Papillomas on the penis

Most of the time, people are not aware that the human papilloma virus (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 gets out of control and begins to actively manifest itself in the form of growths on different parts of the body.Men suffer from the consequences of the virus less often than women, however, even among them, its action can result in serious problems in the form of papillomas on the penis.

Causes

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

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

Other routes of infection:

1. Household.The virus is transmitted through the personal belongings of an infected person: clothes, hygiene items, etc.The risk of transmission increases if there is damage to the skin, even minor ones.This path is characterized by infection with low-oncogenic types of viruses.They do not lead to serious health problems, but appear in the form of condylomas, papillomas and warts, creating a cosmetic defect.
2. From mother to child.If the mother was infected with HPV during pregnancy and childbirth and gave birth naturally, there is a high probability that the child will be infected.

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

There are a number of factors that affect the possibility of the virus strengthening:

• chronic diseases;
• hormonal problems;
• wrongly chosen contraception or its complete absence;
• viral infections;
• alcohol, smoking or long-term use of antibiotics;
• frequent stress.

All these factors negatively affect the immune system.If there is not one provoking factor in a man's life, but several, this will lead to a faster development of the papilloma virus.

Symptoms

Often, papillomas appear only on the outside, but in some cases they can appearnon-specific symptoms:

• itching and burning during sexual intercourse;
• pain when touching the papilloma;
• accumulation of urine in the folds of the penis;
• unpleasant odor in the affected area.

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

What do papillomas look like?

Papilloma on the penis is a small neoplasm.At first, it can appear on its own, but without proper treatment, the number of papillomas increases.They can be connected to each other at the same time.

Such growths are reminiscent of flesh-colored or pink blossoms.They are most often localized in the area of the foreskin, head and frenulum.They are less often diagnosed in the urethra and scrotum.Papillomas can also appear as small white bumps 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 fast growth, extraordinary size and resistance to different types of treatment.Its appearance is the result of several existing papillomas and condylomas, which merge and form one large affected area.The presence of Buschke-Levenshtein condyloma is dangerous because the cells changed by it can easily develop into cancer.

Which doctor should I contact?

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

1. The urologist examines and interviews the patient.An oral interview is necessary to assess the patient's lifestyle and determine the cause of the virus infection.The visual examination includes not only the assessment of the condition of the penis, but also of the adjacent organs - the scrotum, the anal area.This is necessary in order to complete the picture of the localization of the virus.
2. Submission of a swab from the urethra.It determines the presence of various sexually transmitted diseases.
3. PCR.This analysis not only shows the presence of HPV in the body, but also most likely determines its type.
4. Meatoscopy.This procedure is an examination of the urethra if the papillomavirus has invaded the frenulum.
5. After papilloma removalthe doctor may order a biopsyto assess the condition of a distant tumor.This is necessary to eliminate the risk of cancer and ensure that the papilloma is benign.

In this case, it is advisable to examine both partners.Usually, a woman is also infected with one of the types of papillomavirus.If only a man is treated, he will probably 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 area of the glans penis contributes to the accumulation of urine in the folds.This creates the conditions for the emergence and growth of various microorganisms, which then leads to infections.They can cause erosion around papillomas, and also contribute to inflammation of the urethra and testicles.These diseases are 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 are formed around the papillomas, which supply them with blood.Even minor damage can lead to infection due to trauma.

Also, neoplasms can rub when moving, which causes pain and discomfort to a person.

HPV and cancer

When the virus just starts 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 especially high if a man is infected with highly oncogenic types of viruses - 16 or 18.They contribute to the development of penile and bladder cancer.

Treatment of papillomas

Treatment of HPV includes not only removing its external manifestations, but also strengthening the immune system, which should block the manifestations of the virus.Immunostimulating drugs are used to maintain immunity.

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

Removal methods

There are several ways to get rid of new tumors:

1. Laser removal.The papilloma is exposed to a laser beam, which completely burns the growth.A crust forms in this place and falls off after a few weeks.The method is considered effective due to the absence of recurrence.Removal is performed under anesthesia.In this case, there is no bleeding, no scars or scars remain.
2. Cryodestruction.Papillomas are exposed to liquid nitrogen.Instantly 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, which disappears after a while.
3. Radiosurgery.The working principle of this method is similar to laser removal.Radio waves do not leave scars, and the procedure is preceded by preliminary anesthesia with a special spray.After that, there are no complications, and the body recovers quickly.
4. Electrocoagulation.The growth is exposed to electric current, due to which the stem is eliminated, after which the papilloma disappears.If necessary, surface anesthesia can be used.The procedure takes a few minutes, is widespread 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 save 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 will tell you in detail how the procedure is carried out.Also, after removal of the tumor, it is desirable to take material for histology.This is necessary in order to determine whether the process of degeneration of benign neoplasms into malignant ones has started.This method will help detect early cell changes and prevent cancer from spreading.