Everyone should know how the human papillomavirus is transmitted. Is this the only way to protect yourself from dangerous diseases? Papillomas are often not given particular importance. Many people believe that if a growth has appeared on the body, it will disappear on its own. This error haunts humanity and the consequences can be undesirable.
The papilloma tissue 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 that does not carry a high risk of dangerous diseases and a high-risk virus.
The less dangerous viruses include papillomas and warts of the 6th and 11th subtypes, and the 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 are formed on the skin:
- warts;
- condylomas;
- papillomas in the mouth and larynx;
- papillomas on internal organs.
There are many cases where 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 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, the papilloma does not appear in any way, and no growths are formed 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 suffer from a malignant disease or immunity is significantly reduced.
The "favorite" places for bacteria to enter are cuts, scrapes 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 for which immunity is significantly reduced.
- 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 papillomavirus infection, come to replace it.
- The presence of sexually transmitted diseases.
- Recurrence of chronic diseases.
- Stress, depression, which reduce a person's defenses against viruses.
Very often people suffering from nicotine addiction, as well as women who take birth control pills, are ill.
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 be infected with a dangerous virus. The following transfer methods are distinguished:
Sexually
This is the most common method for infections. Only sexual intercourse and 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 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 genitals or oral mucosa, where genital warts have appeared, become the location of the bacteria. In this case, there is a 100% risk of infection.
During anal sex, papillomas form on the anus. Especially if there is damage or injury. If the partner has genital warts, even using a condom will not give complete protection.
The contributing factors to the disease are:
- early onset of sexual activity;
- frequent changes of sexual partners;
- warts 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 probability of developing throat cancer. To avoid such consequences, it is necessary to use a condom.
If the localization of the virus is human skin, a condom will not help here. Papilloma is transmitted by direct contact with human skin, on which condylomas and warts are found.
By family
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 are wounds and abrasions on the body.
- The use of a single toothbrush or utensil leads to infections through the patient's saliva.
- Even the clothes of an infected person can become a hotbed of the virus and be passed on to a healthy person.
- Self-infection during shaving, epilation and other methods. The disease develops if a wart is damaged with a razor or other object, which previously carried no danger. In case of damage, this growth causes 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 through blood transfusions, operations to remove genital warts, when doctors inadvertently spread the outbreak of infection throughout the body and poor sterilization of instrumentsfor manicures in salons.
Transmission of the virus from mother to child
Human papilloma is not an inherited disease, however there is a risk of transmission from mother to child. When carrying a baby, the risk of transmitting the virus is minimal, however, if the placenta is damaged or other changes occur, the papilloma can pass to the fetus.
The virus will reach you via the placenta, as 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 performed, after which drug treatment or surgery may be prescribed. The latter option is used much more often, as it has a better chance of being cured.
Therefore, when planning pregnancy, it is necessary to pass all necessary tests to exclude the risk of developing papilloma.
It is very likely that a 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 the genitals of a woman before giving birth, childbirth is carried out artificially to reduce the risk of infection of the baby.
Another way to infect a baby from a mother is through breastfeeding. In this case, the child develops respiratory papillomatosis, which is subject to immediate treatment.
Characteristics 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, the risk of infection increases to the maximum level. The consequences of the disease can be infertility, cancer and many other ailments.
The papilloma virus in men most often manifests itself in the scrotum, head of the genital organ, anus or 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 danger of HPV in men is the development of cancer of the male genital organs or the 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 faithful to a sexual partner.