Papillomas in the penis

Most often, people do not know that the human papillomavirus (HPV) is present in their body.This is due to the fact that the papillomavirus is usually present in a latent form, suppressed by natural immunity.Problems arise when it gets out of control and begins to actively manifest itself in the form of growths on various parts of the body.Men suffer from the consequences of the virus less often than women, but even for them it can cause serious problems in the form of papillomas in the penis.

Reasons

Viral DNA enters the body through microcracks in the skin or mucous membranes.If a man's immunity is weakened, the first manifestations of HPV appear several months after infection.

80% of cases of transmission occur through sexual contact.Contraception reduces the risk of infection, but does not eliminate it completely.

Other ways of infection:

1. Household mode.The virus spreads through the personal belongings of the infected person: clothing, hygiene items, etc.The risk of transmission increases with skin injuries, even minor ones.This route is characterized by infection with viruses of low oncogenic type.They do not lead to serious health problems, but appear in the form of condylomas, papillomas and warts, causing a cosmetic defect.
2. From mother to child.If a mother was infected with HPV during pregnancy and childbirth and gave birth naturally, the child is most likely to be infected.

If a man has a good immune system, the virus does not manifest itself and can remain in the body in a latent form for a long time.Therefore, it is not the infection with the virus itself that is dangerous, but the weakening of the immune system, which leads to the activation of HPV.

The possibility of the virus becoming stronger is influenced by many factors:

• chronic diseases;
• hormonal problems;
• improperly selected contraception or its complete absence;
• viral infections;
• long-term use of alcohol, smoking or antibiotics;
• frequent stress.

All these factors negatively affect the immune system.If there is not one provoking factor in a man's life, but several, this leads to a faster development of the papillomavirus.

Symptoms

Papillomas often appear only externally, but in some cases they can occurnon-specific symptoms:

• itching and burning during intercourse;
• pain when touching the papillomas;
• accumulation of urine in the folds of the penis;
• unpleasant odor in the affected area.

In addition, neoplasms can grow and affect not only the penile area, but also appear on the anus and vulva.

What do papillomas look like?

Papilloma in the penis is a small neoplasm.At first, it may appear on its own, but without proper treatment, the number of papillomas increases.However, they can merge with each other.

Such new growths resemble flesh-colored or pink cauliflower florets.They are most often localized in the area of the foreskin, on the head and in the frenulum.Less commonly, they are diagnosed in the urethra and scrotum.Papillomas can also appear as small white bumps that appear in long rows.This form is typical for localization in the frenulum area.

One manifestation of HPV is Buschke-Levenshtein condyloma.It is characterized by fast growth, outstanding size and resistance to various treatments.Its appearance is due to several existing papillomas and condylomas, which merge and form a single large affected area.The presence of Buschke-Levenshtein condyloma is dangerous because the cells it changes can easily develop into cancer.

Which doctor should I see?

Urologists usually diagnose papillomas in men.You can also consult a dermatologist or proctologist if you have condylomas in the anal area.However, they usually go to a surgeon to remove papillomas.Overall, the diagnosis takes place in several stages:

1. The urologist examines and questions the patient.An oral interview is needed to assess the patient's lifestyle and determine the cause of the viral infection.The visual examination includes not only the assessment of the condition of the penis, but also the adjacent organs - the scrotum, the anal area.This is necessary in order to have a complete picture of the localization of the virus.
2. Casting a smear from the urethra.It determines the presence of various sexually transmitted diseases.
3. PCR.This analysis not only shows the presence of HPV in the body, but also most likely determines its type.
4. Meatoscopy.This procedure is an examination of the urethra if the papillomavirus has affected the frenulum.
5. After removing the papillomathe doctor may order a biopsyto assess the status of a distant tumor.This is necessary to eliminate the risk of cancer and make sure that the papilloma is benign.

In this case, it is advisable to examine both partners.Usually, the woman is also infected with one type of papillomavirus.If only one man is treated, he is likely to get sick again after a while.

Why are papillomas dangerous?

Human papillomavirus is often accompanied by other related diseases.The appearance of papillomas in the area of the glans penis contributes to the accumulation of urine in the folds.This creates the conditions for the appearance and growth of various microorganisms, which later lead to infections.They can cause erosion around the papilloma and contribute to inflammation of the urethra and testicles.These diseases are characterized by urinary problems, pain and high fever.

Another danger is damage to the tumors, which leads to bleeding.This is due to the fact that many blood vessels are formed around the papillomas, which supply them with blood.Even minor injuries can cause infection as a result of trauma.

In addition, neoplasms can rub during movement, which causes pain and discomfort to the man.

HPV and cancer

When the virus is just starting to spread, tumors are rare and benign.Without treatment, they grow and merge with each other.Over time, the cells degenerate into malignancy.The risk of cancer is especially high if a man is infected with highly oncogenic types of the virus - 16 or 18.They contribute to the development of penile and bladder cancer.

Treatment of papillomas

Treatment of HPV means not only the removal of external manifestations, but also the strengthening of the immune system, which must prevent the manifestations of the virus.Immunostimulating drugs are used to maintain immunity.

As an antiviral drug, an ointment that suppresses the reproduction of the virus and removes small growths is effective.It does not always cope with the task of complete removal, but it prevents the appearance of new growths.An antiviral ointment is prescribed to stimulate the immune system.The ointment does not remove papillomas, but it helps to activate the cells of the immune system, which stops their growth and development.

Removal methods

There are several ways to get rid of developing tumors:

1. Laser removal.The papilloma is affected by a laser beam, which completely burns out the growth.A crust forms in this place, which falls off after a few weeks.The method is considered effective due to the absence of relapses.The removal is done under anesthesia.In this case, there is no bleeding, no scars or scars remain.
2. Cryodestruction.Papillomas are exposed to liquid nitrogen.It immediately freezes the desired area, the neoplasm on it is destroyed and dies.The disadvantage of this method is that it cannot control the depth of cryodestruction.A crust remains at the site of the removed papilloma, which disappears after a while.
3. Radiosurgery.The principle of operation of this method is similar to laser removal.Radio waves do not leave scars, the intervention is preceded by preliminary anesthesia using a special spray.After that, there are no complications and the body recovers quickly.
4. Electrocoagulation.The growth is affected by an electric current, as a result of which the stalk ceases, and then the papilloma disappears.If necessary, topical anesthesia can be used.The procedure takes a few minutes, is widespread and affordable.But this method can leave scars after healing.
5. Surgical intervention.It is used in rare cases when the tumor becomes too large.It is performed under anesthesia, it is characterized by a long recovery and traumatization.The good thing about this method is that it allows the removed growth to be preserved for histological examination.

The price of each method depends on the complexity of the work, the size and number of papillomas to be removed.

Before choosing any method, consult your doctor.He will tell you what is best for your situation and tell you in detail how to carry out the procedure.In addition, after removal of the tumor, it is advisable to take the material for histological examination.This is necessary to determine whether benign tumors have begun to degenerate into malignancy.This method helps to detect early cell changes and prevent the spread of cancer.