Everyone should know how the human papillomavirus is transmitted. Is this the only way to protect yourself from dangerous diseases? Often, papillomas are not of particular importance. Many people believe that if any growth on the body appears, it will go away on its own. This error haunts humanity and the consequences can be undesirable.
The tissue of the papilloma tends to grow, which leads to the spread of the papillomavirus throughout the body. Sometimes its individual strains are capable of causing cancer.
What is human papillomavirus
This virus is a chronic infectious manifestation of various diseases that can occur in humans at any age. In medical practice, this virus is of two types, one without a high risk of dangerous diseases and a high-risk virus.
Less dangerous viruses include papillomas and warts of subtypes 6 and 11, and dangerous viruses - 16 and 18. It is the latter type that leads to cell mutation and the development ofCancer.
The papilloma virus multiplies on the skin and its mucous membranes. As a result, the following growths form on the skin:
- warts; condyloma
- ; papillomas
- in the mouth and larynx;
- papillomas on internal organs.
There are many cases where papillomas become the cause of cervical cancer in women, as well as cancer of the male genitals. To avoid such consequences, it is necessary to know the modes of transmission of the disease.
How the virus enters the human body
The infection spreads through a person's mucous membrane or skin. If there is no acute disease, then the papilloma does not appear in any case, and no growths form on the surface of the skin.
If growths have formed on the skin with different colors, it indicates a precancerous condition, when the human skin and the whole body suffer from a malignant disease or the immunity is greatly reduced.
The "favorite" places for bacteria are cuts, scrapes and other skin lesions through which the virus can enter.
The likelihood of infection increases if:
- A person has a cold or other reasons for which the immunity is significantly reduced.
- Dysbacteriosis of the intestines or female genitalia is observed. In this case, the beneficial microflora dies, and harmful microorganisms, in this case infection with the papillomavirus, come to replace it.
- The presence of sexually transmitted diseases.
- Recurrence of chronic diseases.
- Stress, depression, which reduce a person's defense against viruses.
Most often, people with nicotine addiction and women taking oral contraceptives get sick.
Paths of virus propagation
If a person has no symptoms, it does not mean they are free from HPV. The initial stage, when there is no growth yet, can be diagnosed using the latest equipment. In medicine, there are several ways of transmitting dangerous microorganisms.
Both men and women can be infected with a dangerous virus. The following transfer methods are distinguished:
Sexually
This is the most common method for infections. Only one intercourse, and the papillomavirus can be passed from an infected person to a healthy person. It does not matter whether the contact is oral, vaginal or anal. The risk is still there.
Many people are interested in whether the human papillomavirus is transmitted from woman to man. Most often, the disease is diagnosed in men, however, and a large number of women are able to become carriers of the disease. In this case, the location of the bacteria is the genitals or the mucous membrane of the oral cavity, where genital warts have appeared. In this case, the risk of infection is 100%.
During anal sex, papillomas form on the anus. Especially if there is any damage or injury. If the partner has genital warts, even using a condom will not give him full protection.
The contributing factors of the disease are:
- early onset of sexual activity;
- frequent change of sexual partners;
- condyloma or warts present in a sexual partner.
Oral sex is the most common method of infecting 16 and 18 types of papillomas. In this case, the virus enters the human body through various wounds or other lesions of the oral mucosa. By multiplying in the mouth, in the absence of qualified treatment, there is a high probability of developing throat cancer. To avoid such consequences, you should use a condom.
If the localization of the virus is human skin, then a condom will not help here. Papilloma is transmitted through direct contact with human skin, on which condylomas and warts are found.
Per household
In this case, the infection occurs as follows:
- Use the same towel, soap, and other personal hygiene products with a person with warts on their hands. Pathology occurs if there are injuries and abrasions on the body.
- The use of a single toothbrush or dishes leads to saliva infection of the patient.
- Clothing of an infected person can also become a hotbed for the virus to develop and be transmitted to a healthy person.
- Self-infection during shaving, waxing and other methods. The disease develops if a wart is damaged with a razor or other object, which previously was not dangerous. In case of damage, this growth provokes the development of neoplasms, which can pose a considerable danger to human health.
Infection in public places through contact with infected people
Medical practice has recorded cases where the virus was transmitted by blood transfusion, operations to remove genital warts, when doctors inadvertently spread the focus of infection throughout the body and improper sterilizationmanicure tools in salons.
Mother-to-child transmission of the virus
Human papilloma is not an inherited disease, however, there is a risk of mother-to-child transmission. When transporting a child, the risk of transmitting the virus is minimal, but nonetheless, if the placenta is damaged or other changes occur, the papilloma can pass to an unborn baby.
The virus will enter it through the placenta, because the fetus has not yet formed the bronchi and alveoli. In this case, the child develops respiratory papillomatosis. If after the birth of the baby he has a respiratory disorder, an examination is carried out, after which drug treatment or surgery may be prescribed. The latter option is used much more often, because it has a better chance of being cured.
Therefore, when planning a pregnancy, it is necessary to pass all the necessary tests to exclude the risk of developing a papilloma.
It is very likely that the baby gets infected with the virus through the birth canal. The consequence is the appearance in the child of genital warts in the mouth and larynx, which leads to various disorders of the respiratory system and a decrease in immunity.
If papillomas were detected in a woman's genitals before childbirth, childbirth is carried out artificially in order to reduce the risk of infection of the child.
Another way a mother can infect a baby is by breastfeeding. In this case, the child develops respiratory papillomatosis, which requires immediate treatment.
Characteristics of the virus in men and women
In women, the virus is spread through the cervix, rectum or mouth. If there is a frequent change of sexual partners, the risk of infection increases to the maximum. The consequences of the disease can be infertility, cancer and many other conditions.
The papillomavirus in humans most commonly occurs on the scrotum, the head of the genital organ, in the anus or in the mouth. In men, the disease can proceed without symptoms, only after severe stress or a decrease in immunity, the development of papillomavirus can occur.
The dangerous moment for HPV in men is the development of cancer of the male genitals or anus.
In order to prevent the virus from entering the human body, it is necessary to follow the rules of hygiene, as well as to lead a healthy life and be faithful to a sexual partner.