Human papilloma virus (HPV) – a common name for a group of viruses causing a variety of diseases. Known more than 100 types. The pathogen spread throughout the world. To avoid infection, it is important to know how is human papilloma virus.
What is HPV infection?
HPV infection the group of viruses diseases caused by human papilloma virus. Currently, studied, described, more than 100 different virus. For a long time scientists have studied the morphology of the pathogen, which can define, what types of viruses that cause the pathology. Were separately, the group of HPV high-risk cancer.
Due to the fact that HPV primarily affects the reproductive system, there is considerable attention to the study of the problem, because gynecologists. Talk about what is HPV in gynecology, it is worth noting a high risk of developing cervical. Experts found that the virus directly, but rather the 16: th and 18: th type of provoke the development of cancer process in the female reproductive system.
HPV transmission and infection
HPV is known for its resistance to environmental factors, so long you can keep the activity in the environment. This explains the ability of the pathogen to wide. However, direct transmission of HPV droplets does not occur. We talk about it, how it is transmitted HPV from person to person doctors point to the obligatory presence of the direct contact with the skin and mucous membrane of a carrier of the virus.
Way of transmission of HPV varied:
- sexual;
- contact-household;
- vertical.
The most common way of transmission of HPV
The first time I heard this type of pathogen, patients often ask the doctor: is passed if the human papilloma virus sexually. Doctors say that this method is the most common. According to statistics, about 70% of people sexually active are carriers of HPV. Infection can occur repeatedly throughout life.
Most men and women get infected by HPV after a few months since the beginning of active sexual life. It should be noted that HPV is often the cause sexually transmitted diseases, however, infection is possible during sex without penetration. Contact with the genital virus can cause infection.
Doctors call and the following ways of transmission of HPV:
- when the kiss;
- during oral sex.
HPV infections at home
Some infectious disease specialists share of household transmission of HPV. The percentage distribution of the virus in this way is small, however, we cannot completely exclude this possibility. The Virus can stay active, hitting the pool, the bath, so infection is possible in public areas.
Infestation at home occurs through kissing, use of personal hygiene products infected with HPV. In such cases, increase the risk of infection:
- the weakening of the immune system;
- violation of the rules of personal hygiene.
The risk of HPV infection
The probability of HPV infection increases sharply at the beginning of the sexual life. This transfer path is considered the most important. Thus, the experts identify a number of factors, the presence of which is several times increases the risk of infection:
- early sexual debut;
- frequent change of sexual partners;
- the neglect of prevention.
It is separately necessary to tell about the possibility of infection in childhood. In most cases, HPV is transmitted from mother to during birth. As you progress through the birth canal infection occurs, the baby. Children are easier to tolerate infection, they are it almost did not happen. In addition, the arrival of the along with mother's milk ready-made antibodies is observed in spontaneous cure.
How HPV infection?
HPV occurs through direct contact with mucous membranes, skin and genitals. Sexual intercourse during the number of microcracks and damage to the mucous membranes, it only increases the risk of HPV infection. Although there are some differences in the mechanisms of the spread of the virus in women and men.
How is the human papilloma virus in men?
The probability of HPV infection in men is directly dependent on the number of permanent sexual partners. Often promiscuity several times to increase the likelihood of infection. In this case, the man in most cases not aware of the presence of HPV virus in the body. The result is the spread of the virus further. 90% of sex occurs in the infection of a partner, which previously was completely healthy.
How women have human papilloma virus?
Ways of infection of HPV in women do not differ from the characteristic of men. In the first place is sexual. However, the risk of infection in women and add some factors.
Among gynecologists provide:
- early sexual debut;
- frequent change of sexual partners;
- abortion;
- traumatic childbirth in anamnesis;
- gynecological diseases;
- stress;
- long-term use of oral contraceptives.
Transferred baby the human papilloma virus?
Without knowing the presence of HPV in the body, women who are planning a pregnancy in the near future, one wonders whether the transmitted human papillomavirus from mother to child. Experts say that the risk of infecting the baby is there. However, children rarely have HPV, ways of infection are different than in adults. The transfer often happens at the stage of promotion of the fetus through the birth canal: the virus of the mucous membranes of the mother to feed the baby.
It is worth noting that the danger of such infection is low. In most cases, the child's body manages to get rid of HPV within the first 2-3 months of life. This happens because of the receipt in the body of the antibodies to the baby's mother's milk. The greatest danger of HPV in infants is respiratory damage – the appearance of polyps. Such cases are rare, and they are treated more as exceptions.
HPV how long after exposure?
To learn how is human papilloma virus, many patients are interested in the timing of the first symptoms. Doctors do not know how to say, how quickly occur after infection with HPV.
Very important are the following factors:
- the age of the patient;
- the presence of chronic inflammatory processes in the body;
- the state of the immune system.
In practice, the terms clinical manifestations of HPV are different. The appearance of warts, changes in the affected cells can be detected a few weeks or months. In some cases the first lesions of the skin in the groin area and the genitals are detected a year later after being hit by a papilloma virus in the body. To determine the exact time to get the HPV organism is possible on the basis of laboratory tests.
Signs of HPV infection
Symptoms of HPV infection occurs in lesions of the genital tract. In most cases, the virus causes characteristic skin lesions. Patients save the vulgar appearance of warts and genital warts. Externally, these growths resemble a cauliflower, so you can mix them with other skin symptoms is difficult.
Women have a papillary tumors of the pale pink color localized:
- the area of the labia minora;
- groin;
- the clitoris;
- near the external opening of the urethra;
- on the eve of the vagina.
In some cases, warts to form in the anus, if the woman is into anal. Strong growth of such formations leads to bleeding, pain during sexual intercourse. Men like education are localized in the pubic area, the crotch, at least – on the surface of the penis.
Vaccination against HPV after infection
Even for those who know, how is the human papilloma virus, it is not always possible to avoid infection. After rehabilitation treatment, prevent HPV infection, to prevent development of relapse, doctors carried out vaccination against human papilloma virus. Vaccination prevents the development of viral infection 15 years or more.