How HPV is transmitted and methods of infection

On Earth, about 80% of the population is infected with the human papillomavirus. Since, due to HPV infection, not only harmless papillomas can appear on the body, but also genital warts, as well as lumps that can degenerate malignantly, it is very important to know how HPV is transmitted. Perhaps this knowledge will help someone avoid infections and protect themselves from dangerous diseases such as cancer of the cervix, vulva, vagina, anal passage, penis and even breast. In the article we will talk about HPV: how it is transmitted, risk factors and preventive measures.

How is the human papillomavirus transmitted?

First of all, it must be said that the papilloma is transmitted through the epidermis and saliva. At the same time, for some time the infection may not be felt and manifest by the formation of genital warts and papillomas only with decreased immunity.

If we talk about how the papilloma virus is transmitted, the likelihood of infection increases significantly if there are injuries, scratches and abrasions on the skin.

Attention!Many people wonder if the papilloma is inherited. The answer is no. It turns out that when one of the family members is infected, the papilloma virus is transmitted on a daily basis or from the mother to the baby during delivery.

The following ways of transmitting viral infection from person to person are known:

1. It is transmitted by everyday life, that is, by touch, common household items, clothing. The infection can be transmitted by kissing.
2. If a person has genital papillomas, the transmission may have occurred sexually, that is, during unprotected sex.
3. Self-infection is possible during shaving, hair removal and other skin damage. Because the papilloma is contagious to surrounding healthy skin cells, the person himself can transfer the virus from diseased parts of the body to healthy parts.
4. The vertical route of infection is the transmission of infection from the mother to the child during delivery.
5. Much less frequently, infection occurs during blood transfusion, during the surgical removal of neoplasms caused by HPV. In addition, infection is not excluded in beauty salons, manicure rooms, baths, saunas and swimming pools, where aseptic rules are neglected.

If we talk about how you can get papilloma, then in 70% of cases of sexual infection, the culprit is a man. In the presence of an epithelial neoplasm on the lips or genitals, the probability of infection is almost 90%. It must also be remembered that the presence of condoms, although reducing the risk of infection, does not yet guarantee 100% protection, as HPV can penetrate microtrauma into the skin of the hands and other parts of the body. In addition, condylomas can be located in the groin or pubic area, where the condom does not protect against direct contact with the partner.

Important!If one partner has the virus, but he does not have papillomas, warts, or genital warts, the risk of infection for the other partner is significantly reduced.

If you list all the ways to become infected with papillomavirus in a newborn, infection during the prenatal period is unlikely, as the virus does not enter the bloodstream and the fetus is protected fromreliably by the amniotic fluid, bladder and placenta. However, in medical practice, rare cases of intrauterine infection have been reported with damage to the placenta and fetal bladder.

For women planning to become pregnant, it is very important to know whether the child's father is contagious and whether he can pass the infection on to the future mother, as the genital warts that appear during pregnancy are very dangerous for the child. In case of infection of the baby during delivery, there is a threat of laryngeal papillomatosis and subsequent suffocation. As the infection is transmitted by saliva, it is important to take into account the presence of papillomas, genital warts and warts in the man's mouth and mucous membranes in the oral cavity, as the woman can become infected with oral sex.

If a family member has papilloma, as it is transmitted in everyday life, it is important that all family members know:

• through shared sheets, towels, soaps, cosmetics, cloths and other personal belongings, the virus can penetrate the microtrauma of the skin;
• Saliva infection is possible when using a toothbrush, glasses or other utensils;
• infection through clothes and other household items is also possible.

Risk factors

We have discovered how you can become infected with the human papillomavirus, but it is equally important to know not only the transmission routes, but also the risk factors for infection with the human papillomavirus.

Therefore, the human papillomavirus penetrates the skin and mucous membranes much more easily, against the background of the following provocative factors:

1. In men, children and women, infection is more likely in the context of reduced immunity. A common cold or sore throat can contribute to this.

2. The risk of contracting HPV increases when the intestinal or vaginal microflora is disturbed. In the first case, general immunity suffers, in the second case, the body's local defenses decrease and the likelihood of contracting sexually increases.
3. The genital tract of the infection most often becomes the cause of the infection in the context of other sexually transmitted diseases (syphilis, gonorrhea, trichomoniasis).
4. Any means of transmission can be potentially dangerous for a person in the context of an exacerbation of a chronic illness, when the body is weakened by the illness.
5. There is no doubt whether papillomas are contagious. The virus can easily penetrate the host into a healthy person's cells if their defenses are weakened by stress, loss of energy, overwork or depression.

Important!Any viruses are more easily transmitted to men and women who have bad habits (smoking, alcohol). The risk of infection also increases significantly in women taking combined contraceptives.

The following conditions and diseases are predisposing factors for the sexual transmission of the virus:

• earlier onset of sexual activity;
prostitution
• ;
• frequent change of sexual partners;
• promiscuous sex life;
• history of sexually transmitted diseases;
• age is over 35;
• pathology of the cervix;
• immunodeficiency states.

Prevention

We found out how the human papillomavirus (women, men and children) is transmitted, now we need to consider preventive measures. It must be said right now that the most effective way of not getting infected is preventive vaccination. To date, two types of vaccines are known for this infection. They protect against the most dangerous oncogenic strains of viral infection. However, the high effectiveness of such protection is observed only with vaccination at an early age, before sexual intercourse or before infection by one of the HPV strains.

As for the other prevention methods, no one has canceled hygiene rules, condom use, demanding sex life and the rejection of bad habits. It is useful for maintaining the strength of the immune system: eating well, tempering, exercising, walking outdoors, drinking vitamins periodically.