Papillomas on the penis

Most of the time, people are not aware that the human papillomavirus (HPV) is present in their body.This is due to the fact that the papillomavirus is usually present in a latent form, suppressed by natural immunity.Problems arise when it is uncontrolled and begins to actively show itself in the form of growth in different parts of the body.Men are less likely to experience the consequences of the virus than women, however, even for them, the effects can result in serious problems in the form of papillomas on the penis.

Cause

Viral DNA enters the body through microcracks in the skin or mucous membranes.If a man's immunity is weak, the first manifestation of HPV will appear several months after infection.

Up to 80% of transmission cases occur through sexual contact.Barrier contraception minimizes the risk of infection, but does not completely eliminate it.

Other Routes of Infection:

1. Household ways.The virus is transmitted through the personal belongings of the infected person: clothes, hygiene items, etc.The risk of transmission increases if there is damage to the skin, even a small one.This pathway is characterized by infection with low oncogenic virus types.They do not lead to serious health problems, but appear in the form of condylomas, papillomas and warts, creating cosmetic defects.
2. From mother to child.If a mother is infected with HPV during pregnancy and gives birth and gives birth naturally, the child may become infected.

If a man has a good immune defense, the virus is invisible and can remain in the body for a long time in a latent form.Therefore, it is not the infection with the virus itself that is dangerous, but the weakness of the immune system, which leads to the activation of HPV.

There are several factors that affect the possibility of strengthening the virus:

• chronic diseases;
• hormonal problems;
• improperly selected contraception or its complete absence;
• viral infection;
• alcohol, smoking or long-term antibiotic use;
• frequent stress.

All these factors have a negative effect on the immune system.If in a man's life there is not one provoking factor, but several, this will lead to a more rapid development of the papillomavirus.

Symptoms

Often papillomas appear only externally, but in some cases they can occurNon-specific symptoms:

• itching and burning during sex;
• pain when touching papillomas;
• accumulation of urine in the folds of the penis;
• Unpleasant odor in the affected area.

In addition, neoplasms can grow and not only affect the penile area, but also appear in the anus and pubis.

What are papillomas like?

Papilloma on the penis is a small neoplasm.At first, it may appear on its own, but without proper treatment, the number of papillomas increases.At the same time, they can merge with each other.

Such new growth resembles a bloated or pink lily of the valley.Most often they are localized in the foreskin area, on the head and frenulum.Less commonly, they are diagnosed in the urethra and scrotum.Papillomas can also appear as small white pimples that appear in long rows.This form is typical for localization in the frenulum area.

One of the manifestations of HPV is Buschke-Levenshtein Condyloma.It is characterized by rapid growth, unusual size and resistance to various types of treatment.Its appearance is due to several existing papillomas and condylomas, which join together and form a large affected area.The presence of Buschke-Levenshtein condyloma is dangerous because the cells transformed by it can easily develop into cancer.

Which doctor should I contact?

As a rule, a urologist diagnoses papillomas in men.You can also consult a dermatovenerologist or proctologist if you have condylomas in the anal area.However, to remove papillomas, they are usually referred to a surgeon.Overall, diagnostics occurs in several stages:

1. Urologists examine and interview patients.An oral interview is needed to assess the patient's lifestyle and determine the cause of the infection with the virus.Visual examination involves not only assessing the condition of the penis, but also the adjacent organs - the scrotum, the anal area.This is necessary to complete the picture of virus localization.
2. Submit a smear from the urethra.Determine the presence of various sexually transmitted diseases.
3. PCR.This analysis not only shows the presence of HPV in the body, but also the possibility of determining its type.
4. Meatoscopy.This procedure is an examination of the urethra if the papillomavirus has affected the frenulum.
5. After papilloma removalThe doctor may order a biopsyto assess the condition of isolated tumors.This is necessary to eliminate the risk of cancer and ensure that the papilloma is benign.

In this case, it is advisable to check both partners.Usually the woman is also infected with one of the types of papillomavirus.If only one man is treated, he may get sick again after a while.

Why are papillomas dangerous?

Human papillomavirus is often accompanied by other related diseases.The appearance of papillomas in the glans penile area contributes to the accumulation of urine in the folds.This creates conditions for the emergence and growth of various microorganisms, which then lead to infection.They can trigger erosion around the papilloma, and also contribute to inflammation of the urethra and testicles.The disease is characterized by problems with urination, pain and high fever.

Another danger is injury to the tumor, which leads to bleeding.This is due to the fact that many blood vessels form around the papillomas, which supply them with blood.Even small damage can cause infection due to trauma.

Also, the neoplasm can rub when moving, which causes pain and discomfort to the man.

HPV and Cancer

When the virus is just beginning to spread, neoplasms are rare and benign.Without treatment, they grow and merge with each other.Over time, the cells degenerate into malignant ones.The risk of cancer is very high if a man is infected with a highly oncogenic type of virus - 16 or 18.They contribute to the development of penile and bladder cancer.

Papilloma treatment

Treatment of HPV involves not only removing its external manifestations, but also strengthening the immune system, which should prevent the manifestation of the virus.To maintain immunity, immunostimulating drugs are used.

Ointment that suppresses the multiplication of viruses and removes small growths is effective as an antiviral drug.It does not always cope with the task of complete removal, but it prevents the appearance of new growth.To stimulate the immune system, antiviral ointment is prescribed.The ointment does not remove papillomas, but helps to activate the cells of the immune system, which stops their growth and development.

Removal method

There are several ways to get rid of tumors that appear:

1. Laser removal.Papilloma is exposed to a laser beam, which literally burns the growth.A crust forms on this site and falls off after a few weeks.This method is considered effective due to the absence of relapse.Removal is performed under anesthesia.In this case, there is no bleeding, no scars or scars left.
2. Cryodestruction.Papillomas exposed to liquid nitrogen.It immediately freezes the desired area, the neoplasm on it is destroyed and dies.The disadvantage of this method is the inability to control the depth of cryodestruction.A crust also remains at the site of the removed papilloma, disappearing after some time.
3. Radiosurgery.The principle of operation of this method is similar to laser removal.Radio waves do not leave scars, and the procedure is preceded by preliminary anesthesia using a special spray.After that there were no complications, and the body recovered quickly.
4. Electrocoagulation.This growth is exposed to an electric current, which removes the stalk, after which the papilloma disappears.If necessary, superficial anesthesia can be used.The procedure takes a few minutes, is extensive and affordable.But this method can leave scars after healing.
5. Surgical intervention.It is used in rare cases when the tumor becomes too large.It is performed under anesthesia and is characterized by long healing and traumatization.The good thing about this method is that it allows you to preserve the removed growth for histological examination.

The price of each method depends on the complexity of the work, the size and number of papillomas to be removed.

Before choosing any method, consult your doctor.He will tell you what is best to use in your situation and tell you in detail how the procedure is carried out.Also, after removing the tumor, it is advisable to take material for histology.This is necessary to determine whether the process of degeneration of a benign neoplasm into a malignant one has begun.This method will help detect early cell changes and prevent the spread of cancer.