Papillomavirus infection is widespread throughout the world. HPV infection occurs regardless of age and sex, but the course and development of the disease has its own characteristics in men and women.
For the stronger sex, the papilloma virus can cause certain disorders in sexual life and cause related health problems.
The reasons
The human papillomavirus has such a microscopic structure that it can enter the body through the smallest microcracks in the skin and mucous membranes.
In this regard, there are several possible HPV infections, including:
- Sexual transmission. You can get the infection not only through regular intimate contact, but also through oral contact. In homosexual men, HPV enters through anal contact through cracks in the skin and rectum. Trauma to the mucous membranes during sex increases the risk of infection.
- Domestic route of infection. The virus can live for a long time in a humid environment, and therefore it is most likely to be transmitted in baths, saunas, through personal towels. Cases of infection have been described in beauty salons, where the rules for disinfecting manicure sets and other tools are ignored. The virus can be transmitted through instruments in dental or surgical rooms.
- From mother to baby during birth.
Men who frequently change sexual partners are more likely to be infected with HPV.
It is believed that the younger a girl is, the more likely she is to have papillomavirus in her body - most cases of infection are detected before the age of 25. Virgins can also be infected with HPV because oral and other sexual intercourse often precedes traditional intercourse.
Unfortunately, barrier contraception, that is, a condom, does not guarantee 100% prevention of HPV infection. This is due to the fact that this microorganism easily penetrates through the pores of latex due to its minimal size. Of course, a condom reduces the possibility of possible infection, but does not completely eliminate it.
It should also be taken into account that the microorganism is present in certain quantities in saliva and therefore can be transmitted through kisses.
Men with bad habits increase the risk of possible HPV infection. The possibility of infection increases with the weakening of the body's defense forces after long-term treatment with antibiotics.
Symptoms
A man cannot doubt the fact that he is a carrier of papillomavirus until the vital activity of this microorganism is activated. The reason for this change is often a weakening of the immune system.
Latent transmission of infection lasts from two weeks to a year, in some cases this interval is significantly longer.
Activation of the virus leads to the accumulation of a part of it in a certain place on the skin or mucous membranes. The accumulation and growth of the papillomavirus alters the functions of epithelial cells, leading to a tumor-like process.
Papillomas can appear almost anywhere on our body, and are most noticeable when they appear on the armpits, face, neck and genitals. Sometimes the process of formation of papillomas is accompanied by itching and burning.
Papillomavirus formations on the body grow in the form of plaques, warts, filiform bumps on the legs. The biggest danger is genital warts, in men they are located on the penis, can grow around the anus or inside the urethra.
At first, these protrusions often look like small pimples, in advanced cases, they can merge with each other to form a cauliflower-like growth.
Genital warts by themselves are unpleasant only because of a cosmetic defect. However, if they are not removed and the papillomatous infection is not treated at all, there is a risk that the changed epithelial cells will turn into cancer.
Sometimes papillomas are injured during sexual intercourse or careless movements, which causes slight bleeding and pain. With the strengthening of the immune system, self-healing often occurs, that is, papillomas disappear or become smaller.
Effects
The consequences of papillomavirus infection for men are very unpleasant and depend on the strain of this microorganism.
If the inner part of the urethra is affected, there is a risk of rapid growth and spread of genital warts inside the urethra. This leads to its partial or complete blockage, which negatively affects the flow of urine and affects the development of disorders in the work of the urinary organs.
The appearance of growths on the head of the penis, around the anus, and in the rectum increases the likelihood of a benign formation becoming malignant.
Rectal cancer is more common in men who have non-traditional sex. When engaging in oral sex, there is a risk of developing papillomas in the throat, which are manifested by various unpleasant sensations.
A man infected with HPV also poses a certain threat to the women around him. For a wife or other sexual partner, such a man will be the most likely source of infection. In the family, there is a risk of infection when using a towel, bath accessories, and there are sisters, mothers, daughters.
Diagnostic methods
Establishing the diagnosis begins with an examination of the external genitalia and the patient's entire body.
The doctor must collect an anamnesis, that is, he must clarify when the formations appeared in the body, what the patient associates with their growth, and determine whether there are certain complaints.
To confirm the diagnosis, the patient must undergo a number of tests, including:
- A swab or scraping from the mucous layer inside the urethra.
- PCR test to determine the type of virus, its quantitative composition. This analysis is performed after taking a smear, prostate secretion or blood.
- Biopsy - the study of a tissue sample taken during the removal of genital warts or from the site of a change in the mucous membrane.
- Ureteroscopy helps to visually check changes in the urethra.
Rectal swabs are recommended for men who are sexually active.
Methods of treatment of papillomavirus in men
The choice of methods of treatment of human papillomavirus in men depends on which strain of the virus is detected in the man.
If a pathogen with high oncogenic activity is detected, then an effective antiviral treatment is prescribed, and the tests must be constantly repeated in the future.
Papillomas and condylomas are removed from the skin and mucous membranes in several ways. It can be either an ordinary scalpel cut or more modern methods - laser treatment, electrocoagulation, radio wave method.
After the removal of papillomas, it is necessary to increase the body's resistance to infections, which reduces the risk of infection with another type of HPV.
Prevention
Prevention of human papillomavirus infection is clear in sexual intercourse and, if possible, sexual intercourse only with reliable partners. Prevention methods include following elementary rules in everyday life, this is the use of only your own towels and underwear, following a healthy lifestyle.
Infection can be prevented by vaccination. A special vaccine against HPV has been developed, it is given three times at certain intervals. The vaccine causes the body to develop immunity against certain papillomavirus strains.