Papillomas on the penis

Most of the time, people are unaware that the human papillomavirus (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 are less likely to suffer from the consequences of the virus than women, however, even for them, its effects 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 membranes.If a man's immunity is weakened, the first manifestations of HPV will appear several months after infection.

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

Other routes of infection:

1. Domestic way.The virus is transmitted through the personal belongings of an infected person: clothing, hygiene items, etc.The risk of transmission increases if there is damage to the skin, however small.This pathway is characterized by infection with types of low-oncogenic viruses.They do not cause serious health problems, but appear in the form of condylomas, papillomas and warts, creating a cosmetic defect.
2. From mother to son.If a mother was infected with HPV during pregnancy and childbirth and gave birth naturally, it is very likely that the child is infected.

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

There are several factors that influence the possibility of the virus strengthening:

• chronic diseases;
• hormonal problems;
• incorrectly selected contraception or its complete absence;
• viral infections;
• alcohol, smoking or prolonged use of antibiotics;
• frequent stress.

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

Symptoms

Often papillomas appear only externally, but in some cases they can occurnonspecific symptoms:

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

Furthermore, neoplasms can grow and affect not only the penis area, but also appear in the anus and pubis.

What do papillomas look like?

Papilloma on the penis is a small neoplasm.At first it may appear alone, but without adequate treatment the number of papillomas increases.At the same time, they can merge.

These new growths resemble flesh-colored or pink cauliflower inflorescences.Most often they are located in the foreskin region, on the head and frenulum.Less commonly, they are diagnosed in the urethra and scrotum.Papillomas can also appear as small white pimples that appear in long rows.This form is typical for localization in the frenulum region.

One of the manifestations of HPV is Buschke-Levenshtein condyloma.It is characterized by rapid growth, excellent size and resistance to different types of treatment.Its appearance is due to several existing papillomas and condylomas, which merge and form a large affected area.The presence of Buschke-Levenshtein condyloma is dangerous because the cells altered by it can easily develop into cancer.

Which doctor should I contact?

As a rule, a urologist diagnoses papillomas in men.You can also consult a dermatovenereologist or proctologist if you have condylomas in the anal area.However, to remove papillomas, they are usually referred to a surgeon.In total, diagnosis 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.A visual examination involves not only assessing the condition of the penis, but also the adjacent organs - the scrotum and anal region.This is necessary to complete the picture of the location of the virus.
2. Sending a swab from the urethra.Determines the presence of several sexually transmitted diseases.
3. PCR.This analysis not only shows the presence of HPV in the body, but also probably determines its type.
4. Meatoscopy.This procedure is an examination of the urethra if the papillomavirus has affected the frenulum.
5. After papilloma removalthe doctor may order a biopsyto assess the condition of a remote 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 the woman is also infected with one of the types of papillomavirus.If only one man is treated, he is likely to 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 glans area contributes to the accumulation of urine in the folds.This creates conditions for the emergence and growth of various microorganisms, which subsequently lead to infections.They can provoke erosion around the papilloma and also contribute to inflammation of the urethra and testicles.These diseases are characterized by problems urinating, pain and high fever.

Another danger is damage to tumors, which leads to bleeding.This is due to the fact that many blood vessels form around the papillomas, which supply them with blood.Even minor damage can cause infection due to trauma.

In addition, neoplasms can rub when moving, which causes pain and discomfort to men.

HPV and cancer

When the virus has just begun to spread, neoplasms are rare and benign.Without treatment, they grow and fuse together.Over time, the cells degenerate into malignant cells.The risk of cancer is especially high if a man is infected with highly oncogenic types of the virus - 16 or 18.They contribute to the development of penile and bladder cancer.

Treatment of papillomas

HPV treatment involves not only removing its external manifestations, but also strengthening the immune system, which should block the manifestations of the virus.To maintain immunity, immunostimulating drugs are used.

An ointment that suppresses the multiplication of the virus 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.To stimulate the immune system, an antiviral ointment is prescribed.The ointment does not remove papillomas, but it helps to activate immune cells, which prevent their growth and development.

Removal Methods

There are several ways to get rid of emerging tumors:

1. Laser removal.The papilloma is exposed to a laser beam, which completely burns the growth.A scab forms at this location and falls off after a few weeks.The method is considered effective due to the absence of relapses.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.It instantly freezes the desired area, the neoplasm 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, disappearing after some time.
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.Afterwards there are no complications and the body recovers quickly.
4. Electrocoagulation.The growth is exposed to an electric current, with the help of which the stalk is eliminated, after which the papilloma disappears.If necessary, superficial anesthesia can be used.The procedure takes a few minutes, is widespread and accessible.But this method may leave scars after healing.
5. Surgical intervention.It is used in rare cases when the tumor becomes very large.It is done under anesthesia and is characterized by long healing and trauma.The good thing about this method is that it allows you to preserve 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.Furthermore, after removing the tumor, it is advisable to take the material for histology.This is necessary to determine whether the process of degeneration of benign neoplasms into malignant ones has begun.This method will help detect early cellular changes and prevent the spread of cancer.