Everyone needs to know how the human papillomavirus is transmitted. Is this the only way to protect yourself from dangerous diseases? Often, papillomas do not get much importance. Many people believe that if a growth has appeared on the body, it will disappear by itself. This error haunts humanity, and the consequences can be undesirable.
Papilloma tissue tends to grow, leading to the spread of papillomavirus through 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 of all ages. 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 - 16 and 18. It is the latter type that leads to cell mutation and the development of cancer.
The papillomavirus multiplies on the skin and its mucous membranes. As a result, the following growth is formed on the skin:
- forward;
- condylomer;
- papillomas of the mouth and larynx;
- papillomas on internal organs.
There are many cases where papillomas are the causes of cervical cancer in women as well as cancer of the male genitalia. To avoid such consequences, it is necessary to know how the disease is transmitted.
How the virus enters the human body
The infection spreads through a person's mucous membrane or skin. If there are no acute diseases, papilloma does not appear in any way and no growth is formed on the surface of the skin.
If growths have formed on the skin with different colors, this indicates a precancerous condition when the human skin and the whole body suffer from a malignant disease, or the immunity is markedly reduced.
"Favorite" places where bacteria can enter are cuts, scratches and other damage to the skin through which the virus can penetrate.
The likelihood of infection increases if:
- A person has a cold or other reasons why immunity is severely impaired.
- Dysbacteriosis of the intestines or female genitals is observed. In this case, the beneficial microflora dies, and harmful microorganisms, in this case papillomavirus infection, replace it.
- The presence of sexually transmitted diseases.
- Recurrence of chronic diseases.
- Stress, depression, which reduces a person's defenses against viruses.
People with nicotine addiction and women taking birth control pills are most often affected.
Virus Propagation Path
If a person has no symptoms, it does not mean the absence of papillomavirus. The initial stage, where there is no growth yet, can be diagnosed using the latest equipment. In medicine, there are several ways in which dangerous microorganisms are transmitted.
Both men and women can be infected with a dangerous virus. A distinction is made between the following transfer methods:
Sexually
This is the most common method of infections. Just an intercourse, and papillomavirus can be transmitted from an infected person to a healthy person. It does not 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. The disease is most often diagnosed in men, and a large number of women are able to become a carrier of the disease. In this case, the genitals or oral mucosa where genital warts have occurred becomes 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 are injuries or injuries. If the partner has genital warts, even the use of a condom will not provide full protection.
Contributing factors to the disease are:
- early onset of sexual activity
- frequent change of sexual partners;
- condyloma or warts present in the 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 damage to the oral mucosa. Multiplication in the mouth, in the absence of qualified treatment, there is a high probability of developing throat cancer. To avoid such consequences, use a condom.
If the location of the virus is human skin, then a condom will not help here. Papilloma is transmitted from direct contact with human skin, where condyloma and warts are located.
By household
In this case, the infection occurs in the following ways:
- Use the same towel, soap and other personal hygiene products with a person with warts on their hands. Pathology occurs if there is damage and wear and tear on the body.
- Using a single toothbrush or tool leads to infection through the patient's saliva.
- The clothes of an infected person can also become a hotbed of the virus and be transmitted to a healthy person.
- Self-infection by shaving, epilation and other methods. The disease develops if a wart is damaged with a razor or other object that previously had no danger. In case of injury, this growth provokes the development of neoplasms, which can pose a significant 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, surgeries to remove genital warts when doctors inadvertently spread the focus of infection in the body and poor sterilization of manicure tools in salons.
Mother-to-child transmission of the virus
Human papilloma is not a hereditary disease, but there is a risk of transmission from mother to child. When you carry a baby, the risk of transmitting the virus is minimal, yet if the placenta is damaged or other changes occur, the papilloma can be transmitted to an unborn baby.
The virus enters the placenta as the fetus has not yet formed bronchi and alveoli. In this case, the child develops respiratory papillomatosis. If he has a respiratory disorder after the birth of the child, an examination is performed, after which drug treatment or surgery can be prescribed. The latter option is used much more often as it has a better chance of cure.
Therefore, when planning a pregnancy, it is necessary to pass all the necessary tests to eliminate the risk of developing papilloma.
It is very likely that the baby will be infected with the virus as it passes through the birth canal. The consequence is the appearance of genital warts in the mouth and larynx of the child, leading to various disorders of the respiratory system and a decrease in immunity.
If papillomas were detected in a woman's genitals before birth, the birth is performed artificially to reduce the risk of infection in the baby.
Another way to infect a baby from a mother is breastfeeding. In this case, the child develops respiratory papillomatosis, which is the subject of immediate treatment.
Functions of the virus in men and women
In women, the virus travels through the cervix, rectum or mouth. If sexual partners are frequently changed, the risk of infection increases to the maximum level. The consequences of the disease can be infertility, cancer and many other disorders.
Papillomavirus in men often manifests itself on the scrotum, genital head, anus or mouth. In men, the disease can continue without symptoms, only after severe stress or impaired immunity can the development of papillomavirus occur.
The dangerous moment for HPV in men is the development of cancer of the male genitals or anus.
To prevent the virus from entering the human body, it is necessary to follow the rules of hygiene as well as lead a healthy lifestyle and be true to a sexual partner.