Penile warts are small growths that are found in the foreskin, frenulum, glans or on the shaft of the penis.They are also called genital warts.The pathology is provoked by a papilloma virus of certain strains, which are prone to repeated manifestations and are never completely eliminated from the body.
Causes of penile warts in men
Warts are viral growths caused by the human papillomavirus.HPV is a large group of pathogenic microorganisms.There are about 100 strains of this pathogen that have been studied.These viruses are also divided into different categories based on their level of oncogenicity.
According to rough estimates, about 90% of the world's population is infected with one or another type of papilloma virus.Pathogens live very little in the external environment and die quickly.It is most often transmitted through sexual contact, less often in everyday life or from mother to child.Viral agents are localized in the surface layer of mucous membranes and epidermis.
As for penile warts in men, they are caused by strains 6 and 11. These viruses are responsible for the appearance of genital warts.These are conditionally non-oncogenic species that can rarely cause malignancy of neoplasms.
For the virus to enter the body, direct contact of infected skin or mucous membrane with healthy skin is required.This usually happens during unprotected sex.The risk of infection increases if there are microtraumas on the surface of the body - abrasions, cracks, scratches.The virus penetrates these lesions particularly easily and quickly.
HPV multiplies in the deep layers of the skin inside human epidermal cells.As the disease progresses, the epithelial cells move up along with the viral agents.Thus, the papillomavirus reaches the surface of the skin and provokes rapid chaotic growth of epidermal cells.This leads to the formation of warts on the penis.
A distinctive feature of the papillomavirus is that it can remain latent for a long time in the deep layers of the dermis.Various factors can provoke its development.For example, weakened immunity, hypothermia, taking antibiotics, stress, fatigue, poor nutrition, vitamin deficiency, hormonal imbalance, etc.
However, even when the virus is in a latent form, a person is potentially dangerous in terms of transmitting HPV to partners.Knowing the causes of warts on the penis, we can conclude that these formations can appear both in teenagers who have recently started a sexual life, and in elderly people.
Symptoms and types of warts on the penis
In most male patients, warts on the penis, as a rule, do not manifest themselves in any way.Most often, they form in places prone to injury during intercourse.Therefore, neoplasms can be found on the head, frenulum and prepuce.Less commonly, they appear on the body of the penis, scrotum and testicles.
Penile warts usually appear as small growths with a pink, beige, whitish tint, measuring 2-30 mm.They can be single or grouped in groups, forming neoplasms similar to a cock's comb.
In the phase of active growth, when the immune system is not working, warts on the penis can provoke itching and burning in the affected area.Also, neoplasms are sometimes noticed during sexual intercourse.Under normal conditions, these growths are painless and do not cause significant discomfort.
Often, condylomas do not affect a limited area of the genital organs, but large areas.Therefore, warts on the head of the penis often gradually spread throughout the groin area, affecting the anus area.
The types of penile warts depend on the strain of virus that infects the man, as well as their location.
Let's look at their main types:
- In the area of the foreskin, neoplasms look like tubercles with a lighter shade than the skin.Sometimes they have a thin stem.Initially, single warts appear;over time, clusters of condylomas may form.
- On the frenulum, the warts look like small whitish nodules with a chaotic arrangement.
- Warts on the head of the penis look like pale pink finger-like bumps.They usually form clusters similar to broccoli florets.
- Buschke-Levenschein giant tumors can sometimes form on the shaft of the penis.They are several fused warts.This is a rare but dangerous pathology that is fraught with malignant degeneration, as neoplasm cells are prone to rapid mutation.
If suspicious formations are found on the penis, the man should immediately contact a specialist.The urologist examines and interviews the patient.In addition to the penis, the urologist should examine the scrotum, perianal area, and groin.A visual examination is usually sufficient to make a diagnosis.In some cases, the doctor may refer the man for additional tests.
To identify the strain of the pathogen and the risk of oncogenicity, the patient must donate blood for a PCR test.Additionally, if the frenulum is involved, a meatoscopy procedure may be required to determine the presence of urethral warts.
It should be remembered that warts on the head of the penis and scrotum can be similar to neoplasms of a different nature.For example, papulosis in the second stage of syphilis is also characterized by the appearance of small tumors.In order to rule out other sexually transmitted diseases, it is necessary to be examined for common sexually transmitted infections - syphilis, HIV, chlamydia, trichomoniasis, etc.
The danger of penile warts in men
Initially, warts on the penis are more of an aesthetic defect than a serious pathology that threatens a man's health.However, this does not mean that they do not need to be treated.If the disease is left to its own devices, it can lead to more serious problems in the future.
The danger of these neoplasms is as follows:
- Development of phimosis.In this condition, the foreskin fuses with the head of the penis.Because of this, problems with the normal release of sperm can occur, pathogenic microorganisms accumulate in the space under the foreskin, and inflammatory processes can occur.
- Inflammation of the head and body of the penis.This pathology is a complication of the condition described above, when bacteria penetrate under the foreskin and spread further.
- The appearance of erosions on the genitals.Most often, they develop as a result of systemic injury to warts on the penis.This happens during intercourse, shaving and wearing tight underwear.
- Degeneration of neoplasms into cancerous tumors.This happens quite rarely, but there is a potential danger, especially if the penile warts are often damaged.
Also remember that active tumors are dangerous from the point of view of infecting partners.In addition, even condoms cannot always protect a person from infection.
Methods of treatment of warts on the penis
Since the appearance of warts on the penis is directly related to a general decrease in immunity, the treatment of this pathology must be comprehensive and combined.In principle, different methods of destruction are used in relation to neoplasms.Medicines are used to increase immunity and suppress the virus.
Methods to remove warts on the penis
Instrumental and chemical methods are used to remove warts on the penis.It is worth remembering that these growths rarely go away on their own and will therefore need to be removed if one seeks to minimize the risk of complications.
There are several ways to get rid of penile warts:
- Laser destruction.The laser beam evaporates the liquid from the growth, it dries up, becomes a crust and falls off after a few days.As a rule, no traces remain at the treatment site.The procedure is painless and rarely leads to recurrences or complications.
- Cryoablation.Liquid nitrogen, which has a low temperature, is applied pointwise to the new growth and causes it to freeze and then die.After treatment, a crust forms at the growth site, which also falls off after a few days along with the rest of the formation.
- Radiosurgical removal.The tumor is exposed to radio waves that destroy the growing tissue.This is one of the most accurate, effective and safe ways to remove penile warts.After radio wave removal, no traces remain on the skin.
- Electrocoagulation.At a certain frequency, a current is supplied to the electrode, which destroys the formation.This penile wart removal procedure can cause burning and subsequent scarring.Therefore, it is prescribed with caution.
- Surgical excision.If the wart on the penis is too large, then as a last resort, the technique of cutting it out with a scalpel can be used.But such an operation is used very rarely, because there is a risk of heavy bleeding and the spread of infection.Also, a complete circular excision of the foreskin is indicated for large wart lesions.
Your doctor may also prescribe chemical removal.The procedure is performed using medical cauterizing agents.
Before treating warts on the penis with chemicals, you should definitely consult a doctor, because these products have a number of contraindications, and their incorrect use can lead to complications.
Remedies for penile warts
To eliminate the risk of recurrence of warts on the head of the penis or other parts of the genitals, it is necessary to take care of increasing immunity, as well as suppressing the virus in the body.For this purpose, different groups of drugs are used - antiviral and immunomodulatory.
In addition, with HPV, it is important to stimulate the body's defenses, which for some reason are suppressed.The immune system will actively fight the pathogen and reduce the risk of recurrence of penile warts.
It should be understood that drug therapy is not able to completely solve the problem of warts on the penis.To get rid of them, it is necessary to resort to instrumental methods of removing growths.
Folk remedies against warts on the penis
If you are thinking about how to treat penile warts, then you can find help in traditional medicine.However, remember that you should resort to such methods only after consulting a doctor.Self-medication can be at least futile and at worst lead to serious complications.
The following tools are popular:
- Tea tree oil.A powerful herbal antiviral agent that helps suppress pathogen activity.The substance should be rubbed into the warts on the head of the penis several times a day, every day, until the growth disappears completely.
- propolis.Another natural remedy that helps fight viruses.To remove warts on the penis, apply the substance to the formations before going to bed every day for 10-14 days.
- Egg white.You need to take raw protein and rub the tumor with it several times a day.
- Table vinegar.The acid actively corrodes the pathological tissues, so you have to be careful with it so as not to damage the adjacent healthy areas.You need to lubricate carefully and precisely.
- Rowan juice.The acidic substance contains phytoncides, which have an antiviral effect.Penile warts should be lubricated with freshly squeezed fluid every day.
The above recipes are only suitable if you know for sure that you have HPV and the neoplasm is small and single.Otherwise, you can not do without special therapy.
Prevention of penile warts
Timely treatment of penile warts significantly reduces the risk of complications and recurrences in the future.This is also a way to avoid passing the virus on to a sexual partner.
One of the most effective prevention methods is vaccination with special polyvalent vaccines.They act against pathogens of types 6, 11, 16 and 18 - precisely those that cause the appearance of genital warts.
Despite the fact that a condom cannot guarantee 100% protection against HPV, it should be used as it reduces the risk of infection by 20-30%.It also protects against other sexually transmitted infections.
If a man is already infected with HPV, then it is necessary to adhere to the rules of a healthy lifestyle to reduce the risk of penile warts.It is important to promptly suppress exacerbations of chronic diseases, eat right, be physically active and keep the immune system in a "fighting" state.
If you are thinking about how to remove warts from your penis, consult a doctor immediately.Self-medication in this case can only harm.The tumor removal procedure is fast and practically painless.In addition, it is important to strengthen the protective functions of the body in order to avoid relapses in the future.