Everyone needs to know how human papillomavirus is transmitted. Is this the only way to protect yourself from dangerous diseases? Often, papillomas are not particularly important. Many believe that if growth appears on the body, it will disappear by itself. This mistake haunts humanity and the consequences may be undesirable.
Papilloma tissue tends to grow, causing the papillomavirus to spread throughout the body. Sometimes its individual strains can cause cancer.
What is human papillomavirus
This virus is a chronic infectious manifestation of various diseases that can occur in people of any age. In medical practice, this virus is of two types, one that does not contain a high risk of dangerous diseases and a high-risk virus.
Less dangerous viruses are papillomas and warts of subtypes 6 and 11, and dangerous ones are 16 and 18. It is the latter type that causes cell mutations and the development of cancer.
Papilloma virus multiplies on the skin and its mucous membranes. As a result, the following formations form on the skin:
- warts;
- warts;
- Papillomas in the mouth and throat;
- Papillomas of the internal organs.
There are frequent cases when papillomas are the cause of cervical cancer in women as well as male genital cancers. To avoid such consequences you need to know about the ways the disease is transmitted.
How the virus enters the human body
The infection spreads through the human mucous membrane or skin. If there are no acute diseases, then the papilloma does not manifest itself in any form and no growths form on the surface of the skin.
If growths of different colors have appeared on the skin, it indicates a precancerous condition when the human skin and the whole body are suffering from a malignant disease or the immunity is significantly reduced.
"Favorite" places for bacteria 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 their immunity is significantly reduced.
- marked dysbacteriosis of the intestines or female genitals. In this case the beneficial microflora dies and in its place comes harmful microorganisms, in this case human papillomavirus infection.
- Existence of sexually transmitted diseases.
- Recurrence of chronic diseases.
- Stress, depression, which reduces a person's protection against viruses.
The most commonly affected people and nicotine addicts and women who use birth control pills.
virus replication pathways
If a person has no symptoms, it does not mean the absence of papillomavirus. 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 women and men can be infected with a dangerous virus. The following transfer methods are distinguished:
sexually
This is the most common method of infection. Only one sexual intercourse and the 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 still exists.
Many are interested in the question of whether human papillomavirus is transmitted from woman to man. Most often, the disease is diagnosed in men, although a large number of women can 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 the genital warts appeared. 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 your partner has genital warts, even using a condom will not give you complete protection.
Factors contributing to the disease are:
- Early onset of sexual activity;
- Frequent change of sexual partners;
- Warts or warts on a sexual partner.
Oral sex is the most common method of infection with types 16 and 18 papillomas. In this case, the virus enters the human body as a result of various wounds or other damage to the oral mucosa. Reproduction in the mouth, in the absence of qualified treatment, is more likely to develop throat cancer. You should use a condom to prevent such consequences.
If the localization of the virus is human skin, a condom will not work here. Papilloma is transmitted through direct contact with human skin, where warts and warts are located.
by household
In this case, the infection occurs as follows:
- Using the same towel, soap and other personal care products on a person with warts. Pathology occurs if there are injuries and abrasions on the body.
- Using a single toothbrush or utensil causes infection through the patient's saliva.
- Infected human clothing can also become a breeding ground for the virus and transmitted to a healthy person.
- Self-harm during shaving, epilation and other methods. The disease develops if the wart is damaged by a razor or other object that was not previously threatened. In case of damage, this growth leads to the development of neoplasms, which can pose a significant threat to human health.
Infection through contact with infected people in public places
There have been cases in medical practice where the virus is transmitted through blood transfusions, genital wart removal surgeries, when doctors inadvertently spread the focus of infection on the body and poor sterilization of manicure tools in salons.
mother-to-child transmission of the virus
Human papilloma is not a hereditary disease, although there is a risk of mother-to-child transmission. The risk of transmitting the virus while carrying a baby is minimal, but nonetheless, if the placenta is damaged or other changes occur, the papilloma can be transmitted to an unborn baby.
The virus gets it through the placenta because the fetus has not yet formed bronchi and alveoli. In this case, the child develops respiratory papillomatosis. If after birth the baby has a breathing disorder, then an examination is performed, after which medical treatment or surgery may be prescribed. The latter option is used much more often because it has a better chance of cure.Therefore, when planning a pregnancy it is necessary to take all the necessary tests to rule out the risk of developing papilloma.
It is very likely that a baby will be infected with the virus while passing through the birth canal. This results in the appearance of baby and genital warts in the mouth and throat, which lead to various disorders of the respiratory system and reduced immunity.
If a papilloma is found in a woman's genitals before giving birth, then the birth is performed artificially to reduce the risk of infection to the baby.
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.
Properties of the virus in men and women
In women, the virus travels through the cervix, rectum, or mouth. If there is 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 diseases.
Papilloma virus most often occurs in men on the scrotum, on the head of the penis, in the anus or in the mouth. In men, the disease can continue without symptoms, only after strong stress or reduced immunity can the papillomavirus develop.
A dangerous moment of 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 to live a healthy lifestyle and be faithful to a sexual partner.