Papillomas on the penis

Most of the time, people don't suspect that they have human papillomavirus (HPV) in their bodies. This is due to the fact that the papillomavirus is usually present in latent form, suppressed by natural immunity. Problems arise when he gets out of control and begins to actively manifest itself in the form of growths in different parts of the body. Men are less likely to suffer from the effects of the virus than women, but for them, its action can turn into serious problems in the form of papillomas on the penis.

Causes of the occurrence

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

Up to 80% of transmission is sexual. Barrier contraception minimizes the risk of infection, but does not eliminate it completely.

Other forms of infection:

1. Domestic way.The virus is transmitted along with an infected person's personal belongings: clothing, hygiene items, etc. The risk of transmission increases if there is damage to the skin, even the smallest. This pathway is characterized by infection by types of low oncogenic virus. They do not cause serious health problems, but appear in the form of genital warts, papillomas and warts, creating a cosmetic defect.
2. From mother to son.If the mother was infected with HPV during pregnancy and delivery and gave birth naturally, the baby is likely to be infected.

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

There are several factors that affect the possibility of strengthening the virus's position:

• chronic diseases;
• hormonal problems;
• incorrectly selected contraception or its complete absence;
viral infections
• ;
• alcohol, smoking or prolonged use of antibiotics;
• frequent stress.

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

Symptoms

Papillomas often appear only externally, however, in some cases, non-specific symptoms may occur:

• itching and burning during sexual intercourse;
• pain when touching 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 penis area, but also appear in the anus and pubis.

What papillomas look like

Penile papilloma is a small neoplasm. At first, it can appear on its own, but without proper treatment, the number of papillomas increases. However, they can merge.

These growths look like inflorescences of flesh-colored or pink cauliflower. Most of the time, they are located in the foreskin, head and frenulum. Less commonly, they are diagnosed in the urethra and scrotum. Papillomas can also appear as small white pimples that appear in long rows. This shape is typical for location in the brake area.

One of the manifestations of HPV is the Buschke-Levenshtein warts. It is distinguished by rapid growth, exceptional size and resistance to various types of treatment. Its appearance is due to the various existing papillomas and warts, which fuse and form a large lesion area. The presence of the Buschke-Levenshtein condyloma is dangerous because the cells modified by it can easily turn into cancer.

Which doctor to contact

As a rule, the urologist deals with the diagnosis of papillomas in men. You can also consult a dermatovenerologist or proctologist if you have genital warts on the anal area. However, papillomas are usually referred to a surgeon for removal. In total, the diagnosis occurs in several stages:

1. The urologist examines and interviews the patient.Verbal questioning is necessary to assess the patient's lifestyle and establish the cause of the virus infection. Visual inspection involves not only assessing the condition of the penis, but also of Organs surrounding organs - the scrotum, the anal area. This is necessary to complete the picture of the virus's location.
2. Urethral smear.Determines the presence of several sexually transmitted diseases.
3. PCR.This analysis shows not only the presence of HPV in the body, but also probably determines its type.
4. Meatoscopy.This procedure is an examination of the urethra if the papillomavirus has infected the frenulum.
5. After removing thepapilloma, the doctor may order a biopsyto assess the condition of the removed tumor. This is necessary to eliminate the risk of developing cancer and to ensure that the papilloma is benign.

In this case, it is desirable to conduct a survey of both partners. Usually, a woman is also infected with one of the types of papillomavirus. If only one man is treated, it is very likely that he will get sick again after some time.

Why are papillomas dangerous?

The human papillomavirus is usually accompanied by other related diseases. The appearance of papillomas in the region of the penis glans contributes to the accumulation of urine in the folds. This creates conditions for the appearance and growth of various microorganisms, which subsequently leads to infections. They can cause erosion around the papilloma and also contribute to inflammation of the urethra and testicles. These diseases are characterized by problems with urination, pain and high fever.

Another danger is the trauma of neoplasms, which leads to bleeding. This is due to the fact that many blood vessels form around the papillomas, which irrigate them with blood. Even minor damage can cause infection due to injury.

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

HPV and cancer

When the virus is just beginning to spread, neoplasms are sporadic and benign. Without treatment, they grow and merge. Over time, the cells degenerate into malignant cells.The risk of cancer is especially high if a man is infected with highly oncogenic types of the virus - 16 or 18.They are the ones that contribute to cancer of the penis and bladder.

Treatment of papillomas

The treatment of HPV involves not only the removal of its external manifestations, but also the strengthening of the immune system, which must block the manifestations of the virus.Immunostimulating drugs are used to maintain immunity.

As an antiviral medicine, an ointment that suppresses the multiplication of the virus and removes small tumors is effective. It does not always handle the task of complete removal, but it prevents the appearance of new growth. Antiviral ointment is prescribed to boost immunity. The ointment does not remove papillomas, but promotes the activation of immune cells, which stops their growth and development.

Removal methods

There are several ways to get rid of new growths that have appeared:

1. Laser removal.The papilloma is exposed to a laser beam, which completely burns the tumor. A crust forms at this location, which disappears after a few weeks. The method is considered effective due to the absence of recurrences. Removal is performed under anesthesia. There is no bleeding, no scars or scars.
2. Cryodestruction.Papillomas are exposed to liquid nitrogen. It instantly freezes the desired area, the neoplasm collapses and dies. The disadvantage of this method is the inability to control the depth of the effect of free destruction. At the site of the removed papilloma, a crust also remains, which disappears after some time.
3. Radiosurgery.The principle of this method is similar to laser removal. The radio waves leave no scars and scars, and the procedure is preceded by preliminary anesthesia with a special spray. After that, there are no complications and the body recovers quickly.
4. Electrocoagulation.An electric current acts on growth, due to which the leg is eliminated, after which the papilloma disappears. Superficial anesthesia can be administered if necessary. The procedure takes several minutes, is widespread and accessible. But this method is capable of leaving scars after healing.
5. Surgical intervention.It is used in rare cases, when the tumor becomes very large. It is done under anesthesia, has a long healing and trauma. The method is good because it allows the tumor to be removed for histological examination.

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

Before choosing a method, consult your doctor. He will tell you what is best to use in your situation, tell you in detail how the procedure is performed. In addition, after removal of the neoplasm, it is advisable to take the material for histology. This is necessary to determine whether the degeneration process from benign to malignant neoplasms has already started. This method will help detect early cell changes and prevent the spread of cancer.