Warts on the penis: causes, symptoms, treatment.

Penile warts are small growths found on the foreskin, frenulum, glans, or shaft of the penis. They are also called genital warts. It causes the pathology of the papillomavirus of certain strains, which is prone to recurrent manifestations and is never completely eliminated from the body.

Causes of wart formation on the penis in men

Causes of wart formation.

Warts are viral growths caused by the human papillomavirus. HPV is a large group of pathogenic microorganisms. About 100 strains of this pathogen have been studied. Furthermore, these viruses are divided into different categories based on the level of oncogenicity.

According to rough estimates, around 90% of the world's population is infected with one or another type of papillomavirus. Pathogens live very little in the external environment and die quickly. Most of the time it is transmitted through sexual contact, less frequently in everyday life or from mother to child. Viral agents are located in the superficial layer of the mucous membranes and the epidermis.

Regarding warts on the penis in men, they are caused by strains 6 and 11. These viruses are responsible for genital warts. These are conditionally non-oncogenic types, which can very rarely cause malignant neoplasms.

For the virus to enter the body, direct contact of the infected skin or mucous membrane with healthy skin is necessary. This usually happens during unprotected sex. The risk of infection increases if there are microtraumas on the surface of the body: abrasions, cracks, scratches. The virus penetrates these damages with particular ease and speed.

The multiplication of HPV occurs in the deep layers of the skin within the cells of the human epidermis. As the disease progresses, the epithelial cells are moved upward with viral agents. Then, the papilloma virus reaches the surface of the skin and causes rapid chaotic growth of epidermal cells. This leads to the formation of warts on the penis.

A distinctive feature of the papillomavirus is that it can lie dormant for a long time in the deep layers of the dermis. Several factors can trigger your progress. For example, weakening of the immune system, hypothermia, taking antibiotics, stress, overwork, poor diet, vitamin deficiency, hormonal imbalance, etc.

However, even when the virus is latent, a person is potentially dangerous in terms of transmitting HPV to their partners. Knowing the causes of warts on the penis, we can conclude that these formations can appear both in adolescents who have recently started having sexual intercourse and in older people.

Symptoms and types of warts on the penis

Types of warts

In most male patients, warts on the penis, as a rule, do not manifest themselves in any way. Most of the time they form in places prone to injury during intercourse. Therefore, neoplasms can be found on the head, frenulum, and foreskin. Less often, they appear on the shaft of the penis and scrotum, the testicles.

Warts on the penis usually look like small growths of a pinkish, beige, whitish hue, 2-30 mm in size. They can be single or scattered in groups, forming cockscomb-like neoplasms.

In the active growth phase, when the immune system fails, warts on the penis can cause itching and burning in the affected area. In addition, neoplasms are sometimes palpable during intercourse. In the normal state, these growths are painless and do not bring any significant discomfort.

Often, condylomas do not affect a limited area of ​​the genitalia, but rather large areas. Therefore, often the warts on the head of the penis gradually spread over the groin area and affect the anus.

The types of warts on the penis depend on the strain of the virus that infects the man, as well as its location.

Let's consider their main types:

  • In the foreskin area, neoplasms have the appearance of tubercles that are a shade lighter than the skin. Sometimes they have a thin leg. Initially, individual warts appear, over time, clumps of genital warts can form.
  • In the frenulum, warts appear as small whitish nodules in a chaotic arrangement.
  • Warts on the glans penis look like pale pink finger-shaped growths. They usually form clusters similar to broccoli inflorescences.
  • Giant Buschke-Levenschein tumors can sometimes form on the shaft of the penis. They are several warts that have grown together. This is a rare but dangerous pathology that is fraught with malignant transformation, since the cells of the neoplasm are prone to rapid mutation.

If suspicious growths are found on the penis, a man should immediately contact a specialist. The urologist examines and interviews the patient. In addition to the penis, the urologist should examine the scrotum, perianal area, and groin. Usually a visual exam is sufficient to make a diagnosis. In some cases, the doctor may refer the man for additional tests.

To identify the pathogen strain and risk of oncogenicity, the patient must donate blood for a PCR test. Also, if the frenulum is damaged, a meatoscopy procedure may be needed to determine the presence of warts in the urethra.

It should be remembered that warts on the head of the penis and scrotum can be similar to neoplasms of a different nature. For example, papullosis in the second stage of syphilis is also characterized by the appearance of small neoplasms. To exclude other sexually transmitted diseases, it is necessary to get tested for common genital infections: syphilis, HIV, chlamydia, trichomoniasis, etc.

Danger of warts on the penis in men

Danger of warts

Initially, warts on the penis represent, rather, an aesthetic defect than a serious pathology that threatens the health of a man. However, this does not mean that they do not need treatment. If you let the disease run its course, it can lead to more serious problems in the future.

The danger of these neoplasms is as follows:

  • Development of phimosis.In this condition, the foreskin fuses with the head of the penis. Because of this, problems with normal sperm discharge can arise, pathogens accumulate in the space under the foreskin, and inflammatory processes can occur.
  • Inflammation of the head, shaft of the penis.This pathology is a complication of the condition described above, when bacteria penetrate under the foreskin and spread further.
  • Erosions on the genitals.Most of the time they develop as a result of systematic trauma to warts on the penis. This happens during intercourse, shaving, wearing tight underwear.
  • Degeneration of neoplasms in cancerous tumors.This is rare, but there is a potential danger, especially if the warts on the penis are often damaged.

Also, don't forget that active neoplasms are dangerous in terms of infecting partners. Also, even condoms cannot always protect a person from infection.

Treatment methods for penile warts

Since the appearance of warts on the penis is directly related to a general decrease in immunity, the treatment of this pathology must be complex and combined. Basically, in connection with neoplasms, various methods of destruction are used. To increase immunity and suppress the virus, drugs are used.

Ways to remove warts from the penis

Disposal methods

Instrumental and chemical methods are used to remove warts from the penis. It is worth remembering that by themselves these growths are extremely rare, and therefore they will have to be removed if a man seeks to minimize the risk of complications.

There are several ways to get rid of warts on the penis:

  • Laser destruction.The laser beam evaporates the fluid from the build-up, dries, becomes covered with a scab and falls off after a few days. As a general rule, no traces remain on the treatment site. The procedure is painless, rarely leading to relapses and complications.
  • Cryo removal.Liquid nitrogen, which has a low temperature, is applied promptly to the neoplasm and leads to its frostbite and subsequent death. After treatment, a scab forms at the site of the accumulation, which also disappears after a few days along with the rest of the formation.
  • Radiosurgical removal.The neoplasm is affected by radio waves, which destroy the accumulated tissue. This is one of the most accurate, effective and safest ways to remove warts from the penis. After removal of radio waves, no trace remains on the skin.
  • Electrocoagulation.At a certain frequency, a current is applied to the electrode, destroying the formation. This procedure to remove warts on the penis can cause burns and later scars. Therefore, it is prescribed with caution.
  • Surgical excision.If the wart on the penis is too large, the technique of cutting it with a scalpel can be used in extreme cases. But they rarely resort to such an operation, as there is a risk of severe bleeding and spread of the infection. Also, a complete circular excision of the foreskin is indicated for extensive wart lesions.

The doctor may also prescribe chemical removal. The procedure is carried out with the use of cauterizing drugs.

Before curing warts on the penis with chemicals, it is imperative to consult a doctor, since these funds have a number of contraindications, and their improper use threatens complications.

Medications for penile warts

To eliminate the risk of recurrence of warts on the head of the penis or other parts of the genitals, it is necessary to take care of the increase in immunity, as well as the suppression of the virus in the body. For this purpose, several groups of drugs are used: antivirals and immunomodulators.

Also with HPV it is important to stimulate the work of the body's defenses, which for some reason are in a depressive state. Immunity will actively fight the pathogen and reduce the risk of warts reappearing on the penis.

It should be understood that drug therapy cannot completely solve the problem of warts on the penis. To get rid of them, it is necessary to resort to instrumental techniques for removing growths.

Home remedies for warts on the penis

Home remedies

If you are thinking about how to treat warts on the penis, you may find help in traditional medicine. However, remember to use these techniques only after consulting your doctor. Self-medication can be at least in vain and, in the worst case, lead to serious complications.

The following tools are popular:

  • Tea tree oil.Powerful herbal antiviral agent that helps suppress the activity of pathogens. It is necessary to rub the substance on the warts on the head of the penis several times a day, every day until the growth is completely removed.
  • Propolis.Another natural medicine that helps fight viruses. To remove warts on the penis, apply the substance to growths before bed every day for 10 to 14 days.
  • Egg white.It is necessary to take raw protein and lubricate the neoplasm with it several times a day.
  • Table vinegar.Acid actively corrodes pathological tissues and therefore you must be careful with it so as not to damage neighboring healthy areas. You need to lubricate carefully and on time.
  • Rowan juice.The acidic substance contains phytoncides that have antiviral effects. Lubricate with freshly squeezed liquid warts on the penis every day.

The recipes above are suitable only if you know for sure that you are dealing with HPV and the neoplasm is small and unique. Otherwise, you can not do without special therapy.

Prevention of warts on the penis

Prevention

Prompt treatment of warts on the penis significantly reduces the risk of complications and recurrence in the future. It is also a way to avoid passing the virus to your sexual partner.

One of the most effective prevention methods is vaccination with special multipurpose vaccines. They act against pathogens of types 6, 11, 16 and 18, exactly those that cause the appearance of genital warts.

Although a condom cannot guarantee 100% protection against HPV, it must be used as it reduces the risk of infection by 20-30%. It even protects against other sexually transmitted infections.

If a man is already infected with HPV, then it is necessary to adhere to the rules of a healthy lifestyle to reduce the risk of warts on the penis. It is important to suppress exacerbations of chronic ailments in a timely manner, eat well, engage in physical activity, and maintain immunity in a "combat readiness" state.

If you are thinking about how to remove warts from the penis, consult a doctor immediately. Self-medication in this case can only do harm. The procedure to remove neoplasms is quick and almost painless. In addition, it is important to strengthen the protective functions of the body to avoid relapses in the future.