Lip papilloma is a very delicate problem that causes dissatisfaction with oneself and a decrease in the quality of sexual life. They are difficult to hide, they can cause disturbances during intercourse, therefore papillomas must be removed. Also, in some cases, growths on women's genitals can pose a dangerous risk of developing cancer.
Reasons for papilloma formation
Lip papillomas or genital warts are a consequence of human papillomavirus infection. In total, there are more than 100 strains of this virus, which differ in the type of cancer and the degree of risk of developing oncology.
The virus enters the body mainly through sexual contact in the context of decreased immunity. At the same time, a man who has infected a woman may not have visible signs of the virus, as papillomas in men do not always appear on the skin.
A decrease in immunity occurs in the context of newly transferred infectious diseases, lack of vitamins, or chronic stress. Lip papillomas can be caused by a decrease in local immunity as a result of various inflammatory and infectious diseases of Organs genitals, including thrush and bacterial vaginosis. At the same time, for infection, just use other people's personal care products, so that after a while unsightly growths appear on the lips.
Thus, although the virus is transmitted from one person to another, the reasons for the appearance of papillomas on the lips in women are as follows:
- decreased immunity after ARVI, pneumonia, flu or tonsillitis;
- vaginal infections;
- non-compliance with personal hygiene;
- stress;
- unbalanced diet;
- the presence of a chronic focus of infection in the body;
- promiscuous sex.
All these factors lead to decreased immunity, both general and local. As a result, the body becomes susceptible to various negative influences and cannot resist the human papillomavirus.
Often, the virus does not manifest itself, contained by human immunity. This is only true if the person is completely healthy. So the virus can remain asymptomatic in the body for a long time. Papilloma formation will occur in the context of decreased immunity. If that doesn't happen in the next few years, the body can handle the virus on its own; however, self-healing usually takes at least 18 months.
How are papillomas on Organs genitals?
How a woman's lip infection manifests depends on several factors:
- type of virus;
- the concentration of the virus in the body;
- location of growths.
The formation of papillomas in the labia minora is caused by the influence of oncogenic or conditionally oncogenic strains of the virus (16, 18, 31, 32, 45 and other types). It's easy to understand what these papillomas look like on the lips, knowing what condyloma is. These are small papillae with jagged edges that rise above the surface of the mucous membrane. They are usually no different in color or slightly lighter than the mucous membranes. Papillomavirus manifestations on the lips, causing the development of genital warts, can spread to the woman's perineum, vulva, and vagina.
Condylomas are always formed only in the mucous membranes. Papillomas on the inner lips of women do not appear, they are only formed in areas with thin epidermis.
Papillomas are small balls on the leg that rise above the skin. They have smooth edges of correct shape, and may be slightly lighter or darker than the rest of the skin. When pressed, the papillomas in the lips do not hurt, under the fingers you feel the homogeneous structure of the growth. This type of neoplasm appears in the groin folds and labia majora.
Almost any of the known methods are used to remove papillomas on the lips, as the risk of burns or deep damage to the epidermis is minimal. The treatment of papillomas of the labia minora is comprehensive, as such growths are potentially dangerous.
Warts can form in the following areas:
- Small lips;
- vulva;
- vagina;
- cervix;
- anal opening;
- groin;
- urethra.
The picture of papilloma on the lips does not differ from images of growths on other parts of the body, while papillomas or condylomas in the vagina and vagina are difficult to notice on their own.
Papilloma formation on the lips during pregnancy is associated with decreased immunity. In this case, the timely treatment of the consequences of HPV plays an important role, otherwise there is a risk of infection of the child when passing through the birth canal.
Why are papillomas dangerous?
Sexual contact and the human papillomavirus on women's lips are directly related. First, when it comes into contact with the affected mucosa, there is a risk of transmitting the virus to the sexual partner. Second, with friction during intercourse, papillomas and condylomas can be damaged, which is accompanied by pain. There is a risk of papilloma infection as it becomes inflamed and can start to degenerate into cancer.
There are cases where, due to repeated lesions, a woman has a large papilloma in the labia majora. No woman is insured against this risk. Large growths are very dangerous and must be removed first.
Papilloma in the mucous membrane of the labia minora and vagina can lead to the development of cervical cancer. This is due to papillomavirus activity, which is manifested by excessive division of epithelial cells in the labia minora and other parts of the mucous membrane. In this case, damage to the cells of the cervix develops in several stages. First, the erosion is formed due to HPV in the lips, then it turns into dysplasia, which is a precancerous condition. Lack of proper dysplasia treatment leads to the development of cervical cancer.
It should be understood that any papillomas on the mucous membrane of the lips are a potential danger. The papilloma itself can degenerate into cancer, not just cause cervical oncology. Signs of a malignant papilloma are enlargement of the tumor, pain and itching, foul-smelling discharge from the tumor's body, and darkening of the skin in the affected area. If you notice these symptoms, you should see a doctor as soon as possible - an oncologist, gynecologist, or dermatovenerologist.
Treatment and removal of papillomas
How to treat lip papillomas depends on their number and size. It is recommended not to self-medicate, but to consult a doctor who will tell you in detail what to do to remove and prevent the reappearance of papillomas on the lips.
To get rid of papillomas on the lips, it must be consistent. First, the virus's activity is suppressed, then the tumor itself is removed and, if necessary, immunostimulating therapy is performed. In order to accurately determine the treatment sequence, a PCR analysis must be performed, which shows the degree of activity and concentration of the virus, and also allows to determine its strain.
If a woman is found to have a potentially dangerous strain of the virus, age 16 or 18, complex therapy is needed. In this case, each papilloma removed is sent for histological analysis and a complete examination of the cervix is performed to check for changes in the epithelium.
How to remove papillomas from the lips depends on the exact location. Skin neoplasms are removed in any available way - from surgical to popular. This is because the skin of the labia majora is thick enough that complications after removal rarely occur. It is fair to say that formations on the labia majora, in most cases, do not pose a health hazard and do not cause cancer.
The removal of genital warts on the mucous membranes is carried out with the help of laser exposure or by the radio wave method. These two methods are considered the mildest, although they do not obstruct the vessels that feed growth, so the risk of bleeding is minimal. When removing neoplasms from the cervix or vagina, a histological analysis is necessary to exclude the beginning of the pathological process.
You should consult your doctor about how to remove papillomas from your lips. If the analysis shows a high concentration of the virus in the body, there is a risk of re-formation of the genital warts, so complex therapy is performed, including three steps.
- After determining the strain of the virus, the woman is prescribed antiviral and immunomodulatory therapy. This is necessary to suppress the virus and minimize the risk of papilloma re-formation.
- After drug therapy, which lasts on average several weeks, the papillomas are removed by the chosen method and agreed with the doctor. Removal of the laser or radio wave method is recommended.
- Some time after removal of the growths, the analysis must be repeated. If the virus concentration is still high, a second course of drug therapy is prescribed.
Medicines used to treat papillomas are available in the form of pills and ointments. Antiviral ointments with immunomodulating properties are recommended for the treatment of papillomas on the skin. If tumors appear on the mucous membranes, the use of pills is indicated.
As a rule, after removal of papillomas and drug therapy, the body heals on its own after a few months or years. To avoid papilloma re-formation, a woman must follow hygiene rules, maintain her immunity and avoid unprotected sex.