Human papillomavirus (HPV, HPV - human papillomavirus) or papillomavirus is a group of infections involving more than 100 virus types, 80 of which are pathogenic to humans. According to statistics from the World Health Organization, 70% of the world's population is infected with HPV. In most cases, the infection occurs at the onset of sexual activity and can be asymptomatic for a long time.
Causes of HPV infection
In women, symptoms of papillomavirus infection may include: various types of warts, flat and genital warts, cervical dysplasia. However, the most dangerous manifestation of the pathology is the development of cervical cancer. There are also data linking the development of anal, external genitalia, vaginal cancer to infection with certain types of human papillomavirus (HPV types 16, 18, 45, 56).
Transmission methods:
- Sexual contact.is the major route of transmission of human papillomavirus infection. Using a condom during sexual intercourse significantly reduces the risk of becoming infected with the human papillomavirus, but this does not provide a reliable guarantee that the infection will not occur because the virus particles are very small.
- The path of the contact household.The causes of infection are the use of common intimate hygiene products: towels, soap, use of public toilets, baths.
- Natural childbirth.HPV can be transmitted to children by infecting a child through the birth canal of an infected woman.
The source of this infection is the patient's skin and mucous cells. In this case, the person himself may not be aware that he has become a carrier of the virus, as warts and papillomas may be microscopic in size and remain invisible during visual inspection.
Prediposive factors contributing to the development of viral infection:
- Early onset of sexual activity;
- dirty sex without a condom;
- frequent abortions;
- Presence of infectious genital diseases;
- long-term use of oral contraceptives;
- Decreased immune response;
- non-compliance with personal hygiene rules;
- if the sexual partner has HPV;
- the effects of frequent stressful situations;
- Harmful habits.
Through pores, cracks, skin and mucosal microtrauma, the virus penetrates into the base layer of the epithelium, which ensures normal growth and regeneration of the skin and mucous membranes. Base layer cell DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) carries information about the healthy cell structure. The viral particle incorporated into the DNA alters this information, resulting in the formation of affected cells that cause symptoms of the disease during growth and division.
Symptoms of Human Papillomavirus Infection in Women
One possible manifestation of human papillomavirus infection is the appearance of genital warts and papillomas. These are specific derivatives with the appearance of cauliflower, grape bunch or rooster combs, pink red or soft in color. Depending on the type and type of virus, they can infect human skin and mucous membranes.
Genital warts can form around or near the anus, especially if there is anal intercourse.
Papillomas can occur on the skin around the fingers, fingers, hands, around the eyes, underarms, and scalp. They also sometimes form on the soles of the feet and cause the characteristic pain of walking.
These types of diseases rarely develop into malignancies and cancers, but the derivatives are surgically removed to prevent the disease from developing.
Consequences of HPV infection
The human papillomavirus, which is common in women, can lead to a large increase in genital warts, papillomas, and flat warts, which can cause discomfort, pain, and bleeding of varying severity.
HPV types 18 and 16 are the most dangerous because they cause cancer. Cervical cancer, reliably associated with infection by the human papilloma virus, ranks second among various malignancies in women. Mortality from it is fifty percent.
Flat warts
The disease is characterized by the formation of flat plaques that practically do not rise above skin level.
Vaginal and cervical mucosa are most commonly damaged.
Cosmetic defect with them is much smaller than with genital warts.
These types of pathologies are at increased risk of degenerating to cancer.
Cervical mucosal dysplasia
Pathology is a change in the cell structure of the normal cervical mucosa called atypia. This gynecological condition is considered precancerous and requires monitoring and intensive treatment.
In most cases, the disease is asymptomatic and is determined by a routine gynecological examination. Dysplasia of several degrees of severity is distinguished: mild, moderate, severe. The choice of treatment method depends on the severity.
Cervical cancer
This is the most dangerous manifestation of the disease. Cervical cancer ranks second among tumor pathologies in women and is associated with 16, 18 types of HPV infection.
The disease may present without clinical signs or may present with non-specific symptoms: weakness, increased fatigue, weight loss, punctate vaginal bleeding outside the menstrual cycle.
Methods of treating the disease
Do not treat if you have signs of HPV infection, given the risk of consequences.
In order to select the optimal treatment tactic, it is necessary to consult a gynecologist, who, after a thorough examination and the necessary examinations, will prescribe the appropriate therapy.
To date, no drug has been invented to cure HPV forever. The main goal of treatment is to reduce the levels of the virus in the body to prevent further progression of the disease.
Main areas of therapy:
- treatment of manifestations (warts, papillomas, dysplasia);
- antiviral treatment;
- Use of funds to enhance immunity.
Even in small areas of papillomas, warts, warts, dysplasia, it is recommended to remove them, because neoplasms increase the concentration of virus particles in a woman's body, which contributes to the further progression of the pathology.
Surgical treatment
Genital warts, papillomas, warts, and dysplasia removal methods include:
- surgical;
- cryotherapy;
- diathermocoagulation;
- laser coagulation;
- radio wave therapy;
- chemical attack.
The surgical method is the removal of growths with a scalpel, is the cheapest method of treatment, but after that a pronounced cosmetic defect remains and the healing period is significantly extended. There is also a risk of secondary infection. Therefore, this type of intervention is used in extreme cases.
During cryotherapy, liquid nitrogen enters the affected area, which freezes the pathological derivative. After a few days, the papilloma or warts disappear and are followed by a small wound that heals in 10 to 14 days.
Diathermocoagulation is the application of high temperature to areas of damaged skin. This procedure is quite painful and requires anesthesia. The disadvantage of this method is the formation of rough scars in place of pathological structures.
During laser coagulation, the effects of the laser beams on the affected area result in the drying of the neoplasms. In their place, a dry crust forms, which after a while disappears without leaving scars. This treatment is the mildest, but its high cost is considered a drawback.
Radio wave therapy involves the application of radio frequency waves to an affected area. With this type of treatment, there is no risk of bleeding, no sharp scars, but the disadvantage is the high cost.
A chemical method is used when a small derivative is formed. A special medicine is applied to the affected area. After several generations, a crust forms on the treated area, which disappears after a few days.
Drug use
Drug therapy for human papillomavirus infection includes the use of the following groups of drugs:
- antiviral drugs;
- Immunostimulants.
A long course of antiviral treatment is given to reduce the levels of the virus in a woman's body and prevent it from multiplying. It is given as tablets and suppositories, and the dose and duration of treatment should be determined by your doctor only.
Immunostimulants are used to analyze and detect reduced levels of immunity in order to increase the body's defenses, speed up the processes of immune cell formation and stimulate the production of antibodies to the virus.
Treatment of HPV infection in pregnant women
The presence of human papillomavirus infection in a woman does not affect the reproductive system and is not a contraindication to pregnancy. If an exacerbation of HPV occurs during pregnancy, treatment for this condition is not performed during this period, and treatment is given after childbirth.
However, the woman should be monitored by a doctor throughout pregnancy. In the event of severe discomfort, mild therapies are prescribed. In extreme cases, when there is a contraindication in the vagina due to the progression of HPV, a cesarean section is performed.
Get Rid of HPV Using Folk Remedies
At home, to get rid of warts, papillomas and warts, you can use folk medicines, such as herbal decoctions and infusions - to treat papillomatosis, ointments.
Methods of decoction and infusions for the treatment of human papillomavirus infection:
- Horsetail, nettle grass, rosehips, dandelion roots, plantain leaves are mixed in equal amounts. 3 st. l. Add 800 ml of water to the resulting mixture, cook on low heat for 10 minutes, then leave to infuse for 3 hours. Apply 1 glass 3 times a day 30 minutes before meals.
- Oregano, yarrow, celandine, St. John's wort, birch buds, nettles, calendula, common feet, mahogany roots, chamomile flowers, cords, plantain leaves, celandine, linden, cumin, sage, sage. Pour 2 tablespoons into a thermos. l. pour the resulting mixture into 500 ml of boiling water, leave overnight to pour. Take 0, 5 cup 4 times a day.
- Valerian root, lemon balm grass, oregano, linden blossoms, hop cones, mother are mixed in equal amounts. Pour 1 tablespoon into a thermos. l. pour the resulting mixture 0, 5 liters of boiling water and leave to infuse for 3-5 hours. Apply 250 ml twice a day.
For the treatment of local manifestations:
- Firewood juice. The juice is made from fresh leaves or bought at a pharmacy. Before applying the product, the skin of the affected area should be evaporated and healthy areas near the affected area should be treated with an oily cream. Firewood should be carefully applied to damaged skin. The procedure should be repeated every two days a week until the pathological formation disappears.
- Garlic. Vegetables should be grated on a fine grater and mixed with skin cream until a viscous consistency is obtained. Apply the resulting mixture to the formation sites daily for 2-3 hours a month. After the procedure, wash the skin with soapy water.
- Young walnuts. They must be crushed with a meat grinder, pour the resulting mixture into a 0, 5 liter glass vessel to fill 2/3, pour the remaining vessel into kerosene. Leave to infuse for 20 days, then strain through gauze. Infusion to treat affected skin 2 times a day.
After treatment and after getting rid of the external manifestations of HPV, the woman should visit a gynecologist every six months to monitor and prevent further progression of the disease.