Penile papillomas are a cause for serious concern in many men of reproductive age. Such formations are not only unaesthetic, but also potentially dangerous to health. And although the structures themselves are benign, the complications of the disease are fraught with consequences until the development of cancer. That is why it is extremely important for men to know what can cause growths, what are the early symptoms of the pathology, how to treat papillomas of the penis. Early diagnosis and selection of the best method of treatment will minimize the risk of complications and prevent the spread of the disease among the patient's relatives.
The causes of penile papillomas
Genital growths occur only when the following factors are combined:
- The man is infected with the papilloma virus (on the penis after infection, for a long time, formations may not appear until the second factor takes effect).
- The weakened immune system of the host organism ceases to contain the pathogen. When activated, the virus begins to destructively affect the process of cell division, which in turn leads to the formation of papilloma of the penis.
Infection occurs mainly through sexual contact, but cases of transmission of the virus in everyday life are not isolated. Warm, humid rooms are a favorable environment for microorganisms, which is why public baths, saunas, gyms and locker rooms are places of possible infection. There is also a vertical route of infection, when a boy becomes infected by his mother during birth. No cases of intrauterine infection of the child have been registered.
As already noted, the presence of a virus in the body does not cause papilloma of the penis; treatment in this case will be aimed at supporting the protective functions of the patient. But as soon as the body stops limiting the pathology, unpleasant growths will start to appear on the genitals.
Human protective functions fail when:
- chronic diseases;
- acute inflammatory processes;
- long-term antibiotic treatment;
- intoxication of the body with alcohol or other substances;
- constant stress and fatigue.
Important! Barrier contraceptives do not provide a complete guarantee of protection against human papillomavirus infection. First, pathogenic microorganisms can penetrate even through the pores of synthetic materials. Second, the infection can occur through areas of the skin that are not protected by contraception, and a person who is unaware of the disease will become a carrier of the infection.
What do penile papillomas look like?
It is possible to detect a virus in its incubation period only with the help of specialized tests. But as soon as the disease enters the active phase, indirect signs will first appear, and then changes in the skin of the reproductive organ will be visible.
The first symptoms of papilloma virus of the penis can be:
- phimosis and excessive secretion in the folds of the foreskin of the penis;
- inflammation of the tissues of the penis;
- erosion of the tissues of the head.
Over time, the patient will see abnormal growths on the genitals on their own. The appearance of the formations depends on the strain of the virus and the location of the papilloma of the penis:
- on the foreskin- small size of the structure of the legs, the color is practically no different from the color of the skin;
- near the bridle- small nipple-like growths can sometimes look like whitish pimples;
- on the head- pointed growths with a light pink tinge;
- on the genital trunk- Bushke-Levinstein warts can form.
Important! The first health problems should be the reason for an immediate visit to the doctor. The single growths grow over time and form large groups, completely or partially disrupting the functions of the organ. Benign lesions can also be malignant.
Features of the diagnosis of papillomas of the penis
Before looking for information on how to treat penile papillomas, it is necessary to accurately diagnose the disease, as the structures in the intimate area can be caused by different types of viruses. If you find symptoms of the disease or after unprotected intercourse, when an infection is suspected, you should contact a urologist or dermatovenerologist. The doctor will perform a visual examination to identify growths, and will also prescribe tests to determine the strain of the virus.
For detailed diagnosis it is necessary to go:
- general blood test;
- PCR test;
- cytology of urinary tract secretion;
- tissue biopsy (mandatory if oncotransformation is suspected).
In some cases, additional consultations with an immunologist, endocrinologist and oncologist may be needed. Only on the basis of the results of an in-depth diagnosis will the best method of how to remove the papillomas of the penis be determined.
Important! An HPV test should be performed on men who are at risk (often changing sexual partners with chronic diseases when other genital infections are diagnosed). Early detection of the virus will avoid papillomas of the penis.
The best ways to treat papillomas of the penis
The treatment of penile papilloma must be performed. Ignoring the problem is the cause of inflammatory processes in the intimate area, pain during intercourse, and over time and with each movement - bleeding, degeneration into oncostructures. It should be understood that the papilloma virus cannot be completely removed from the body. However, choosing the best method of treatment will allow you to forget about the problem for a long time. Modern medicine has a rich arsenal of means to remove papillomas of the penis. On the recommendation of a doctor, antiviral drug therapy is prescribed, as well as means for destroying the formations. You can use hardware methods to remove the neoplasm. Some people prefer to use prescriptions for alternative medicine. But before using such formulations, it is still better to consult a doctor.
Treatment of penile papillomas with drugs
Removing papillomas on the penis will alleviate the discomfort, but such actions will not be able to prevent the appearance of new formations. To localize the virus, it is necessary to take a set of drugs prescribed by a doctor. As a rule, the following are assigned:
- Oral antiviral. . .
- Immunostimulants and immunomodulators. . .
Today, it is possible to remove penile papillomas with the help of drug formulations. The drugs have a local effect on the tissues.
Drug therapy takes several weeks (up to 3), provided the patient strictly adheres to medical prescriptions. The treatment regimen is prescribed by the doctor individually in each case.
Hardware removal of penile papillomas
The question of how to remove penile papillomas remains relevant, despite the feasible drug treatment. And if the oral administration of antivirals and immunomodulators prevents the development of new formations and chemical exposure can overcome single growths, then large formations or groups of them must be removed by radical methods:
- Radiowave surgery. . . Today it is considered an advanced technology in the fight against unwanted structures. Removal of penile papilloma is fast, accurate, almost painless. The number of sessions is determined by the doctor.
- Laser therapy. . . It allows you to get rid of papillomas of the penis with the help of a directed beam with a high temperature, at the site of growth remains a small crust, which will eventually disappear. The cost of the procedure is quite high, but at the same time it is practically painless, even taking into account the rather sensitive location of the formation.
- Cryodestruction. . . Used to remove large formations; after destruction, a thick crust remains, which disappears after a few weeks.
- Electrocoagulation. . . The method can not be called the best because of its pain, but at the same time allows you to get rid of papillomas of the penis with minimal likelihood of recurrence, as long as the procedure is available to all, the cost of a session is low.
Classical surgery is used in cases where the reproductive organ is almost completely covered with growths or when there is a risk of developing cancer. Such an operation will require a long period of rehabilitation, but will still leave scars. The cost of the operation is calculated individually.
Folk remedies to combat papillomas of the penis
If papillomas appear on the penis, you can use the following methods:
- regular application of tea tree oil until complete removal of the accumulation;
- rubbing the formations with egg white;
- propolis compresses.
Compresses and rubbing should be done at least twice a day regularly until the problem disappears completely. In some cases, this treatment can take up to 2 months.
Traditional medicine also has a list of other recipes on how to get rid of penile papillomas, including rubbing vinegar, rowan juice, celandine juice in the formation.
It is necessary to use such formulations very carefully, as the delicate skin near the pathogenic structure may suffer.
Penile papillomas are a disease that cannot be ignored. Complications of such structures can be bleeding, inflammation of the genital organ and, in the worst case, oncotransformation of tissues. Early diagnosis will allow you to quickly deal with the problem and determine the method of treatment of penile papilloma. To date, many good ways to fight papillomas have been developed, but the most effective method is chosen individually. The doctor will choose the best methods (drugs, hardware, folk or their combinations), based on the patient's condition