Papillomas on the penis

Very often people are unaware of the presence of human papillomavirus (HPV) in their body.This is due to the fact that 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 in different parts of the body.Men are less susceptible to the consequences of the virus than women, however even for them the effects can cause 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 cases of transmission occur through sexual intercourse.Barrier contraception minimizes the risk of infection, but does not completely eliminate it.

Other routes of infection:

1. Domestic way.The virus is transmitted through the personal effects of an infected person: clothes, hygiene items, etc.The risk of transmission increases if there is even slight damage to the skin.This pathway is characterized by infection with low-oncogenic virus types.They do not lead to serious health problems, but appear in the form of warts, papillomas and warts, creating an aesthetic 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 baby is infected.

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

There are a number of factors that influence the possibility of the virus becoming stronger:

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

All 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 more rapid development of the papillomavirus.

Symptoms

Often papillomas appear only externally, but in some cases they can occurnon-specific 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.

In addition, tumors 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 may appear on its own, but without proper treatment the number of papillomas increases.At the same time, they can merge with each other.

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

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

Which doctor should I contact?

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

1. The urologist examines and interviews the patient.An oral interview is necessary to evaluate the patient's lifestyle and determine the cause of the virus infection.Visual examination involves not only evaluating the condition of the penis, but also of adjacent organs: the scrotum, the anal area.This is necessary to complete the picture of the localization of the virus.
2. Sending a smear from the urethra.Determines the presence of various sexually transmitted diseases.
3. PCR.This analysis not only shows the presence of HPV in the body, but most likely also determines its type.
4. Meatoscopy.This procedure is an examination of the urethra if the papillomavirus has affected the frenulum.
5. After removal of papillomayour doctor may order a biopsyto evaluate 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 appearance and growth of various microorganisms, which subsequently lead to infections.They can cause erosion around the papilloma and also contribute to inflammation of the urethra and testicles.These diseases are characterized by urination problems, pain and high fever.

Another danger is lesion of tumors, which leads to bleeding.This is due to the fact that many blood vessels are formed around papillomas that supply them with blood.Even minor damage can lead to infections due to trauma.

In addition, tumors can rub during movement, causing pain and discomfort to humans.

HPV and cancer

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

Treatment of papillomas

Treatment of HPV involves not only the removal of its external manifestations, but also the strengthening of 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 drug.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 helps activate the cells of the immune system, blocking 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 that completely burns the growth.A scab forms at this point 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.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.At the site of the removed papilloma, a crust also remains, which disappears after some time.
3. Radiosurgery.The principle of operation of this method is similar to laser removal.Radio waves do not leave scars, and the procedure is preceded by preliminary anesthesia using a special spray.There are no complications afterwards and the body recovers quickly.
4. Electrocoagulation.The growth is exposed to an electric current, thanks to 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 economical.But this method can leave scars after healing.
5. Surgery.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 positive aspect of this method is that it allows the removed growth to be preserved 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 explain in detail how the procedure is performed.In addition, after removing the tumor, it is advisable to take material for histology.This is necessary to determine whether the process of degeneration of benign tumors into malignant ones has begun.This method will help detect early cell changes and prevent the cancer from spreading.