On Earth, about 80% of the population is infected with the human papillomavirus. Because HPV infection on the body can lead to not only harmless papillomas, but also genital warts, as well as malignant degeneration, it is important to know how HPV is transmitted. Perhaps this knowledge will help someone prevent infection and protect against dangerous diseases such as cervical, vulvar, vaginal, anal canal, penile and even breast cancer. In the article, we will tell you about HPV: how it is transmitted, risk factors and preventive measures.
How is the human papillomavirus transmitted?
First of all, it should be said that papilloma is transmitted through the epidermis and saliva. At the same time, the infection may not be felt for some time and may occur with the development of genital warts and, in addition, only with reduced immunity.
If we talk about how the papillomavirus is transmitted, the chances of infection are significantly increased if there are injuries, scratches and abrasions on the skin.
Attention!Many people wonder if papilloma is hereditary. The answer is no. Simply by infecting one of the family members, the papillomavirus is transmitted in daily life or from mother to baby.
The following methods of transmitting a viral infection to humans are known:
- It is transmitted in everyday life, that is, through touch, ordinary household items, clothing. The infection can be transmitted by kissing.
- If a person has genital papillomas, transmission could have taken place through sexual intercourse, that is, through unprotected sexual intercourse.
- Shaving, epilation and other skin damage can be self-infecting. Because papilloma is contagious to the surrounding healthy skin cells, a person can carry the virus from diseased parts of the body to healthy ones.
- The vertical pathway of infection is the transmission of the infection from mother to child at birth.
- Infection is much less common with blood transfusions, surgical removal of neoplasms caused by HPV. In addition, the infection is not ruled out in beauty salons, manicure offices, baths, saunas and swimming pools, where aseptic rules are disregarded.
If we talk about how you can get papilloma, then 70 percent. the culprit in cases of sexual infection is a man. With an epithelial tumor on the lips or genitals, the chance of infection is almost 90%. It should also be borne in mind that the presence of a condom, while reducing the risk of infection, still does not guarantee 100%. Protection because HPV can penetrate through microtrauma on hands and other parts of the body. In addition, warts can be localized in the groin or pubic area, where the condom will not prevent direct contact with a partner.
Important!If one partner is a carrier of the virus but does not have papillomas, warts, or genital warts, the risk of the other partner becoming infected is greatly reduced.
If you list all the ways you can become infected with the neonatal papilloma virus, infection during the prenatal period is unlikely because the virus does not penetrate the blood and the fetus is reliably protected by amniotic fluid, bladder, and placenta. However, rare cases of intrauterine infection involving damage to the placenta and fetal bladder have been reported in medical practice.
It is very important for women who are planning to become pregnant to know if the baby's father is contagious and if he can pass the infection on to the unborn mother, as genital warts during pregnancy are very dangerous for the baby. There is a risk of laryngeal papillomatosis and subsequent suffocation during the baby's infection during childbirth. Because the infection is transmitted through saliva, it is important to consider the presence of papillomas, genital warts, and warts in a man’s mouth and on the lining of the oral cavity, as a woman can become infected through oral sex.
If a family member has a papilloma as it is transmitted in daily life, it is important for all members of the household to know:
- Using shared bedding, towels, soap, cosmetics, washcloths and other personal items, the virus can penetrate the skin microtrauma;
- Saliva infection can be achieved with a single toothbrush, glasses or other utensils;
- can also be transmitted through clothing and other household items.
Risk Factors
We’ve figured out how you can get infected with the human papilloma virus, but it’s no less important to know not only the routes of transmission, but also the risk factors for getting infected with the human papillomavirus.
This makes it much easier for the human papillomavirus to penetrate the skin and mucous membranes, given the following provocative factors:
- In men, children and women, the infection is most likely to occur against a background of reduced immunity. This can be caused by a cold or sore throat.
- The risk of contracting HPV increases with intestinal or vaginal microflora. In the first case, the general immunity suffers, in the second - the local protection of the body decreases, the probability of sexual infection increases.
- Genital tract infections are more often the cause of infection against the background of other sexually transmitted diseases (syphilis, gonorrhea, trichomoniasis).
- Any means of transmission can be potentially dangerous to a person in the event of an exacerbation of a chronic illness when the illness subsides.
- There is no doubt that papillomas are contagious. The virus can easily penetrate from the host into the cells of a healthy person if its protection is weakened by stress, loss of energy, fatigue, or depression.
Important!Any viruses are more easily transmitted to men and women who have harmful habits (smoking, alcohol). The risk of infection is also significantly increased in women taking combined contraceptives.
The following conditions and diseases are factors in the sexual transmission of the virus:
- previous onset of sexual activity;
- prostitution;
- frequent changes of sexual partners;
- dirty sex life;
- history of sexually transmitted diseases;
- is over 35 years of age;
- cervical pathology;
- immunodeficiency states.
Prevention
We’ve figured out how the human papillomavirus is transmitted (women, men, and children), and all that remains is to consider prevention measures. It should be said at once that preventive vaccination is the most effective way to avoid infection. To date, two types of vaccines against this infection are known. They protect against the most dangerous strains of oncogenic viral infection. However, the high efficacy of such protection is only seen at vaccination at an early age, before sexual intercourse, or against infection with one of the HPV strains.
With regard to other methods of prevention, no one has revoked the rules of hygiene, condom use, choice of sex life and rejection of harmful habits. It is useful to maintain the strength of the immune system: eat correctly, get in the mood, exercise, walk in the fresh air, drink vitamins periodically.