Everyone should know how the human papillomavirus is transmitted. Is this the only way to protect yourself from dangerous diseases? Papillomas are often of no special importance. Many people believe that if a tumor appears in the body, it will disappear on its own. This error haunts humanity and the consequences may be undesirable.
The papilloma tissue tends to grow, which leads to the spread of the papillomavirus throughout the body. Sometimes, their individual strains are capable of causing cancer.
What is the 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 is not at high risk for dangerous diseases and one that is at high risk.
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 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 in 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 forms 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 are no acute diseases, the papilloma will not appear at all and there will be no growth on the skin surface.
If growths of different colors have formed on the skin, this indicates a precancerous condition, when the human skin and the entire body suffer 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 why immunity is greatly reduced.
- 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 reduce a person's defense against viruses.
Most of the time, people who suffer from nicotine addiction and women who take birth control pills get sick.
Virus propagation paths
If a person has no symptoms, it does not mean the absence of the papillomavirus. The initial stage, when there is still no growth, can be diagnosed with 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 differentiated:
Sexually
This is the most common method of infections. Just a sexual relationship 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 still exists.
Many people are interested in whether the papillomavirus is transmitted from woman to man. Most of the time, the disease is diagnosed in men, however, a large number of women are able to become a carrier of the disease. In this case, the location of the bacteria is in Organs genitals or in the mucous membrane of the oral cavity, where genital warts appeared. In this case, the risk of infection is 100%.
During anal sex, papillomas are formed in the anus. Especially if there is any damage or injury. If the partner has genital warts, even condom use will not provide full protection.
The contributing factors to the disease are:
- early onset of sexual activity;
- frequent change of sexual partners;
- condylomas or warts present in a sexual partner.
Oral sex is the most common method of infection for 16 and 18 types of papillomas. In this case, the virus enters the human body through various injuries or other damage to the oral mucosa. Multiplying in the mouth, in the absence of qualified treatment, the likelihood of developing throat cancer is high. To avoid such consequences, you must use a condom.
If the virus is located on human skin, a condom will not help here. Papilloma is transmitted by direct contact with human skin, in which condylomas and warts are located.
By family
In this case, the infection occurs in the following ways:
- Use the same towel, soap and other personal care 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 causes infection in the patient's saliva.
- An infected person's clothing can also become a focus for the development of the virus and be transmitted to a healthy person.
- Autoinfection during shaving, hair removal and other methods. The disease develops if a mole is damaged by a razor blade or other object that previously was not dangerous. In the event of damage, this growth causes the development of neoplasms, which can represent a considerable danger to human health.
Infection in public places through contact with infected people
Medical practice has recorded cases in which 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.
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 child, the risk of transmitting the virus is minimal, but, however, if the placenta is damaged or other changes occur, the papilloma can pass to the fetus.
The virus will enter the placenta, as the fetus has not yet formed the bronchi and alveoli. In this case, the child develops respiratory papillomatosis. If, after the baby is born, he has a respiratory disorder, then an examination is performed, after which drug treatment or surgery may be prescribed. The latter option is used much more frequently, as it has a greater chance of cure.
Therefore, when planning a pregnancy, it is necessary to pass all the tests necessary to exclude the risk of developing papilloma.
It is very likely that the baby will be infected by the virus as it passes 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 decreased immunity.
If papillomas are detected in a woman's genitals before childbirth, childbirth is performed artificially to reduce the child's risk of infection.
Another way to infect the baby by the mother is by breastfeeding. In this case, the child develops respiratory papillomatosis, which is immediately treated.
Characteristics of the virus in men and women
In women, the virus passes 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 diseases.
The papilloma virus in men most often manifests itself in the scrotum, in 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 decreased immunity, the development of papillomavirus can occur.
The dangerous time for HPV in men is the development of cancer in the male genitals or anus.
To prevent the virus from entering the human body, it is necessary to follow hygiene rules, as well as lead a healthy lifestyle and be faithful to a sexual partner.