Many people who have never encountered human papillomavirus are strongly advised, if possible, to undergo a proper test to detect this disease. If the symptoms of the pathology began to appear, the delivery of this analysis is a mandatory measure. A viral disease of this type in men and women can appear as a result of transmission from another person in the following ways:
- Unprotected sex (transmission by kissing is also possible - in case of sores in the oral cavity and lips).
- During childbirth - from mother to baby.
- The virus can also enter the body of an unsuspecting person in the domestic area in places where there are many people: public restrooms, swimming pools, bathhouses. Therefore, it is highly recommended not to use other people's hygiene items.
This disease is not transmitted genetically through DNA. Therefore, the main risk of infection is ignoring the basic rules of hygiene, with unprotected sexual contact, with thoughtless sexual intercourse, as well as a weak immune system. A certain increase in the risk of infection occurs when a person has bad habits.
Important!If there is no carrier, in nature the HPV pathogen cannot survive long (less than 1 day), but usually this is enough to infect a person.
If there is a desire to have a blood test for HPV, you will first need to contact the clinic as one of the highly specialized doctors can issue the proper referral.
There are more than 100 types of HPV, and more than half of them pose no danger to humans, but some varieties are considered oncogenic, therefore, with prolonged development, they can cause cancer.
The papilloma virus is incredibly often transmitted from person to person sexually. Also, with unprotected contact, the probability of transmitting this particular virus is extremely high (compared to other STIs). In recent years, as doctors note, the number of cases has been increasing exponentially every year.
This disease is particularly dangerous for the weak half of humanity, because it often causes the development of cervical cancer, as well as other cancerous pathologies in women. The older the woman, the greater the risk of developing cancer. In men, the papilloma virus, developing in the genitourinary system, often leads to problems with erection, irreversible infertility, as well as cancerous pathologies of the urogenital system. Therefore, preventive testing is the right and rational decision.
What analysis to pass on the human papillomavirus?
A highly specialized expert can determine what kind of analysis you need to go through and what actions you need to take to do so. You can get professional advice on this matter from various doctors: dermatologist, urologist, gynecologist.
At the moment, there are several popular and effective methods that allow not only to identify the presence of a viral disease in a person, but also to immediately assign it to a certain type - safe or dangerous.
Important!You cannot independently determine which test to do to find HPV in yourself - only a doctor should do this. It will indicate the name of the analysis.
We highlight the following methods applied:
- Colposcopy. A colposcope is used to examine the cervix in detail. During the procedure, the doctor can examine the mucosa of the organ well, obtain a high-quality image of all sites of interest, and even find miniature papillomas and warts (if any).
- Cytology. Cytology is a common method for detecting various pathological diseases of an infectious nature by examining a smear under a microscope. As a result of the study, you can get the results of different classes: the first and second classes will indicate that a person has no problems with this virus; the third class is the reason for carrying out enlightening studies (usually histology is prescribed); the fourth and fifth classes will indicate the presence of pathological cells. An HPV infectious disease using cytology is diagnosed if cells modified in a special way are found in a human smear.
- Histology, the study of biopaths. To examine a sample using this technology, a specialist takes a small part of their tissue from a person (it's hard to say how they collect it, because each case is different). The studies are carried out under a microscope - modified cells that are affected by a viral infection are also investigated.
- Look for antibodies to HPV. One of the most modern and useful types of search. This is due to the fact that the method involves looking for antibodies to this infectious disease in human blood (in part it is a diagnosis). Antibodies in the human body will appear long before the virus begins its vigorous activity. The method does not allow with a high degree of precision to identify the type of HPV pathology, and also does not indicate the concentration. Human blood, not tissue, is examined in vitro.
- Digene Test. Modern innovative way to detect papilloma virus. With this technology, you can discover all the characteristics of the disease. To obtain material for research, a sample is taken from the mucous membrane of the urethra (men), vagina (women). Often this type of test is prescribed in combination with cytology so that the most accurate data on existing pathology can be obtained.
- PCRThe method is most sought after in cases where it is necessary to investigate the pathology of the papillomavirus with suspected oncology. According to this technology, a person donates blood, urine, a smear of the mucosa (which the doctor will indicate). The method is based on the detection of HPV DNA, so the results obtained on the presence of a disease in a person, or its absence, are incredibly high in accuracy. It is difficult to study the material using this method, so there is a high probability of getting false results if the work is carried out by an inexperienced specialist or if there is a violation of technology.
Important!Regardless of the type of exam and method chosen, for people of any age, the study will be simple and painless.
In cases where the test involves the removal of material from the urethra or vagina, it is necessary to prepare in a certain way: a few days before, you must stop taking any drug with an antiviral or antibacterial effect. A few hours before taking the biomaterial, you need to abandon any hygiene procedures, do not go to the bathroom.
If blood is used to detect the virus, the test must be done on an empty stomach. If you are very thirsty, you can drink some pure water without sugar and carbonated. In order not to get false results, a few days before the study you should give up alcoholic beverages and fatty foods.
Important!It is also recommended to temporarily abstain from sexual intercourse two to three days before sampling any type of biomaterial.
Any tests for the detection of the papilloma virus do not cause difficulties for both patients and doctors: they can be passed quickly and easily, and the results obtained are likely to indicate the presence or absence of pathology. At the same time, it is extremely important to diagnose the presence of the virus as soon as possible, because the sooner the treatment is started, the lower the risks of an oncological form of this pathology.
You can have such an analysis done at any private laboratory or obtain the appropriate referral from the state clinic at the place of registration. The interpretation of the results obtained can only be carried out by a qualified specialist. You should not take the results obtained after the analyzes and study them using the Internet - nothing good will come of it - you will not be able to correctly diagnose yourself.