Papillomavirus infection is common all over the world. HPV infection occurs regardless of age and gender, but the course and development of the disease have unique characteristics in men and women.
For the stronger sex, the papillomavirus can cause certain inconveniences in sexual life and provoke the appearance of related health problems.
Causes
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, these are:
- sexual transmission. You can become infected not only through ordinary close contact, but also through oral contact. In gay men, HPV enters through cracks in the skin and rectum through anal contact. Trauma to the mucous membrane during sexual intercourse increases the risk of infection.
- Home route of infection. The virus may be viable for a long time in a humid environment and therefore, transmission is likely to occur in bathrooms, saunas, and personal towels. It describes cases of infection in beauty salons, where the rules for disinfecting manicure sets and other tools are neglected. It is possible for the virus to be transmitted through instruments in dental or surgical rooms.
- From mother to baby during childbirth.
Men who change their sexual partners frequently are more likely to be HPV positive.
It is believed that the younger the girls, the higher the probability of having a papillomavirus in their body - most cases of detected infection occur by the age of 25. Since oral and other forms of sexual intercourse are usually practiced before traditional sex, virgins can also be infected with HPV.
Unfortunately, barrier contraception, that is, condoms, does not give a 100% guarantee of preventing HPV infection. This is because, due to the minimal size of this microorganism, it easily penetrates through the pores of the latex. Naturally, a condom reduces the likelihood of a possible infection, but does not completely eliminate it.
It should also be kept in mind that the microorganism is present in saliva in a certain amount and therefore can be transmitted through kissing.
Men with bad habits have an increased risk of possible HPV infection. With the weakening of the body's defenses after prolonged treatment while taking antibiotics, the probability of infection increases.
symptoms
A man may not even suspect that he is a carrier of the papilloma virus, until the activation of the vital activity of this microorganism occurs. The reason for this change is usually the weakening of the functioning of the immune defense.
Latent transmission of the infection takes anywhere from two weeks to a year, in some cases significantly longer.
Activation of the virus causes some of it to accumulate in a certain place on the skin or mucous membranes. The accumulation and development of the papillomavirus changes the functions of epithelial cells, which leads to a tumor-like process.
Papillomas can occur almost anywhere on our body, most often they become noticeable when they appear on the armpits, face, neck and genitals. Sometimes the process of papilloma formation is accompanied by itching and burning.
Papillomavirus formations on the body grow on the legs in the form of plaques, warts, filiform bumps. The greatest danger are genital warts, they are located on the penis in men, they can grow around the anus or inside the urethra.
At first, these growths often look like small pimples, in advanced cases they can merge with each other to form a growth resembling a cauliflower.
By themselves, genital warts are bothersome only because of a cosmetic defect. But if they are not removed and generally not treated with a papillomatous infection, there is a risk that the altered epithelial cells will turn into cancerous cells.
Sometimes papillomas are injured during sexual intercourse or careless movements, causing slight bleeding and pain. With the strengthening of the immune system, self-healing often occurs, that is, the papillomas disappear or become smaller.
Effects
The consequences of papillomavirus infection for men are very unpleasant and depend on the type of this microorganism.
If the inside 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 obstruction, which negatively affects the outflow of urine and affects the development of disorders in the functioning of the urinary organs.
The appearance of growths on the glans penis, around the anus and in the rectum increases the likelihood of a benign formation becoming malignant.
Rectal cancer is detected more often in men who have unconventional sexual intercourse. When performing oral sex there is a risk of the formation of papillomas, which is manifested by various unpleasant sensations in the throat.
A man infected with HPV also poses a certain danger to the women around him. For a spouse or other sexual partner, such a man will be the most likely source of infection. When a single towel and bathroom accessories are used in the family, there is a risk of infection when sisters, mothers, daughters and sisters are used one by one.
Diagnostic methods
The diagnosis begins with the examination of the external genitalia and the entire body of the patient.
The doctor must necessarily collect an anamnesis, that is, clarify when the formations appeared in the body, what the patient associated their growth with, and whether there were certain complaints.
To confirm the diagnosis, the patient must undergo several tests, these are:
- A swab or scraping of the mucus layer inside the urethra.
- PCR test to determine the type of virus, its quantitative content. This analysis is done after taking a smear, prostate secretion or blood.
- Biopsy - examination of a tissue sample taken during the removal of genital warts or from the site of a change in the mucous layer.
- Ureteroscopy helps to visually examine changes in the urethra.
It is recommended that men with homosexual contacts examine swabs taken from the anal area.
Methods for the treatment of papillomavirus in men
The choice of methods for the treatment of human papillomavirus in men depends on which strain of the virus has been detected in man.
If a pathogen with high oncogenic activity is detected, an effective antiviral therapy is prescribed, and in the future it is necessary to constantly repeat the tests.
Papillomas and condylomas are removed from the skin and mucous membranes in several ways. This can be a traditional scalpel cut or more modern methods - laser therapy, electrocoagulation, radio wave method.
After removal of papillomas, it is necessary to increase the body's resistance to infections, which will reduce the risk of infection with another type of HPV.
prevention
Prevention of human papillomavirus infection is intelligibility in sexual relations and, if possible, only sexual contact with trusted partners. Prevention methods include observance of the basic 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 has been developed against HPV, it is given three times at regular intervals. Vaccination causes the body to develop immunity to certain strains of papillomavirus.