Genital warts are small growths on the skin in front of the penis, the phrenum, the glands, or the nucleus accumbens. They are also called genital warts. It causes pathology of some strains of papillomavirus, which are close to recurrent and never completely disappear from the body.
Causes of warts on the penis in men
Warts are viral growths caused by human papillomavirus. HPV is a large group of pathogenic microorganisms. About 100 strains of this pathogen have been studied. These viruses are also divided into different categories depending on the level of oncogenicity.
It is estimated that about 90% of the world's population is infected with some form of papillomavirus. Pathogens live very little in the environment and die quickly. It is most often transmitted sexually, in everyday life, or from mother to child. Viral agents are localized in the upper layer of the mucous membrane and epidermis.
In men, strains 6 and 11 are associated with warts on the genitals, and these viruses respond to warts on the genitals. These are conditionally non-oncogenic types, which can lead to the formation of rare tumors.
In order for the virus to enter the body, it must come in direct contact with infected skin or healthy skin. This often happens during unprotected sex. If there are microtraumas on the surface of the body - tears, cracks, scratches, the risk of infection increases. The virus is particularly vulnerable to these harms.
An increase in HPV occurs in the deeper layers of the skin inside human epidermal cells. As the disease progresses, the epithelial cells move upwards along with the viral agents. Thus, the papillomavirus reaches the surface of the skin and causes the epidermal cells to grow rapidly. This causes warts to form on the genitals.
A distinctive feature of papillomavirus is that it can stay dormant in the deeper layers of the dermis for long periods of time. Various factors may contribute to its development. For example, weakened immune system, hypothermia, antibiotic use, stress, overwork, poor nutrition, vitamin deficiency, hormonal imbalance and others.
However, even if the virus is latent, there is a risk that a person can transmit HPV to partners. Knowing the causes of warts in the genitals, we can conclude that these structures can occur in both adolescents and the elderly who have recently begun sexual activity.
Signs and types of genital warts
In most male patients, genital warts are usually invisible. They usually occur near sexual trauma. Therefore, the tumor can be found in the head, frenulum, and earrings. Less commonly, they occur in the testicles of the penis and scrotum.
Genital warts are usually small growths of pink, beige, and white shades that are 2-30 mm in size. They can divide into groups or form coke-like neoplasms.
During the active growth phase of the immune system, the warts on the genitals can cause itching and burning in the affected area. Neoplasms are also sometimes seen during sexual intercourse. Under normal circumstances, these growths are not painful and do not cause significant discomfort.
Often warts affect large areas of the genitals, not just a limited area. Therefore, in most cases, the warts on the head of the penis gradually spread to the entire groin and affect the anus.
The types of warts on the penis depend on the strain of the virus that infects the man and the location.
Let's look at the main types:
- Neoplasms in the skin area have a lighter shade of tuberculosis than the skin. Sometimes they have thin legs. Initially, single warts appear, but over time, groups of genital warts may form.
- In the frenum, the warts look like small white knots, arranged randomly.
- Genital warts look like bright pink fingers. Typically, they form clusters resembling broccoli garlands.
- Giant Bushke-Levenshein tumors can sometimes occur in the genital tract. They are several warts that grow together. This is a rare but dangerous pathology, accompanied by malignant degradation, because the cells of the neoplasm are prone to rapid mutation.
If there is any suspicious growth on the penis, the man should consult a specialist immediately. The urologist examines the patient and conducts an interview. In addition to the genitals, the urologist should examine the sputum, perianal area, and groin. A visual examination is usually sufficient to make a diagnosis. In some cases, a doctor may refer a man for additional tests.
To determine the pathogenic strain and the risk of carcinogenicity, the patient must donate blood for PCR analysis. Also, if the phrenum is damaged, an etoscopy procedure may be required to detect the presence of warts in the urethra.
It is important to keep in mind that warts on the head of the penis and skeleton may resemble other types of neoplasms. For example, papulosis in the second stage of syphilis is also characterized by the formation of small neoplasms. For the elimination of other sexually transmitted diseases, as well as common sexually transmitted infections - syphilis, HIV, chlamydia, trichomoniasis, etc. b.
Risk of genital warts in men
Initially, warts on the genitals represent an aesthetic defect rather than a serious pathology that threatens a man's health. However, this does not mean that they do not need treatment. If you allow the disease to spread, it can lead to more serious problems in the future.
The risk of these neoplasms is as follows:
- Evolution of phimosis.In this condition, the skin of the penis grows along with the head of the penis. As a result, problems may arise with the normal secretion of semen, pathogens may accumulate in the subcutaneous space, and inflammatory processes may take place.
- Inflammation of the head, the stem of the penis.This pathology is a complication of the above condition when bacteria enter the skin and spread further.
- Erosion of the genitals.They are usually caused by systemic damage to the genital warts. This happens during sex, beards, and wearing tight underwear.
- Transformation of neoplasms into cancerous tumors.This is rare, but can be dangerous, especially if the genital warts are severely damaged.
Also, keep in mind that active neoplasms are dangerous to infect partners. In addition, condoms do not always protect against infection.
Warts treatment
Since the appearance of warts on the genitals is directly related to the general decline in immunity, the treatment of this pathology should be complex and combined. In general, different methods of destruction are used for neoplasms. Medications are used to boost immunity and suppress the virus.
How to get rid of genital warts
Instrumental and chemical methods are used to remove genital warts. Remember, these growths are very rare, so if a man tries to minimize the risk of complications, they will have to eliminate them.
There are several ways to get rid of genital warts:
- Laser removal.The laser light evaporates the accumulated liquid, dries it, covers it with a film, and falls off after a few days. As a rule, there is no trace of the cleaner. The procedure is painless and rarely leads to relapses and complications.
- Cryon removal.Liquid nitrogen, which has a low temperature, is applied to the neoplasm at the point and causes it to freeze to death. After processing, a crust forms where the layer has accumulated, and it also disappears along with the remaining layer after a few days.
- Radiosurgical removal.Neoplasms are affected by radio waves, which destroy growth tissue. This is one of the most accurate, effective and safe ways to get rid of genital warts. After removing the radio waves, there are no traces on the skin.
- Electrocoagulation.At a certain frequency, a current is applied to the electrode, which disrupts the formation. This procedure, which removes warts from the genitals, can lead to burns and then scars. Therefore, it is written carefully.
- Surgical excision.If the wart on the penis is very large, a scalpel can be used to cut it. However, such surgeries are rare because of the risk of severe bleeding and the spread of infection. A complete round incision of the foreskin is also indicated for extensive bone damage.
Your doctor may also order a chemical removal. The procedure is performed using a drug treatment.
anti-wart drugs
In order 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 to increase immunity, along with suppressing the virus in the body. Different groups of drugs are used for this purpose - antiviral and immunomodulatory.
HPV should also stimulate the body's defenses, which are in a state of depression for any reason. The immune system actively fights the pathogen and reduces the risk of re-emergence of warts in the genitals.
Folk remedies for genital warts
If you are thinking about how to treat genital warts, you can find help in traditional medicine. However, remember to use these methods only after consulting your doctor. Self-medication can at least be wasted, but in the worst case, it can lead to serious complications.
The following tools are popular:
- Tea tree oil.A powerful herbicide that helps suppress pathogenic activity. The substance should be rubbed into the warts on the head of the penis several times a day until the growth is completely eliminated.
- Propolis.Another natural remedy to help fight viruses. To get rid of genital warts, apply the substance daily to the affected areas for 10-14 days before going to bed.
- Egg white.Raw protein should be taken and lubricated with the neoplasm several times a day.
- Pumpkin Vinegar.Acid actively corrodes pathological tissues, so care must be taken not to harm the health of the neighbor. You need to carefully and lubricate.
- Rowan juice.The acid contains phytoncides that have antiviral effects. Lubricate the penis daily with freshly squeezed liquid warts.
The above recipes only work if you know you have HPV, but only if the tumor is small and single. Otherwise, you can not do without special therapy.
Prevention of genital warts
Timely treatment of raw bones reduces the risk of future complications and recurrences. It is also a way to prevent the virus from infecting your sexual partner.
One of the most effective prevention methods is vaccination with special polyvalent vaccines. They counteract the pathogens of types 6, 11, 16, and 18 — genital warts.
Although condoms do not guarantee 100% protection against HPV, they should be used because they reduce the risk of infection by 20-30%. It also protects against other sexually transmitted infections.
If a man has already been infected with the HPV virus, it is important to follow a healthy lifestyle to reduce the risk of genital warts. It is important to control the spread of chronic diseases in a timely manner, eat a healthy diet, exercise and keep the immune system "ready for war. "