Everyone should know how the human papillomavirus is transmitted. Is this the only way to protect yourself from dangerous diseases? Often no special importance is attached to papillomas. Many people believe that body growth disappears on its own when it occurs. This mistake haunts humanity and the consequences can be undesirable.
Papilloma tissue tends to grow, which causes the papilloma virus to spread throughout the body. Sometimes its individual strains can cause a cancerous tumor.
What is Human Papillomavirus?
This virus is a chronic infectious manifestation of various diseases that can appear in humans at any age. There are two types of virus in medical practice: one that does not pose a high risk of dangerous diseases and one that poses a high risk.
Among the less dangerous viruses are 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 growths are formed on the skin:
- warts;
- condylomas;
- papillomas in the mouth and larynx;
- papillomas on internal organs.
There are many cases when papillomas become the cause 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 gets into the human body
The infection spreads through a person's mucous membrane or skin. If there are no acute diseases, the papilloma does not manifest itself in any way and no growths form on the surface of the skin.
If different colored growths have formed on the skin, this indicates a pre-cancerous condition, in which the human skin and the entire body suffer from a malignant disease or immunity is significantly reduced.
"Favorite places" where bacteria can invade are cuts, scratches and other skin damage through which the virus can enter.
The likelihood of infection increases if:
- A person has colds or other reasons that have severely reduced immunity.
- Dysbacteriosis of the intestines or the female genital organs has been observed. In this case, the death of a beneficial microflora occurs and harmful microorganisms take its place, in this case infection with the human papillomavirus.
- The presence of sexually transmitted diseases.
- Recurrence of chronic diseases.
- Stress, depression, which decrease a person's defense against viruses.
People with nicotine addiction and women who take birth control pills are most commonly affected.
Viruses Spreading Paths
If a person has no symptoms, it does not mean the absence of a papillomavirus. The initial stage, when there are no growths, can be diagnosed using the latest equipment. In medicine there are different ways in which dangerous microorganisms are transmitted.
Both men and women can become infected with a dangerous virus. A distinction is made between the following transmission methods:
Sexually
This is the most common method for infection. Just one intercourse, and the papillomavirus can be passed 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, however, the disease is diagnosed in men, and large numbers of women can become carriers of the disease. In this case, the genitals or the lining of the mouth where genital warts appeared will become the site of the bacteria. In this case, there is a 100% risk of infection.
During anal sex, papillomas form on the anus. Especially when there is damage or injury. If the partner has genital warts, even using a condom will not provide complete 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 in 16 and 18 types of papilloma. In this case, the virus enters the human body through various wounds or other damage to the oral mucosa. If it reproduces in the mouth, there is a high probability of developing larynx cancer without qualified treatment. To avoid such consequences, you need to use a condom.
If the virus is localized to human skin, a condom won't help. Papilloma is transmitted through direct contact with the human skin, on which there are condylomas and warts.
According to budget
In this case, the infection occurs in the following way:
- Use the same towel, soap, and other personal care products on a person with warts on their hands. Pathology occurs when there are injuries and abrasions on the body.
- Using a single toothbrush or utensil results in infection from the patient's saliva.
- An infected person's clothing can also become a breeding ground for the development of the virus and can be transmitted to a healthy person.
- Self-infection when shaving, epilating and other methods. The disease develops when a wart is damaged with a razor or other object that previously posed no threat. If damaged, this growth leads to the development of neoplasms, which can pose a significant threat to human health.
Infection in public places through contact with infected people
In medical practice, cases have been recorded where the virus was transmitted through blood transfusions, operations to remove genital warts, when doctors accidentally spread the focus of infection throughout the body, and the sterilization of manicure tools in salons is poor.
Mother-to-child transmission of the virus
The human papilloma is not a hereditary disease, but there is still a risk of transmission from mother to child. If you are carrying a child, the risk of transmitting the virus is minimal. However, when the placenta is damaged or other changes occur, the papilloma can pass onto the unborn baby.
The virus will enter the virus through the placenta because the fetus has not yet formed the bronchi and alveoli. In this case, the child will develop respiratory papillomatosis. If the baby has a breathing disorder after birth, an examination will be done, after which drug treatment or surgery may be prescribed. The latter option is used much more often because it has a greater chance of being cured.
Therefore, when planning a pregnancy, it is necessary to pass all necessary tests to rule out the risk of developing papillomas.
It is very likely that the baby will become infected with the virus while passing through the birth canal. The consequence is the appearance of genital warts in the mouth and larynx in the child, which leads to various disorders of the respiratory tract and a decrease in immunity.
If papillomas are found in a woman's genitals before giving birth, the birth is performed artificially to reduce the risk of infection in the child.
Another way to infect a baby from a mother is through breastfeeding. In this case, the child develops respiratory papillomatosis, which is treated immediately.
Characteristics of the virus in men and women
In women, the virus travels through the cervix, rectum, or mouth. If the sexual partner changes frequently, the risk of infection increases to the maximum. The consequences of the disease can be infertility, cancer and many other diseases.
The papillomavirus in men manifests itself most often on the scrotum, on 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 a decrease in immunity can the development of a papillomavirus occur.
The dangerous moment 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 adhere to hygiene regulations, lead a healthy lifestyle and remain faithful to a sexual partner.