Human papillomavirus (HPV) manifests itself in the body with various ailments, depending on the type and location. It can be in a latent state for a long time without causing disease, and then, for no apparent reason, appear in the form of various growths on the skin or mucous membranes.
Papillomas on the penis: causes
Papillomas, condylomas or warts may be harmless, but their danger lies in the fact that altered epithelial cells can degenerate into cancerous cells. Therefore, if papillomas have arisen on the penis, you should immediately consult a doctor for the diagnosis of the disease and timely treatment.
What is it
HPV is a large group of DNA-containing intracellular pathogenic microorganisms, which are divided into twenty-seven species, five families and more than one hundred strains.
They are also distinguished by the degree of risk of malignancy (oncogenic properties). According to statistics, these viruses affect more than ninety percent of adults. Papillomaviruses exist and develop only inside the human body. They are more often transmitted through sex than other viruses. HPVs do not have a shell, but they exhibit exceptional vitality and can exist for some time in the external environment. Pathogenic microorganisms are localized in the basal layer of the skin or mucous membranes.
Papillomas on the penis are often caused by a group of viruses that can quickly provoke the process of malignancy. In this regard, they are often called a precancerous condition or the first step towards the development of oncology. In this case, doctors can prescribe the drug Helixor to the patient.
What are
Genital papilloma is a small neoplasm. The outgrowths are similar in appearance to cauliflower, mushrooms, or cockscombs. You can see how the pathological growths of the epithelium look in the photo. More often they can be seen on the foreskin, frenulum and glans of the penis, less often on the shaft of the penis or the scrotum.
- On the foreskin, you can see genital warts, which are light in color and have a thin stem. At first, single elements are found, but as the disease develops, they grow and become similar to cauliflower.
- If papillomas on the penis appear in the area of the frenum, then they can be seen as small white pimples, located in several rows.
- Pale pink villous outgrowths can be seen on the head of the penis. They represent multiple growths, as well as on the foreskin.
- A type of ailment caused by HPV on the genital trunk, scrotum or groin is a giant condyloma of Buschke-Levinstein. It is classified as a precancerous condition, since the altered cells grow rapidly.
Reasons for appearance
Viral agents that cause papillomas on the penis penetrate the epithelium through microcracks in the skin or mucous membranes. The main path is sexual contacts of any form. You can also become infected with the papillomavirus in a household way, if you use personal hygiene items, for example, towels of a person infected with HPV. The risk of contracting the virus is high in public places such as baths, swimming pools, showers. The disease-causing agent does not immediately reveal itself.
The latent period can last from several months to a year. Moreover, if a man is healthy and has a high level of immune defense, then the disease may not appear and the person simply becomes a carrier of the virus. The impetus for the reproduction of the papillomavirus and the appearance of papillomas on the penis is a decrease in immunity.
Thus, there are two reasons for the formation of growths on the genital organ:
- papillomavirus infection;
- HPV activation, due to weakened immunity.
Provoking factors:
- frequent change of sexual partners;
- lack of contraception when having sex;
- chronic diseases in the genitourinary sphere;
- hormonal disorders;
- AIDS or HIV infection;
- frequent hypothermia;
- viral infections, persistent colds;
- long-term intoxication of the body (receptionantibiotics, alcohol consumption, smoking, etc. );
- stress, unhealthy diet and similar factors that negatively affect the immune system.
Papillomas on the glans penis: symptoms and diagnosis
HPV masses on the penis are usually not symptomatic. Men often do not even notice the activity of the papillomavirus. Papillomas on the head of the penis can reveal themselves, manifested by itching or burning during intercourse.
If pathological formations have grown and become noticeable, then this can cause discomfort in a man due to the non-aesthetic appearance of the penis. Papillomas located on the head of the penis can cause phimosis, which is accompanied by corresponding symptoms. In the case of oncogenic formations, when the growths reach large sizes, men may complain of soreness in the affected area and a fetid odor.
Diagnostics
If a man sees suspicious formations on his penis, then you should discard false shame and seek medical help. Diagnostic measures to identify papilloma on the head of the penis are carried out by a urologist. He carefully collects anamnesis - interrogates and examines the patient.
In addition to the penis, the doctor examines the scrotum, groin and anal area, that is, those places where the virus can be localized. If the urologist discovers papillomas on the head of a man's penis, then sets him up for tests to determine the type of virus. If the frenulum is affected, a meatoscopy may be required, which is performed to identify foci of HPV lesions in the urethra.
Men take a swab from the urethra for cytological examination, which determines the type of viral agent. It is possible to identify the presence and type of the virus with a probability of up to ninety-five percent using the polymerase chain reaction method. Any liquid - blood or the contents of the urethra - is suitable as a test medium.
Condylomas on the penis: the danger of pathology
Once the disease is diagnosed, the doctor will prescribe the appropriate treatment. Do not self-medicate, as this may not be effective and dangerous. If the disease is left untreated, then non-aesthetic warts on the penis can cause more serious problems.
Why are papillomas on the penis dangerous?
- At the first stage of papilloma development, phimosis may occur, which is characterized by fusion of the foreskin with the head of the penis. If this condition is not treated, then the following complication occurs, caused by the accumulation of smegma in the space between the head and the foreskin.
- Inflammation of the head and body of the penis, due to the ingress of pathogenic bacteria under the inner sheets of the foreskin.
- The appearance of erosive defects on the head and foreskin, the degeneration of altered epithelial cells into cancerous ones.
Why are dangerous for a woman
A man with papillomas on the genitals, first of all, becomes a source of infection for a woman. If the papillomavirus has entered the genitals of a woman, then, as a rule, its activity is very difficult to notice at the initial stage of the disease. Oncogenic types of viruses are especially dangerous, as they cause cervical cancer. If a woman does not undergo a preventive examination, then oncology is detected already in the late stages of cancer development.
How is reborn into cancer
At the beginning of papilloma development, single benign neoplasms are noticeable. Then they increase in number and combine with each other, creating a single conglomerate. If the disease is not treated, then over time, the altered cells can degenerate into malignant ones. The risk of degeneration of education into cancer increases tenfold if the type of virus is oncogenic.
Therefore, it is very important to undergo a diagnosis of the disease in a medical institution. The most common oncogenic HPV that cause genital warts are the sixteenth or eighteenth types. They cause cancer of the penis, cervix, and bladder.
How to get rid of papillomas on the penis: treatment and prevention
Since the appearance of pathological growths on the genitals is preceded by a decrease in immunity, the treatment should be complex. The growths themselves are removed by surgery, or by cauterization. Medicines that contain a component that block the development and reproduction of viral agents, for example, Viferon, Acyclovir, Epigen-intim and similar drugs, help to fight viruses.
In addition to antiviral therapy with medicines, the doctor prescribes immunomodulators, vitamin complexes and gives recommendations on healthy nutrition and lifestyle. It is important to identify all the factors that led to the activation of the virus and eliminate them. Therefore, before deciding how to get rid of papillomas on the penis, you should undergo a thorough examination of your health.
Delete
Genital growths do not go away on their own, so radical treatment is required to get rid of them. There are several methods for removing unpleasant growths.
- Laser Removal. Papillomas are melted by a laser beam, and a crust remains in their place, which disappears naturally after two weeks.
- Cryodestruction. Neoplasms are cauterized with liquid nitrogen. Also, as in the first case, a crust remains, which after a while disappears without a trace.
- Radiosurgery. The papilloma is affected by radio waves. The method is considered the most accurate, safe and does not cause complications.
- Electrocoagulation. The growth is eliminated using an electric current that is applied at a certain frequency. This method of removal can cause complications in the form of tissue scarring.
- Chemical disposal. The method consists in cauterizing papilloma with medical solutions: Condolin or Solkoderm. The drugs are applied by healthcare professionals. After a course of treatment, neoplasms dry up and disappear.
- Treatment with ointments. If the growths are minor, you can use an ointment to remove them. Oxolinic ointment or Aldara drug will help to cope with the papillomavirus.
How to get rid of papillomas on the penis, by cryodestruction or with the help of drugs, the doctor decides, taking into account the individual characteristics of the patient. The procedures for getting rid of neoplasms do not require anesthesia and give a positive result in ninety-five percent of cases. Sometimes relapses occur in the same place.
Unconventional methods
The answer to the question of how to get rid of papillomas on the penis can be found in traditional medicine recipes. It should be borne in mind that the use of such methods must necessarily be agreed with the attending physician. Otherwise, the treatment may be in vain, time will be lost, and this will lead to complications.
Popular folk recipes:
- Tea tree oil, rubbed into the affected area daily, will help get rid of the build-up, until the wart disappears;
- good results in treatment can be achieved if propolis is applied to the papilloma;
- the simplest way is to lubricate the neoplasms with egg white;
- vinegar will help to get rid of papillomas, which need to be carefully cauterized against the growth once a day;
- you can get rid of small formations using the juice obtained from rowan berries (lubricate);
- Be careful when applying ammonia lotion, as it can burn thin skin.
These recipes will help get rid of newly appeared neoplasms that have not had time to grow. If the papilloma has already formed and protrudes strongly above the skin, then it must be removed using radical methods.
Prevention
The safest ways to rule out an unpleasant and dangerous disease is protected sex and good personal hygiene. If these conditions are violated, then preventive measures should be directed to maintain a sufficient level of immunity so that the virus does not show activity in the body.
You can have a positive effect on immunity if you cure chronic diseases, eat right, play sports, temper and treat infectious diseases in time. It is important to give up bad habits that lead to intoxication of the body. In order to prevent papillomas from leading to complications, men need to regularly visit a urologist in order to identify the initial signs of the disease.