Everyone should know how the human papillomavirus is transmitted. Is this the only way to protect yourself from dangerous diseases? Often, papilloma is not considered important. Many people believe that if a growth occurs on the body, it will go away on its own. This error has plagued humanity, and the consequences may be unwanted.
Papilloma tissue tends to grow, which causes the papilloma virus to spread throughout the body. Sometimes the individual strains can cause cancer.
What is a human papillomavirus
This virus is a chronic infectious manifestation of various diseases that can occur in humans of all ages. In medical practice, there are two types of viruses, which are not at high risk of causing dangerous diseases, and viruses with high risk.
Less dangerous viruses include papillomas and warts subtypes 6 and 11, and dangerous ones - 16 and 18. These are the last types that cause cell mutation and cancer development.
Papilloma viruses multiply on the skin and mucous membranes. As a result, the following growth forms on the skin:
- warts;
- condyloma;
- papillomas in the mouth and larynx;
- papillomas of internal organs.
There are many cases when papilloma causes cervical cancer in women, as well as cancer of the male genitals. In order to avoid such consequences, it is necessary to know about the modes of transmission of the disease.
How does the virus enter the human body
The infection spreads through a person's mucous membranes or skin. If there is no acute disease, then the papilloma does not manifest itself in any way, and no growths form on the surface of the skin.
If growths of different colors have formed on the skin, this indicates a precancerous condition, when the human skin, and the whole body, is suffering from a malignant disease, or immunity is significantly reduced.
The "favorite" places for bacteria to enter are cuts, scrapes, and other skin lesions through which the virus can penetrate.
The possibility of infection increases if:
- A person has a cold, or other reason that severely reduces immunity.
- Dysbacteriosis of the intestine or female genital organs is observed. In this case, the death of beneficial microflora occurs, and harmful microorganisms, in this case, human papilloma virus infection, come to replace them.
- The presence of sexually transmitted diseases.
- Recurrence of chronic disease.
- Stress, depression, which reduces a person's defense against the virus.
Most often people with nicotine addiction, as well as women taking birth control pills, get sick.
Virus spread pathways
If a person has no symptoms, this does not mean there is no papillomavirus. The initial stage, when there is no growth, can be diagnosed with the latest equipment. In medicine, there are several ways of transmitting harmful microorganisms.
Both men and women can be infected with dangerous viruses. The following transfer methods are distinguished:
Sexual
This is the most common method of infection. Only one sexual relationship, and the papilloma virus can be passed from an infected person to a healthy person. It doesn't matter if the contact is oral, vaginal or anal. The risk is still there.
Many people are interested in the question of whether the papillomavirus is transmitted from women to men. Most often, this disease is diagnosed in men, and a large number of women are capable of being carriers of the disease. In this case, the genitals, or oral mucosa, where genital warts appear, become the site of bacteria. In this case, there is a 100% risk of infection.
During anal sex, papillomas form in the anus. Especially if there is damage or injury. If a partner has genital warts, even using a condom will not provide full protection.
The factors that cause this disease are:
- onset of sexual activity;
- frequently changes sexual partners;
- condyloma or warts present in sexual partners.
Oral sex is the most common method of infection for 16 and 18 types of papilloma. In this case, the virus enters the human body through various injuries or other damage to the oral mucosa. Breeding in the mouth, if there is no eligible treatment, there is a high chance of developing throat cancer. In order to avoid such consequences, you must use a condom.
If the localization of the virus is human skin, condoms will not help here. Papillomas are transmitted from direct contact with human skin, where condylomas and warts are located.
By household
In this case, the infection occurs in the following way:
- Using the same towels, soap, and other personal hygiene products as people who have warts on their hands. Pathology occurs if there are cuts and abrasions on the body.
- Use of one toothbrush or utensil causes infection through the patient's saliva.
- The clothing of an infected person can also become a hotbed for virus development and spread to healthy people.
- Self-infection during shaving, hair removal and other methods. This disease develops when warts, previously harmless, are damaged with a razor or other object. In case of damage, these growths provoke the development of neoplasms, which can pose a great danger to human health.
Infection in public places through contact with an infected person
Medical practice has documented cases when the virus is transmitted through blood transfusions, surgery to remove genital warts, when doctors accidentally spread foci of infection throughout the body, and poor sterilization of manicure kits in salons.
Mother-to-child transmission of the virus
Human papilloma is not a hereditary disease, but there is still a risk of mother-to-child transmission. When carrying a child, the risk of transmission of the virus is minimal, however, if the placenta is damaged or other changes occur, the papilloma can pass to the unborn baby.
The virus will enter through the placenta, because the fetus has not yet formed bronchi and alveoli. In this case, the child develops respiratory papillomatosis. If, after the birth of the baby, he has respiratory problems, then an examination is carried out, after which drug or surgical treatment can be prescribed. The last option is used more often, because it has a greater chance of being cured.
Therefore, when planning a pregnancy, all the necessary tests must be passed to rule out the risk of developing papilloma.
Babies are very likely to catch the virus while passing through the birth canal. The consequence is the appearance of genital warts on children in the mouth and larynx, which causes various disorders of the respiratory system and decreased immunity.
If papilloma is detected on the genitals of a woman before childbirth, then the delivery is done artificially to reduce the risk of infection in the child.
Another way to pass the baby from the mother is through breastfeeding. In this case, the child develops respiratory papillomatosis, which must be treated immediately.
Virus features in men and women
In women, the virus spreads through the cervix, rectum or mouth. If there is frequent change of sexual partners, the risk of infection increases to the maximum level. The consequences of this disease can include infertility, cancer, and many other diseases.
Papilloma virus in men most often appears on the scrotum, head of the genital organs, in the anus or in the mouth. In men, the disease can progress without symptoms, only after severe stress or decreased immunity can the development of papillomavirus occur.
The dangerous moment for HPV in men is the development of cancer in the male genital organs or anus.
To prevent the virus from entering the human body, it is necessary to follow hygiene rules, and lead a healthy and loyal lifestyle with one sexual partner.