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Human papillomavirus in women - symptoms and treatment

If warts appear near the anus, this means that the human papillomavirus (HPV) is progressing in the body. A dangerous infection, which in the active stage can cause oncology, death. Diagnosis and treatment must be timely.

What is Human Papillomavirus

HPV is a common genital infection that, through active cell division, causes the appearance of warts in intimate areas. The group of viruses from the papillomavirus family includes 5 genera, 27 species, more than 170 strains. HPV is infected with about 60% of the world's population. In most cases, the virus has been in the body in a latent form for many years.

Incubation period

Replication lasts 3 months, when the virus does not manifest itself in any way. In some cases, the incubation period varies from 16 days to 12 months, depending on the state of immunity. During this period, the infection multiplies, affects healthy tissue. The immunity of young women eliminates HPV on its own in 80-90% of cases. In the remaining 10-20%, the infection intensifies, the disease becomes chronic.

Infection routes

Human papillomavirus infection in women enters the body in the following ways:

  • Sexual. The main route of infection, in which the infection enters the body through anal, vaginal contact.
  • Contact and household. The use of things, clothing, shoes, household items of a sick person.
  • From mother to fetus. HPV is passed on to the baby as it moves through the birth canal if the mother is infected.
  • Contact. Contact with the skin of an infected person.

Causes of HPV in women

Strong immunity destroys the virus in 90% of cases, and no treatment is required. In the rest of the patients, it becomes active, relapses. The causes of HPV in women are:

  • viral diseases;
  • early sexual activity;
  • HIV AIDS;
  • frequent change of sexual partners;
  • immunosuppressive therapy;
  • unprotected intercourse;
  • long-term medication;
  • childbirth, frequent abortions;
  • diabetes;
  • drug addiction, alcoholism in women;
  • chronic diseases of the genitourinary sphere;
  • weak immunity after illness.

What is dangerous

The papillomavirus in women causes malignant tumors of the cervix, labia, vulva and anus. Breast cancer may progress. To exclude uterine dysplasia and the further development of cancer, it is necessary to determine the DNA virus in time and start treatment. HPV during pregnancy is fraught with infection of the fetus. If a woman falls ill while carrying a fetus, complex therapy begins at the age of 7 months, when the child's organs are fully formed.

Oncogenic HPV types

Depending on the degree of risk of cancer, the following types of HPV are distinguished in women:

  • Non-oncogenic. HPV types 1, 2, 4, 5. Pathogenic changes in cells are excluded, cancer does not develop.
  • Low oncogenic. Hpv types 3, 6, 11, 13, 32, 34, 40–44, 51, 61, 72, 73 do not cause oncology with persistent immunity. Under the influence of provoking factors, the development of a malignant tumor is possible.
  • Medium oncogenic. HPV types 52, 53, 56, 58 and 30, 35, 45. Under the influence of provoking factors, cancer develops.
  • Highly oncogenic. Hpv types 50, 59, 68, 64, 70 and 16, 18, 31, 33, 39. The likelihood of developing oncology is high.

HPV 16 and 18 types

HPV type 16 is highly oncogenic. The microbe invades the cells of the body, blocks the antitumor defense. In the area of the genitals, anus, gray spots with a rough surface appear. Over time, warts, papillomas, and condylomas form. They are localized not only on the genitals, but also on the neck, eyelids, thighs, and in the armpits.

HPV type 18 also integrates into the DNA of cells, reduces the activity of the immune system, which creates favorable conditions for benign tumors prone to malignancy. Cervical cancer may develop. HPV type 18 also causes papillomas, genital warts, and warts.

Infection symptoms

Signs of infection depend on the strains the person has contracted. At first, the HPV carrier does not experience discomfort. The virus is in a latent (asymptomatic) form. Under the influence of provoking factors, the following signs of HPV appear:

  • pain in the external genitals;
  • burning sensation, vaginal discharge;
  • skin neoplasms;
  • pain during intercourse.

Papillomas and condylomas

Skin growths are the first sign of HPV. Genital warts appear when infected with viruses of 6, 11 types. The growths are flesh-colored, outwardly reminiscent of cauliflower. Such neoplasms are often prone to malignancy, localized in the anus, external genitalia, rarely near the oral cavity. The rashes are multiple, can merge into large foci. The main danger is the risk of injury to such a build-up on a thin leg.

Papillomas are caused by the activity of HPV types 1, 2, 3, 4, 10. Localized on the lips, eyelids, chest, neck, armpits and mouth. The growths of dense consistency on the leg vary in color (pink, brown, pale). In women, vestibular papillomatosis may worsen. The disease cannot be cured. With strong immunity, such growths disappear without treatment, the risk of malignancy is minimal.

Warts

In women, the following types of warts are distinguished in shape:

  • Ordinary (vulgar). Localized on the face, head, fingers, hands. Plantar warts appear on the soles of the feet, caused by HPV types 1, 2.
  • Filamentous. Nodules on the leg are located in the groin, under the armpits and mammary glands, on the genitals.
  • Flat (youthful). Localized in the armpits, on the neck, arms, face and chest. They appear in adolescence, disappear on their own when they grow up. Caused by a virus of types 3, 5.

Diagnostics

To speed up the recovery of girls and women, you need to be examined and correctly determine the type of virus. In case of dangerous conditions, a woman is registered in a venereology department. Diagnostics is complex, includes the following methods:

  • Instrumental examination by a gynecologist. The doctor detects skin neoplasms, determines their size and localization.
  • Colposcopy. A colposcope is used to examine the vagina, cervix and vulva. For the accuracy of the study, use Lugol's solution, acetic acid.
  • Biopsy. Scraping of biomaterial from the cervix is done to confirm or exclude oncology.
  • PCR (polymerase chain reaction). Determines the presence of human papillomavirus DNA.
  • ELISA (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay). It is carried out to detect specific antibodies in the blood in response to the effect of the virus.

PAP test

This method is used in gynecology. To determine cancerous changes in the epithelium, a scraping is done from the cervix. The material is taken from the cervical canal, the mucous membrane of the inner side of the cervix and the vaginal fornix. It is stained, dried, and then examined under a microscope. The purpose of testing is to identify atypical and cancerous cells.

The stages of evaluating the results are as follows:

  • lack of microbial flora;
  • the initial stage of atypical cells;
  • abnormal structure of nuclei;
  • cells with an irregular nucleus, cytoplasm, chromosomes;
  • high concentration of malignant cells.

PCR diagnostics

To determine the DNA regions characteristic of papillomavirus, a scraping is done from the vagina. With a positive result, the concentration of antigen per 100 cells is as follows:

  • Lg up to 3 - HPV concentration is low.
  • Lg 3-5 is a capacious amount of papillomavirus.
  • Lg from 5 - high concentration of HPV.

Digene test

This is a hybrid capture method that detects regions of the papillomavirus DNA. The screening test is characterized by high sensitivity (more than 96%), detects HPV at an early stage and a tendency to oncology. The Digene test determines the concentration of the virus, often combined with a cytological study. The Digene test requires no preparation and is used worldwide for rapid results.

Treatment of papillomavirus in women

Complex HPV therapy includes the following areas:

  • excision of growths on the skin;
  • taking antiviral drugs;
  • immunostimulating treatment course.

Condylomas and papillomas, depending on their location on the body, are easy to injure. In addition, neoplasms can grow. Such growths are best removed by surgery. Otherwise, the risk increases that skin lesions will soon become cancerous.

Medication

Taking medications is needed to reduce the activity of the virus, to strengthen the immune system. The diagnosis is curable. List of medicines for the complex treatment of HPV:

  • Local cauterizers. These are gels, ointments, solutions with organic acids, antiviral components in the composition. In this way, you can remove small growths on the skin, stop their growth.
  • Antiviral. The composition of medicines contains an antiviral component, when it enters the body, antibodies against infection are produced.
  • Immunomodulators. They inhibit the reproduction of papillomavirus, stop the growth of skin growths, increase resistance to pathogenic flora, strengthen the immune system.

Surgical

To stop the growth of neoplasms on the skin with a viral disease, one of the proposed surgical techniques is performed:

  • Laser therapy. Cauterization of growths with a laser. The method is allowed during pregnancy, is characterized by good tolerance, quick rehabilitation.
  • Cryodestruction. Warts are frozen with liquid nitrogen, after which they painlessly disappear. After the procedure, scars do not remain on the body.
  • Diathermocoagulation. The growths on the skin are removed with an electric scalpel, electric current. After the procedure, scars and scars remain on the body.
  • Radio wave treatment. The method is painless, removes medium-sized growths, does not leave scars, and has a minimum of medical contraindications.
  • Surgical method. The procedure is performed under general anesthesia after a preliminary examination. Indications - extensive lesions of soft tissues, suspicion of oncology. The disadvantage is scars.

Folk remedies

To remove the manifestations of papillomavirus in the complex treatment scheme, methods of alternative medicine are used. It is impossible to cure HPV from the inside in this way, but it is really possible to eliminate neoplasms on the skin without consequences. To remove genital warts, warts and papillomas, use the following health recipes:

  • Pull off a fresh stem of celandine, rinse, rub the growth on the skin. Perform the procedure 1 time / day until the wart dries up and falls off on its own.
  • Lubricate warts with castor oil 3-4 times / day. Perform the procedure until the build-up disappears.
  • Squeeze out the juice of the garlic, lubricate the lesions of the pathology. Perform the procedure 2-3 times / day. Over time, the wart will disappear.
  • Cut the rowan berry in half. Apply to the wart, secure with plaster. Perform the procedure before going to bed, the positive dynamics is noticeable after 8 days. The course of treatment is 2-3 weeks.
  • Combine lemon juice, apple cider vinegar and hydrogen peroxide in equal proportions. Stir, apply to external growths 2-3 times / day, until they fall off.
folk remedies for HPV in women

To quickly destroy the virus and strengthen the immune system, healing decoctions and infusions instead of tea can be included in the complex treatment scheme. Folk remedies with immunostimulating properties are as follows:

  • Coniferous infusion. Pour 1 tbsp. l. chopped needles needles 1 cup boiling water. Simmer over moderate heat for a quarter of an hour. Cool, strain, take the broth before meals (you can add honey).
  • Sugar onions. Cook in boiling water for 10 minutes. onion peel in a ratio of 1: 10. Insist broth, strain. Take 1 tsp orally. 5-6 times / day before meals (honey can be added).

Prophylaxis

It is difficult to choose the right medicine and destroy the papillomavirus forever. In addition, antiviral therapy has a number of side effects. You need to take care of preventive measures in time. Medical recommendations are as follows:

  • Follow the rules of personal hygiene.
  • Get tested for HPV 2 times / year.
  • Eliminate promiscuous sex.
  • Use barrier contraception.
  • Strengthen the immune system (especially during the period of seasonal vitamin deficiency).
  • Monitor your medication intake.
  • Lead an active lifestyle, play sports.

Prevention of HPV in women includes vaccination. Stationary vaccination is able to protect only against 4 types of papillomavirus - 16 and 18, 6 and 11.