If you need to go through an analysis to identify HPV, there's nothing to worry about. Most procedures are absolutely painless and some are well tolerated by any patient. Consider the most common questions about test delivery.
What is HPV?
The human papillomavirus is a microorganism that contains the cellular structure of DNA. When introduced into the human body, HPV DNA causes a mutation, which leads to irreversible processes. A large part of the population is already a carrier of the virus, but few are aware of this, as the virus does not manifest itself at all.
As soon as the body fails, the immune system weakens and grows in the body. For all skin formations except blemishes and acne, it is HPV that affects. If tumors are not treated immediately, malignancy occurs and a harmless wart can develop into cervical cancer in women and urethral cancer in men.
Why is the human papilloma virus dangerous?
When papillomas, genital warts or warts appear on the body, the average person can hardly tell them apart, mistaking them for something that is not capable of causing harm.
It's not that simple - a small papilloma can grow to a size that will cause many problems - from cosmetic discomfort to the development of cancerous tumors. More than 130 strains of human papillomaviruses are known and each one manifests itself in different ways.
The most common are types 16 and 18, which cause cancer of the mucous membranes, cervix, vagina, penis and other similar diseases. As the person is initially unaware of the presence of the virus in the body, HPV develops gradually and after 5 to 10 years the person sees changes in their body in the form of growths.
Papilloma testing can be done at any clinic. After 40 years, more than half of the lesions become malignant. A timely diagnosis gives a person the chance of a painless old age that will not be overshadowed by cancer.
Why Test Human Papillomavirus?
To protect yourself from oncogenic diseases, you must timely identify a potential threat to life and health. With an extensive list of reasons for its spread, HPV is spread from person to person through close contact - hugs, kisses, sex, using common hygiene products.
The virus takes root under the skin and destroys the healthy structure of the DNA, mutating throughout the body. When immunity fails, HPV appears on the skin in the form of warts, papillomas, and similar rashes. Only a scan can detect the virus at an early stage and block its spread.
When is an HPV test scheduled?
When the first signs of illness appear in the body, a doctor can see them even with a visual exam. An HPV test is prescribed to understand where the virus came from in the body, identify the type, and then eliminate it.
Even considering that not everyone infected is capable of becoming a cancer patient, no one wants to defy fate, which makes it necessary to be tested. If a woman plans to become pregnant, she should be tested for HPV, as the virus easily penetrates the baby. The father should not be indifferent either, as he may be a carrier of the papillomavirus.
Passing characteristics in HPV analysis
Detection of HPV before age 30 is believed to be uninformative, as the disease progresses far beyond the human eye. After age 30, the first tests that can detect the papillomavirus even in the early stages are prescribed.
The less time has passed since the time of infection, the more effective the subsequent treatment will be. It is necessary to identify the moment when normal cells start to transform into cancerous ones. Human papillomavirus diagnostic methods depend on several factors:
To remember:the virus will never completely leave the host, as it already interacts with the body's DNA cells. HPV will remain calm until the immune defenses are weakened.
What type of analysis to pass HPV detection?
- Colposcopic examination. HPV testing in women is performed using this method. It is designed to detect genital warts. It is prescribed for women to detect genital warts located in the cervical region.
- Cytology. A smear is made, which contains epithelial cells, and the collected samples are examined under a microscope. If the cells are altered, there is a risk of developing HPV. There is a risk of a false result.
- Histology. It is an addition to cytology to exclude an error. A small piece of affected tissue is removed and the doctor assesses the difficulty of the position through a microscope. With the help of histological examination, it is possible to determine the nature of the formation.
- PCR diagnosis. The truest shape with 98% accuracy. Swab, urine, blood or amniotic fluid collection
If at least one test reveals the presence of a virus, the patient will be referred for further analysis to ensure the accuracy of the result. If the result is a false positive, the cause could be contaminated test material or a violation of generally accepted sampling technique.
Sometimes patients incorrectly prepare for the analysis or choose the wrong time for the procedure - these factors can also cause false results.
test rules
In addition to having the assistant physician, the patient himself must follow the approval process in the analysis and know the basic processes. The doctor is a specialist, but health belongs to the patient.
How is the biomaterial obtained?
Brush strokes are made with a soft brush, which looks like a brush. In free clinics, a Volkmann spoon is sometimes used - it is a small spoon with a long stem. This brush is gently inserted into the channel and then removed with rotational movements. The brush is placed in a sterile bottle and sent for further research.
How to prepare for the procedure for women
2 days before the procedure can not live sexually, use soap with antibacterial effect, shower, use tampon. If a smear was taken from the cervix, after the procedure for 3 weeks, you cannot have sex, play sports, overheat, swim in public places, and take medications that affect blood thinning.
How to prepare for the procedure for men
Excluded sexual intercourse, shower 2 days without detergents. Do not urinate before the procedure.
General preparation for the procedure
It is necessary to inform the doctor about all medications a person has taken in the past 2 months.
How is a blood test done for HPV?
Used for PCR diagnostics. From a finger, sometimes from a vein, depending on what kind of analysis the person is going to do. A slight tingling sensation with the injection is the maximum discomfort of the procedure. If the vessels in the elbow area are narrow, the blood collection process will become difficult, but your doctor will tell you how to properly expand the vein.
The procedure is performed on an empty stomach, you cannot even drink water. It is advisable to take a chocolate bar with you. 3 days before blood donation, all foods that cause an allergic reaction must be excluded from the diet.
How is urine tested?
It is better to take care of the sterilized bottle yourself. You can buy it at the pharmacy. Collect morning urine in a bottle on an empty stomach. Then take it for examination, preferably immediately, the maximum period is 4 hours or the result will be invalid. The method is not as accurate as drawing blood, but if it is not possible to donate blood, you will have to use this method.
How long does it take to test HPV in women and men?
If a colposcopic examination has been performed, the result is issued immediately. With the cytological exam, the results will only be ready after a week. Histology is done for 3 days, so you can get the test result in your hands. With PCR diagnosis, you can get results immediately or wait up to 2 days.
When and how often should you be tested for HPV?
Until age 30, only those who show clear signs of growth in their bodies are examined. Typically, at this age, HPV is dormant and does not spread throughout the body.
From 30 to 60 years old, it is necessary to go to exams every 3 years. The level of immunity is dropping, so human papillomavirus signs must be detected in time.
After 60 years of age, usually no tests are done. If during the last two tests no virus was detected, don't worry. If there are manifestations, you should start treatment until the last 2 results are negative.
Cost and pricing for delivering HPV tests
In the presence of acute illness or at the conclusion of a cancerous tumor, most tests are free. They can be prescribed by the responsible oncologist.
To get a complete picture of virus development, 2 methods are generally used to eliminate the likelihood of false information.
Decoding the results
Decryption should only be done by the treating physician. Patient intervention will do no good. To understand what the results are all about, you should pay attention to the following words:
- reference values - absent HPV;
- positive result - an oncogenic HPV strain was detected;
- the result is negative - no cancerous manifestations were found, but there is a possibility of finding other types of HPV.
If the patient decides to return to health and finds out about the presence of the human papillomavirus in his body, the above methods should be used. The timely diagnosis saved millions of people and helped them find a peaceful, healthy life. Only after a complete pass in the tests is it possible to prescribe a quality treatment.
Sometimes the patient is referred for tests without any outward signs of the disease, and the procedure shows that there is HPV in the body. In that case, the treatment will not take long. That's why doctors recommend seeking help at the right time.