Papilloma on the penis

Most often, people are not aware 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 appear in the form of growths in different parts of the body.Men are less likely to suffer from the consequences of the virus than women, however, even for them, its effect 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 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. The home way.The virus is transmitted through the personal items of an infected person: clothing, hygiene items, etc.The risk of transmission increases if there is damage to the skin, even minor.This pathway is characterized by infection with low oncogenic virus types.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 child.If a mother was infected with HPV during pregnancy and childbirth and gave birth naturally, the child is more likely to be infected.

If a man has good immune protection, 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 affect the possibility of strengthening the virus:

• chronic diseases;
• hormonal problems;
• wrongly chosen contraception or its complete absence;
• viral infections;
• alcohol, smoking or long-term use of antibiotics;
• frequent stress.

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

Symptoms

Often papillomas appear only externally, but in some cases they can appearnon-specific symptoms:

• itching and burning during intercourse;
• pain when you touch the papillomas;
• accumulation of urine in the folds of the penis;
• unpleasant smell in the affected area.

In addition, neoplasms can grow and affect not only the penile 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 proper treatment, the number of papillomas increases.At the same time, they can join each other.

Such new growth resembles flesh-colored or pink cauliflower.Most often they are located in the foreskin area, 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 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 several existing papillomas and condylomas, which join together and form a large affected area.The presence of Buschke-Levenshtein condyloma is dangerous because cells changed 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 dermatovenerologist or proctologist if you have condyloma in the anal area.However, to remove papillomas, they are usually referred to a surgeon.In total, the 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 infection with the virus.A visual examination includes not only the assessment of the condition of the penis, but also of the adjacent organs - the scrotum, the anal area.This is necessary to complete the picture of virus localization.
2. Appearance of a stain 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 also most likely determines its type.
4. Meatoscopy.This procedure is an examination of the urethra to see if papillomavirus has affected the frenulum.
5. After removing the papillomathe doctor may order a biopsyto assess the condition of a distant tumor.This is necessary to eliminate the risk of cancer and to make sure 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 area of the glans penis contributes to the accumulation of urine in the folds.This creates conditions for the appearance and growth of various microorganisms, which then 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 with urination, pain and high temperature.

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

Also, neoplasms can rub during movement, which causes pain and discomfort to the man.

HPV and cancer

When the virus just starts to spread, neoplasms are rare and benign.Without treatment, they grow and merge with each other.Over time, the cells degenerate into malignant ones.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

Treatment of HPV includes 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 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 it helps to activate cells of the immune system, which stops their growth and development.

Removal methods

There are several ways to get rid of developing tumors:

1. Laser removal.The papilloma is exposed to a laser beam, which completely burns the growth.A crust forms in this place and falls off after a few weeks.The method is considered effective due to the lack of relapses.The removal is performed under anesthesia.In this case, there is no bleeding, no wounds or scars remain.
2. Cryodestruction.Papillomas are exposed to liquid nitrogen.It immediately 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.A crust also remains at the site of the removed papilloma, disappearing 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.Then there are no complications and the body recovers quickly.
4. Electrocoagulation.The growth is exposed to an electric current, due to which the stem is eliminated, after which the papilloma disappears.If necessary, topical anesthesia can be used.The procedure takes a few minutes, is widespread and affordable.But this method can 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 recovery and traumatization.The advantage of this method is that it allows you to save 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 tell you in detail how the procedure is carried out.Also, after removal of the tumor, it is advisable to take the material for histology.This is necessary to determine whether the process of degeneration of benign to malignant neoplasms has begun.This method will help in the early detection of cell changes and prevent the spread of cancer.