Everyone should know how the human papillomavirus is transmitted. Is this the only way to protect yourself from dangerous diseases? Often, papillomas are not given special importance. Many people believe that if a growth has appeared on the body, it will disappear by itself. This mistake haunts humanity, and the consequences may be undesirable.
Papilloma tissue tends to grow, which leads to the spread of papillomavirus throughout the body. Sometimes its individual strains are capable of causing a cancerous tumor.
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 that does not carry a high risk of dangerous diseases, and a virus with a high risk.
The less dangerous viruses include papillomas and warts of subtypes 6 and 11, and dangerous ones - 16 and 18. It is the latter type that leads to cell mutation and the development of cancer.
The papilloma virus multiplies on the skin and its mucous membranes. As a result, the following growths form on the skin:
- warts;
- condylomas;
- papillomas in the mouth and larynx;
- papillomas on internal organs.
There are many cases when papillomas become the causes of cervical cancer in women, as well as cancer of the male genital organs. To avoid such consequences, it is necessary to know about the ways of transmission of the disease.
How the virus enters the human body
The infection spreads through the mucous membrane or skin of a person. If there are no acute diseases, 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, then this indicates a precancerous condition, when the human skin, and the entire body, suffers a malignant disease, or immunity is significantly reduced.
"Favorite" places for bacteria to enter are cuts, scrapes and other damage to the skin through which the virus can penetrate.
The probability of infection increases if:
- A person has colds, or other reasons for which immunity is greatly reduced.
- Dysbacteriosis of the intestines or female genital organs is observed. In this case, the death of beneficial microflora occurs, and harmful microorganisms, in this case, human papillomavirus infection, 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 suffering from nicotine addiction and women taking birth control pills get sick.
Virus propagation paths
If a person has no symptoms, this does not mean the absence of papillomavirus. The initial stage, when there are no growths yet, can be diagnosed using the latest equipment. In medicine, there are several ways through which dangerous microorganisms are transmitted.
Both men and women can become infected with a dangerous virus. The following transfer methods are distinguished:
Sexually
This is the most common method for infections. Just one sexual intercourse, and the papillomavirus can be transmitted from an infected person to a healthy person. It doesn't matter if the contact was oral, vaginal or anal. The risk is still there.
Many people are interested in the question of whether papillomavirus is transmitted from woman to man. Most often, the disease is diagnosed in men, however, and a large number of women are capable of becoming a carrier of the disease. In this case, the genitals, or the oral mucosa, where genital warts have appeared, become the location of bacteria. In this case, there is a 100% risk of infection.
During anal sex, papillomas form on the anus. Especially if there is some damage or injury. If the partner has genital warts, even using a condom will not give full protection.
Contributing factors for the disease are:
- early onset of sexual activity;
- frequent change of sexual partners;
- condylomas or warts present in the sexual partner.
Oral sex is the most common method of infection of 16 and 18 types of papillomas. In this case, the virus enters the human body through various wounds or other damage to the oral mucosa. Multiplying in the mouth, in the absence of qualified treatment, there is a high likelihood of developing throat cancer. To avoid such consequences, you must use a condom.
If the localization of the virus is human skin, then a condom will not help here. Papilloma is transmitted from direct contact with human skin, on which condylomas and warts are located.
By household
In this case, the infection occurs in the following ways:
- Using 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 utensil leads to infection through the patient's saliva.
- The clothing of an infected person can also become a hotbed for the development of the virus and be transmitted to a healthy person.
- Self-infection when shaving, epilation and other methods. The disease develops if a wart is damaged with a razor or other object, which previously did not carry any danger. 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 when the virus was transmitted by blood transfusion, operations to remove genital warts, when doctors inadvertently spread the focus of infection throughout the body, and poor sterilization of manicure tools in salons.
Mother-to-child transmission of the virus
Human papilloma is not a hereditary disease, however, there is a risk of transmission from mother to child. When carrying a child, the risk of transmitting the virus is minimal, but nevertheless, if the placenta is damaged or other changes occur, papilloma can pass to an unborn baby.
The virus will enter it through the placenta, since 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 breathing disorder, then an examination is carried out, after which drug treatment or surgery can be prescribed. The latter option is used much more often, as it has a greater chance of being cured.
Therefore, when planning a pregnancy, it is necessary to pass all the necessary tests to exclude the risk of developing papilloma.
It is very likely that the baby will be infected with the virus while passing 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, then childbirth is carried out artificially to reduce the risk of infection of the child.
Another way of infecting a baby from a mother is through breastfeeding. In this case, the child develops respiratory papillomatosis, which is subject to immediate treatment.
Features of the virus in men and women
In women, the virus travels through the cervix, rectum, or mouth. If there is a frequent change of sexual partners, then the risk of infection increases to the maximum level. The consequences of the disease can be infertility, cancer and many other ailments.
Papilloma virus in men most often manifests itself on the scrotum, 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 of HPV in men is the development of cancer of the male genital organs 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 lifestyle and be faithful to one sexual partner.