Papillomas are raised formations that appear on a person's skin and mucous membranes. They are not really a disease, but serve only as an outward manifestation of the body's HPV infection - the human papillomavirus.
Papillomaviruses exist in many different strains, some of which are dangerous because neoplasms have the property of malignant transformation, that is, they can develop into malignant tumors.
The reasons for the appearance of papillomas on the penis
Papillomas are benign skin or mucous membrane formations of a verrucous nature.
The human papillomavirus is transmitted in many ways, from a sick person to a healthy person. The main method is sexual, with unprotected intercourse. But you can "catch" the virus at home, by coming into contact with a carrier, if there are integrity defects in the body or mucous membranes, through blood and other fluids infected with the virus.
It is very difficult to completely "exterminate" a virus that has already entered the body, but in about 90% of cases there is an independent cure, that is, the immune system itself "kills" the virus. However, in some cases, the disease takes on a recurrent character and can last for many years.
A particular danger is posed by strains with the capacity for malignancy, that is, the transformation of a neoplasm into malignancy.
HPV has a long incubation period, with strong immunity, it can last from a month to a year.
But once the immune system is weakened, it will make itself felt immediately. The symptoms of its presence are formations on the body and mucous membranes, which can be round, oval or oblong in shape and vary in size, from a few millimeters to a few centimeters.
More than 600 strains of the virus are known to medicine, of which more than 40 are capable of causing neoplasms in the genital and anal regions in men and women. They are the ones that cause papillomas on the penis, known as genital warts.
Some of the papillomas are harmless to human health, others are capable of causing an irritating aesthetic defect - warts, and still others threaten the body with the most dangerous disease - cancer. There is medical evidence that cervical and breast cancers develop with infection with certain strains of HPV.
If a virus that can cause papillomas in Organs genitals enters the body, the main route of entry is considered sexual. Promiscuous relationships, bisexual and homosexual contacts are especially dangerous. But the virus may very well be congenital - the fetus is infected by passing through the birth canal of an infected mother. There is also a risk of infection in skin lesions when going to the pool, public bathroom, bath, sauna, gym, during waxing, shaving.
Signs and symptoms of illness
Symptoms depend on the location, number and size of the papillomas.
Most often, papillomas on the penis affect the head of the organ, "settle" along the foreskin, form colonies in the frenulum, and may even penetrate the urethra.
With a strong proliferation of papillomas that take the form of "cauliflower", during intercourse, urination can be bruised, bruised and even bled.
As it is a viral disease, the period of activation of papilloma growth is accompanied by a strong decrease in immunity. A person feels weak, lethargic, his body temperature can rise, most often remaining at subfebrile levels (37 - 37, 5°C). As immunity is reduced, an infected person can easily catch colds and "get" ARVI and ARI.
Proliferation of papillomas can lead to phimosis - a narrowing of the foreskin.
Because of this condition, a special lubricant accumulates in the head of the penis - smegma. Your infection can lead to the development of a dangerous disease, so if even single papillomas are found, an urgent need to see a doctor is urgent. Individual neoplasms can be removed very quickly and almost painlessly, preventing their growth and a high risk of degeneration into a malignant tumor.
Required tests and exams
The presence of papilloma is visually determined by the physician, but further studies are needed to clarify the strain and degree of risk to the patient. The patient donates blood for typing by PCR, a Digene screening test, and is screened for the presence of STDs, as in the vast majority of cases HPV is "packaged" with STDs.
If the penetration of papillomas into the urethra is suspected, urethroscopy is performed. A doctor may prescribe a biopsy if the tumor is too large or if doctors suspect the formation has started to degenerate into a cancerous tumor.
Methods for the treatment and removal of papillomas
It is impossible to completely remove the human papillomavirus from the infected person's body, sometimes it remains there until the end of the patient's life. Drugs to combat HPV are the use of antivirals and immunomodulators that stimulate the activity of the person's own immunity.
Basically, the action of doctors aims to eliminate the external signs of the presence of a virus, that is, the papillomas, warts and genital warts.
Only in the case of cancerous degeneration is a complex treatment applied, which includes surgery and the use of chemotherapy to eliminate the threat of tumor spread.
In order to remove papillomas on the penis, the following treatment methods are used:
- Surgical removal.
- Electrocoagulation.
- Removal of formations with laser (neodymium or carbon dioxide).
- Cryodestruction - destruction of a neoplasm using liquid nitrogen. Cryodestruction can be applied or sprayed.
- Cauterization with chemical products.
In most cases, using these methods is enough to remove the papilloma and prevent its reappearance.
The method of treatment is chosen by the physician depending on the degree of injury, the type of neoplasm, the patient's health status and age.
There is a specialized vaccine that is used in women to prevent the most dangerous disease - squamous cell carcinoma or cervical cancer. It has been proven to be caused by one of the dangerous strains of the human papillomavirus, since in the absence of HPV in the body, this type of cancer does not occur.
Unfortunately, today there is no vaccine that can prevent infection with other types of human papillomaviruses, including those that cause tumors to appear in male intimate organs. The only effective form of protection is still the use of condoms during sexual intercourse, as well as the observance of personal hygiene, a cautious attitude towards possible infection in public places.
Prognosis and possible complications
Doctors have found that in 90% of all cases of HPV infection, if a person has strong immunity, the body faces the virus independently within 24 months. But this observation applies only to certain strains of the human papillomavirus, which are not capable of causing the development of cancer.
The most dangerous complication must be considered malignant, that is, the transformation of papilloma into cancer. But only a fraction of HPV strains have such properties. The sad consequences can be avoided with early access to medical help and timely diagnosis.
In rare cases, after removal of the papilloma, neoplasms can form in and around scar tissue if the virus is actively multiplying in the patient's body due to weakened immunity. In such a situation, repeated removal of papillomas and a comprehensive strengthening of the patient's immunity will be necessary to prevent the growth of formations.
In most cases, the prognosis is positive if the disease is not too advanced. But this rarely happens with genital warts, as their development causes great discomfort to the man, and he quickly turns to doctors.