is a high probability of its transmission in baths, saunas, through a personal towel. Cases of infection in beauty salons are described, where the rules for disinfection of manicure sets and other tools were neglected. Transmission of the virus by instruments in dental or surgical rooms is possible.
- From mother to baby during childbirth.
Men who change sexual partners frequently are most likely to become HPV positive.
It is believed that the younger the girls, the more likely they are to have papillomavirus in their body - most detected cases of infection occur by age 25 or younger. Virgins can also be infected with HPV, as oral and other intercourse is often performed before traditional intercourse.
Unfortunately, barrier contraception, ie the condom, does not guarantee 100% prevention of HPV infection. This is due to the fact that this microorganism, due to its minimal size, easily penetrates through the pores of the latex. Naturally, a condom reduces the likelihood of a possible infection, but does not eliminate it completely.
It should also be borne in mind that the microorganism is found in a certain amount in saliva and can therefore be transmitted by kissing.
The risk of a possible HPV infection increases in men who have bad habits. The likelihood of infection increases with the weakening of the body's defenses, after prolonged treatment, when taking antibiotics.
Symptoms
The fact that he is a carrier of the papillomavirus, a man may not suspect until the activation of the vital activity of this microorganism occurs. The reason for this change is often the weakening of the functioning of the immune defense.
The latent carriage of the infection takes a period of two weeks to a year, in some cases this interval is considerably lengthened.
Activation of the virus leads to the fact that part of it accumulates in a certain place on the skin or on the mucous membranes. The accumulation and development of the papillomavirus changes the functions of epithelial cells, which gives rise to a tumor-like process.
Papillomas can form on almost any part of our body, most often they become visible when they appear in the armpits, on the face, neck and genitals. Sometimes the process of formation of papillomas is accompanied by itching and burning.
Papillomavirus formations on the body develop in the form of plaques, warts, filiform bumps on the legs. The greatest danger is genital warts, in men they are located on the penis, can grow around the anus or inside the urethra.
At first, these growths most often look like small pimples, in advanced cases they can merge with each other, forming a cauliflower-like growth.
By themselves, genital warts are unpleasant only because of a cosmetic defect. But if they are not removed and treated in general with a papillomatous infection, there is a risk of degeneration of the damaged epithelial cells into cancerous cells.
Sometimes during sexual intercourse or careless movements, papillomas are injured, which leads to light bleeding and pain. With the strengthening of the immune system, self-healing often occurs, that is, the papillomas disappear or become smaller.
Effects
The consequences of papillomavirus infection for men are very unpleasant and depend on the strain of this microorganism.
If the inside of the urethra is affected, there is a risk of rapid growth and spread of genital warts inside the urethra. This leads to its partial or complete blockage, which negatively affects the outflow of urine and affects the development of disorders in the functioning of the urinary organs.
The appearance of growths on the glans penis, around the anus and in the rectum increases the likelihood that a benign formation will become malignant.
Rectal cancer is more often detected in men who practice non-traditional sex. During oral sex, there is a risk of the formation of papillomas in the throat, which is manifested by various uncomfortable sensations.
A man infected with HPV also poses a certain danger to the women in his environment. For a wife or other sexual partner, such a man will be the most likely source of infection. There is a risk of infection and sisters, mothers, daughters when using a towel, bath accessories in the family.
Diagnostic methods
The establishment of the diagnosis begins with an examination of the external genitalia and the whole body of the patient.
The doctor must necessarily collect an anamnesis, that is, clarify when the formations appeared on the body, what the patient associates their growth with, and establish whether there are certain complaints.
To confirm the diagnosis, the patient must pass several tests, these are:
- A swab or scraping of the mucous layer inside the urethra.
- PCR test to determine the type of virus, its quantitative content. This analysis is carried out after taking a smear, prostatic secretions or blood.
- Biopsy - a study of a sample of tissue taken during the removal of genital warts or the site of a change in the mucous layer.
- Ureteroscopy makes it possible to visually examine changes in the urethra.
Men who have homosexual contact are advised to examine swabs taken from the anal area.
Methods of treating papillomavirus in humans
The choice of methods for the treatment of human papillomavirus in humans depends on the strain of the virus detected in humans.
If a pathogen with high oncogenic activity is detected, then effective antiviral therapy is prescribed, and in the future it is necessary to constantly repeat the tests.
Papillomas and condyloma are removed from the skin and mucous membranes in several ways. It can be a conventional scalpel cut or more modern methods - laser treatment, electrocoagulation, radio wave method.
After the removal of papillomas, it is necessary to increase the body's resistance to infections, which will reduce the risk of infection with another type of HPV.
Prevention
Prevention of human papillomavirus infection is intelligibility in sexual relations and, if possible, sexual contacts only with trusted partners. Prevention methods include following the basic rules of everyday life, that is, using your own towel and underwear, following a healthy lifestyle.
Infection can be prevented by vaccination. A special vaccine has been developed against HPV, it is administered three times at a certain interval. Vaccination leads to the fact that the body develops immunity against certain strains of papillomavirus.