The human papillomavirus (HPV) manifests in the body with various ailments, depending on the type and location. It can lie dormant for a long time without causing disease, and then, for no apparent reason, appear in the form of various growths on the skin or mucous membranes.
Papillomas on the penis: causes
Papillomas, condylomas or warts may be harmless, but their danger lies in the fact that the altered epithelial cells can degenerate into cancer cells. Therefore, if papillomas have arisen on the penis, you should immediately consult a doctor for the diagnosis of the disease and timely treatment.
What is
HPV is a large group of intracellular DNA-containing pathogenic microorganisms, which are divided into twenty-seven species, five families, and more than one hundred strains.
They are also distinguished by the degree of risk of malignancy (oncogenic properties). According to statistics, these viruses affect more than ninety percent of adults. Papillomaviruses exist and develop only within the human body. They are transmitted more often through sex than other viruses. HPVs do not have a shell, but exhibit exceptional vitality and can exist for some time in the external environment. Pathogenic microorganisms are located in the basal layer of the skin or mucous membranes.
Papillomas on the penis are often caused by a group of viruses that can quickly cause the process of malignancy. In this sense, they are often called a precancerous condition or the first step towards the development of oncology. In this case, doctors can prescribe the Helixor drug to the patient.
What are
Genital papilloma is a small neoplasm. The growths are similar in appearance to cauliflower, mushrooms, or cockscombs. You can see what the pathological growths of the epithelium look like in the photo. Most of the time they can be seen on the foreskin, bridle and glans of the penis, less frequently on the shaft of the penis or scrotum.
- On the foreskin, you can see genital warts, which are light in color and have a thin stem. At first, unique elements are found, but as the disease develops, they grow and become similar to cauliflower.
- If papillomas appear on the penis in the frenulum area, then they can be seen as small white pimples, located in several rows.
- Pale pink hairy growths can be seen on the head of the penis. They represent multiple growths, as well as on the foreskin.
- One type of ailment caused by HPV in the genital tract, scrotum, or groin is a giant Buschke-Levinstein condyloma. It is classified as a precancerous condition, as the altered cells grow rapidly.
Occurrence reasons
Viral agents that cause papillomas on the penis penetrate the epithelium through microcracks in the skin or mucous membranes. The main path is sexual contacts of any form. You can also be infected with the papillomavirus domestically, if you use personal hygiene items, for example, towels from a person infected with HPV. The risk of contracting the virus is high in public places such as bathrooms, swimming pools, showers. The causative agent of the disease is not immediately revealed.
The latency period can last from several months to a year. Also, if a man is healthy and has a high level of immune protection, it is possible that the disease does not manifest itself and the person simply becomes a carrier of the virus. The impetus for the reproduction of the papillomavirus and the appearance of papillomas on the penis is a decrease in immunity.
Therefore, there are two reasons for the formation of growths in the genital organ:
- papillomavirus infection;
- HPV activation, due to weakened immunity.
Factors that cause it:
- frequent change of sexual partners;
- lack of contraception when having sex;
- chronic diseases in the genitourinary sphere;
- hormonal disorders;
- AIDS or HIV infection;
- frequent hypothermia;
- viral infections, persistent colds;
- prolonged intoxication of the body (receptionantibiotics, alcohol consumption, smoking, etc. );
- stress, unhealthy diet and similar factors that negatively affect the immune system.
Papillomas on the glans: symptoms and diagnosis
HPV masses on the penis are generally not symptomatic. Men often do not even notice the activity of the papilloma virus. Papillomas on the head of the penis can reveal themselves, manifested by itching or burning during intercourse.
If the pathological formations have grown and become noticeable, this can cause discomfort in a man due to the non-aesthetic appearance of the penis. Papillomas located on the head of the penis can cause phimosis, which is accompanied by the corresponding symptoms. In the case of oncogenic formations, when the growths reach large sizes, men may complain of pain in the affected area and a foul odor.
Diagnosis
If a man sees suspicious formations on his penis, he should rule out false shame and seek medical help. Diagnostic measures to identify papilloma on the head of the penis are carried out by a urologist. Carefully compile the anamnesis: question and examine the patient.
In addition to the penis, the doctor examines the scrotum, groin and anal area, that is, those places where the virus can be located. If the urologist discovers papillomas on the head of a man's penis, he prepares him for tests to determine the type of virus. If the frenulum is affected, a meatoscopy may be required, which is done to identify HPV lesions in the urethra.
Men take a swab from the urethra for cytological examination, which determines the type of viral agent. The presence and type of virus can be detected with a probability of up to ninety-five percent using the polymerase chain reaction method. Any fluid (blood or the contents of the urethra) is suitable as a test medium.
Condylomas on the penis: the danger of pathology
Once the disease is diagnosed, the doctor will prescribe the appropriate treatment. Do not self-medicate, as this may not be effective and dangerous. If the disease is not treated, non-aesthetic warts on the penis can cause more serious problems.
Why are papillomas on the penis dangerous?
- In the first stage of papilloma development, phimosis can occur, which is characterized by the fusion of the foreskin with the head of the penis. If this condition is not treated, the following complication occurs, caused by the accumulation of smegma in the space between the head and the foreskin.
- Inflammation of the head and shaft of the penis, due to the entry of pathogenic bacteria under the inner leaves of the foreskin.
- The appearance of erosive defects on the head and foreskin, the degeneration of altered epithelial cells into cancerous ones.
Why are they dangerous for a woman?
A man with papillomas on the genitals, first of all, becomes a source of infection for the woman. If the papilloma virus has entered the genitals of a woman, then, as a rule, its activity is very difficult to notice at the initial stage of the disease. Oncogenic virus types are especially dangerous as they cause cervical cancer. If a woman does not undergo a preventive examination, oncology is already detected in the later stages of cancer development.
How to transform into cancer
Early in papilloma development, single benign neoplasms are noted. They then increase in number and combine with each other, creating a single conglomerate. If the disease is not treated, over time, the altered cells can degenerate into malignant ones. The risk of degeneration of cancer education increases tenfold if the virus type is oncogenic.
Therefore, it is very important to receive the diagnosis in a medical center. The most common oncogenic HPVs that cause genital warts are the sixteenth or eighteenth types. They cause cancer of the penis, cervix, and bladder.
How to get rid of papillomas on the penis: treatment and prevention
Since the appearance of pathological growths on the genitals is preceded by decreased immunity, treatment must be complex. The growths themselves are removed by surgery or cauterization. Medicines that contain a component that blocks the development and reproduction of viral agents, for example, Viferon, Acyclovir, Epigen-intim, and similar drugs, help fight viruses.
In addition to antiviral drug therapy, the doctor prescribes immunomodulators, vitamin complexes, and gives recommendations on a healthy diet and lifestyle. It is important to identify all the factors that led to the activation of the virus and eliminate them. Therefore, before deciding how to get rid of papillomas on the penis, you need to undergo a thorough examination of your health.
Delete
Genital growths don't go away on their own, so radical treatment is required to get rid of them. There are several methods to remove unsightly growths.
- Laser removal. Papillomas are melted with a laser beam, leaving a scab in their place, which naturally disappears after two weeks.
- Cryodestruction. Neoplasms are cauterized with liquid nitrogen. In addition, as in the first case, a scab remains, which after a while disappears without a trace.
- Radiosurgery. Papilloma is affected by radio waves. The method is considered the most accurate, safe and does not cause complications.
- Electrocoagulation. The growth is removed by an electrical current that is applied at a certain frequency. This method of removal can cause complications in the form of tissue scars.
- Elimination of chemicals. The method consists in cauterizing the papilloma with medical solutions - Condolin or Solkoderm. Medications are applied by healthcare professionals. After a course of treatment, the neoplasms dry up and disappear.
- Treatment with ointments. If the growths are minor, you can use an ointment to remove them. Oxolinic ointment or Aldara medicine will help to cope with the papilloma virus.
How to get rid of papillomas on the penis, by cryodestruction or with the help of drugs, the doctor decides, taking into account the individual characteristics of the patient. Procedures to get rid of neoplasms do not require anesthesia and are positive in ninety-five percent of cases. Sometimes relapses happen in the same place.
Unconventional methods
The answer to the question of how to get rid of papillomas on the penis can be found in the recipes of traditional medicine. It should be borne in mind that the use of such methods must necessarily be agreed with the attending physician. Otherwise, the treatment may be in vain, time will be lost, and this will lead to complications.
Popular folk recipes:
- Tea tree oil, rubbed into the affected area every day, will help remove buildup until the wart is gone;
- good treatment results can be achieved if propolis is applied to the papilloma;
- the simplest way is to lubricate the neoplasms with egg white;
- Vinegar will help remove papillomas, which must be carefully cauterized against growth once a day;
- can get rid of small formations using the juice obtained from rowan berries (lubricate);
- Be careful when applying ammonia lotion, as it can burn thin skin.
These recipes will help get rid of newly appeared neoplasms that have not had time to grow. If the papilloma has already formed and strongly protrudes on the skin, it must be removed by radical methods.
Prevention
The surest ways to rule out an unpleasant and dangerous illness are safe sex and good personal hygiene. If these conditions are violated, preventive measures should be aimed at maintaining a sufficient level of immunity so that the virus does not show activity in the body.
You can have a positive effect on immunity if you cure chronic diseases, eat well, play sports, moderate, and treat infectious diseases in time. It is important to give up bad habits that lead to intoxication of the body. To prevent papillomas from causing complications, men should regularly visit a urologist to identify the initial signs of the disease.