What is HPV in medicine? Human papillomavirus infection (Human papillomavirus)

02.04.2024

Papilloma virus is the general name for several dozen viruses, the penetration of which into the human body can cause the development of many pathologies. Some viruses of this group cause skin diseases, others provoke sexual pathologies, and some cause the appearance of warts and papillomas.

Today it has been proven that some types of papilloma virus cause the development of malignant neoplasms in the human body, affecting various organs. It will be useful for every patient to know what it is, how it can penetrate the human body and is there an effective treatment for such a disease?

In recent years, various types of papillomavirus have been identified, of which approximately 80 are considered pathogenic for humans. The main source of such a virus is considered to be pathogenic cells and the mucous membrane of a sick person, while the wart or papilloma itself may not yet appear. In fact, the changes can be so subtle that the average person is unlikely to notice them with the naked eye. Despite this, the patient already becomes dangerous to others, since he is capable of infecting another person.

The penetration of HPV into the body can occur in childhood, and most often this occurs through minor damage to the epidermis in the form of scratches and abrasions. As a result, the virus invades the child’s body and provokes the appearance of warts on the skin.

In adults, certain types of the virus lead to the appearance of genital warts and they enter the human body mainly through sexual contact.

The presence of minor injuries to the genitals leads to the transmission of the virus from one sexual partner to another.

Once in the human body, HPV encounters a barrier from the immune system, because often the cells simply destroy the virus. In a situation where there are malfunctions in the functioning of the immune system or it is seriously weakened, this allows the virus to enter the cells of the basal layer of the skin epithelium or mucous membranes without any problems. Gradually it is introduced into the chromosomes of cells and makes significant changes in their work. The active process of cell division begins, and they grow intensively in a limited area, and outwardly this process is expressed in the appearance of warts and papillomas.

It is necessary to understand that the appearance of warts on the skin indicates that HPV entered the human body in childhood. If genital warts appear on the body, the penetration of the virus occurred during sexual intercourse. The insidiousness of HPV lies in the fact that in some cases it can lead to cancer, so you should not be so careless about warts and condylomas on your body.

Ways the virus enters the body

Most often, HPV enters the body through sexual contact, so experts classify this infection as a group. In addition, the virus can enter the body through contact of the affected epidermis or mucous membranes with the patient’s secretions.

Infection can occur through the use of underwear or personal hygiene items of an infected person. Another method of transmission of HPV is considered to be childbirth, when the virus penetrates to the child from a sick mother.

In fact, the papilloma virus is considered quite common, and most often the following factors contribute to infection:

early sexual life
a large number of sexual partners
engaging in anal sex, which increases the risk of injury to the skin and mucous membranes
the presence of other sexually transmitted pathologies
decreased protective functions

In addition, the risk of contracting the papilloma virus increases with alcohol abuse and pregnancy.

In women, the papilloma virus manifests itself not only in the form of condylomas on the body, but also provokes the development of cervical erosion. In the absence of effective therapy for this pathology, the development of cancer is possible. HPV is quite problematic to detect, since it occurs without the appearance of characteristic symptoms. Each type of virus causes the development of one or another pathology, which is accompanied by the appearance of certain symptoms.

Symptoms of the disease

Experts identify several types of pathologies, the development of which is provoked by the papilloma virus:

Warts are painless formations of dense consistency, which have a round and slightly convex shape. Such neoplasms are no different from the skin, and most often the place of their localization is the skin of the soles and palms. Warts can appear on other parts of the body and usually do not cause any pain to their owner. The only drawback that such formations on the skin have is the deterioration of the aesthetic appearance.
Bowenoid papulosis is a pathology that is accompanied by the formation of rashes on the skin in the genital area. Most often, the place of their localization is the labia majora in the weaker sex and the head of the penis in men. With this disease, rashes appear in the form of thickened plaques, slightly rising above the skin. The insidiousness of this pathology lies in the fact that it can transform into skin cancer.
Genital warts are represented by peculiar warts that affect the skin of the genital organs and mucous membranes. Such neoplasms most often occur on the skin of the foreskin and head of the penis in men, and in women the dermis of the labia is covered with condylomas. In addition, such warts can affect other organs and tissues, for example, the bladder or the neck of the reproductive organ. Externally, condylomas resemble small convex formations with uneven edges.
Bowen's disease is a pathology that is diagnosed in the stronger sex. It is characterized by the appearance on the skin of moist plaques with velvety edges, colored red and having uneven edges. Such a plaque can persist in a man for a long time, and it is also possible for it to grow and transform into a malignant tumor.
A more serious clinical manifestation of the papilloma virus in women is considered to be cervical intraepithelial neoplasia or its oncology. It is this manifestation of infection that is most often detected in the fairer sex. A common cancer caused by HPV is cervical cancer.

Unfortunately, such dangerous pathologies often occur asymptomatically in women’s bodies until the final stages, when the effectiveness of drug therapy is significantly reduced.

Detection of HPV in the human body is carried out using the following methods:

Examination of the skin and mucous membranes in those places where there is a large accumulation of warts and genital warts. For representatives of the fairer sex, the cervix is examined on a gynecological chair using mirrors.
Colposcopy is a method of more thorough examination of the cervix of the reproductive organ in women, which is carried out using a special apparatus. With its help, a specialist examines the surface and also performs some diagnostic tests. Typically, colposcopy does not cause pain or severe discomfort in patients.
Cytological analysis of the cervix is a method of examining the organ, which experts advise periodically to be carried out on every patient. It involves studying a scraping under a microscope, the collection of which was carried out from the mucous membrane. As human papillomavirus infection progresses in the female body, a change in the appearance of organ cells is observed. Carrying out a cytological analysis makes it possible to diagnose cervical cancer at the very beginning of its development, when there are still no characteristic symptoms.
involves the study of organ tissue, and with its help it is possible to diagnose the presence of HPV in the body and identify cancer at the very beginning of its development. During an examination by a gynecologist, a piece of tissue is taken, which is subsequently examined under a microscope. If altered cells are present, the specialist determines the extent of their damage and gives the woman a diagnosis.
used to detect papilloma virus DNA in absolutely any material. The negative side of this method is the fact that it can give false positive results.
Digene-Test is considered one of the highly accurate diagnostic methods. With its help, it is possible not only to identify human papillomavirus infection, but also to determine the type and degree of its oncogenicity.

Papilloma virus and pregnancy

The presence of the papilloma virus in a woman’s body does not reduce the chances of successful conception and normal pregnancy. When diagnosing a patient with HPV of high oncogenic risk and planning pregnancy, it is recommended to consult a specialist who will conduct.

If the test results are normal, then pregnancy is not a contraindication. If undesirable changes in the cervix are detected, a woman should undergo the necessary treatment and only then begin planning a pregnancy.

If a woman has had condylomas in the past, pregnancy is not prohibited, because these types of viruses do not have any effect on a woman’s ability to conceive a child and successfully carry it to term.

If such warts are present on the skin at the moment, the patient is recommended to undergo treatment and only then plan a child.

In fact, the papilloma virus is not dangerous for the unborn child and is not capable of causing any developmental abnormalities in him. In addition, HPV does not increase the risk of miscarriages, premature onset of labor and other complications. The risk that a child will become infected with the virus from his mother is minimally low, but even if this happens, the child’s body usually successfully copes with such an infection.

Features of treatment of papilloma virus

There are many methods of treating HPV and the correct one is prescribed by the doctor after examination.

To date, there are no specific treatment regimens for human papillomavirus infection, and the choice of one or another therapy is determined by the type of disease, its stage and other factors.

All treatment methods used in medicine only help eliminate the external manifestations of the papilloma virus, but are not able to completely remove it from the body. It is recommended to resort to the removal of warts on various parts of the body only if they begin to actively increase in size and cause pain. If the warts do not cause any trouble and do not spoil the aesthetic appearance, then getting rid of them is not at all necessary.

The main methods of treating warts are:

cryodestruction
radio wave coagulation
laser therapy
electrocoagulation
surgical removal
Solcoderm
use of chemicals

It is necessary to understand that even after mechanical removal of genital warts, the papilloma virus remains in the human body, so there is always a danger of relapse of the disease. To reduce the likelihood of relapse, mechanical methods of treating wart disease are recommended to be combined with antiviral therapy.

More information about HPV can be found in the video:

The main drugs used in medical practice to combat human papillomavirus infection are:

Interferons
Isoprinosine

In addition, medications are prescribed whose action is aimed at suppressing cells affected by the virus. Products are used to help the body produce its interferons. Treatment with:

Podophyllina
Podophyllotoxin
Cycloferon
Amiksina

Women have a much higher risk of developing it than men, so it is they who are recommended to undergo drug therapy. An important place in the life of every person should be occupied by preventive measures aimed at increasing the body's defenses. After all, the progression of human papillomavirus infection in the body begins when the immune system is disrupted, so it is important to maintain its functioning at a high level.

The World Health Organization studied HPV, which is the short name for the human papillomavirus, and found that more than 60% of people on Earth are infected with it. Moreover, some of them are only carriers, while in others it manifests itself in the form of papillomatosis of the skin and mucous membranes, but in some cases the human papillomavirus causes cell degeneration and cancer.

Such a high prevalence and oncogenicity of this virus has aroused particular interest among doctors and scientists in it. The development of a vaccine against the human papillomavirus has been underway for a long time. It is not possible to completely destroy HPV, although there are already ways to detect it, and even a vaccine. Difficulties in fighting the virus arise due to the nature of its spread and the lack of medications for a complete cure. What is the human papillomavirus, how to avoid getting infected with it, the symptoms of the disease, what the treatment consists of, the peculiarities of its course in women and men, as well as preventive measures - we will consider such questions below.

How is human papillomavirus transmitted?

Many people are interested in how you can become infected with the human papillomavirus? Surprisingly, you can become infected in different ways, which contributes to the spread of the virus around the globe. The virus is transmitted from one person to another through contact and household contact, that is, it is impossible to avoid infection due to the fact that a person cannot live outside of society and not use household items.

The worst thing is that even a newborn baby can get this virus from the mother during childbirth, when it passes through the birth canal. In many cases, this is detected already in the first years of life, when the baby develops papillomas in the mouth and on the skin.

How is the human papillomavirus transmitted and spread? Most often you can become infected in the following cases.

Of course, there are HPVs that affect certain organs and tissues, but their high prevalence in the population often causes illness. But what about those 40% of the population in whom the virus is not detected? The fact is that the virus cannot always survive in a strong body; there are factors that contribute to its survival.

Causes of infection

In what cases a person becomes infected with HPV or becomes its carrier is easy to determine. Our immune system fights any foreign elements that enter the skin or body.

When a small amount of the virus enters a healthy body with good immunity, the immune cells destroy it and infection does not occur. But if a person is weakened, he has metabolic disorders.

People become infected with the virus if they have:

Why is the human papillomavirus dangerous if it is so difficult to avoid infection with it?

Types of strains and diseases they cause

Several strains of HPV have been identified, each of them adapted to live in certain human cells. Many strains, for example 2, 4, 26, 29, 57, cause the development of common warts on the skin. Others are capable of causing the development of genital warts (6, 42, 11, 54), but at the same time, strains 6 and 11 can be detected in the respiratory tract or in cancer of the lungs, neck, and head.

The ability of a virus to increase the likelihood of developing a tumor by changing the cells of the human body is called oncogenicity. Therefore, among human papilloma viruses, there are strains that do not have this ability, and when infected, a person develops warts, papillomas on the skin and mucous membranes. They can also be dangerous, but are fairly easily treated with surgery. After their removal, they rarely recur and are therefore classified as benign neoplasms.

The human papillomavirus of a particularly high oncogenic type most often affects the reproductive organs of women. The strains that cause it are human papillomavirus types 16 and 18. Cancer-causing strains can also include 31, 39, 35, 33 and many other strains. Therefore, they are the ones who are trying to identify them in women when testing for HPV.

The presence of such strains in a woman’s body can lead to serious cancer, such as cervical cancer or squamous cell carcinoma.

Symptoms of the disease

Signs of diseases caused by the human papillomavirus vary. It depends on the strain the person is infected with. When infected with a strain that causes the development of papillomas and warts, they appear on the skin and mucous membranes, but this is not the only sign. How else does the human papillomavirus manifest itself? One of the most striking manifestations of HPV is genital warts. These are mastoid formations of pink color, most often they are lighter than the mucous membrane, but sometimes they have a brighter color. Gathering in a group of several pieces, they look like a rooster's comb or a cauliflower inflorescence. Their detection indicates that the patient has HPV, which needs to be treated.

Symptoms of human papillomavirus in men may differ from those found in women. Of course, this is due to the different structure of their reproductive organs. The mucous membrane of the vagina and cervix is more favorable for the virus. It is there that genital warts arise, and they can degenerate and become malignant. Their appearance, as well as changes in the skin and oral mucosa, are clear symptoms of the human papillomavirus.

Signs of human papillomavirus infection in women

The human papillomavirus in women affects the mucous membrane of the reproductive organs and the cervix. Sometimes polyps, the development of which is also associated with HPV, can also form in the uterine cavity, which can cause bleeding and infertility in young women. But an even greater danger is the ability of the virus to affect mucosal cells and change them.

Some highly oncogenic types of human papillomavirus in women are capable of changing mucosal cells in the cervix, which causes dysplasia and aplasia. This is uncontrolled reproduction, which in more than half of cases leads to the development of a malignant tumor. Most often, cancer of the cervix is caused by human papilloma viruses type 16 or 18.

Viruses 6 and 11 are also often detected, which contribute to the formation of genital and flat condylomas - they are considered a precancerous disease, as they often precede dysplasia. Treatment consists of their mandatory removal, followed by histological examination of the tissue under a microscope.

The human papillomavirus is also dangerous during pregnancy. Although the virus does not penetrate the amniotic fluid and thus cannot infect the child, there is a high probability of infection if a woman has genital warts in her vagina. Then the child can become infected during childbirth, which leads to the development of papillomatosis of the oral cavity and pharynx.

Treatment against the papilloma virus is not carried out during pregnancy, since medications can have an adverse effect on the fetus. Only in the third trimester can certain antiviral drugs be prescribed. Therefore, if you are planning to become pregnant, you need to undergo an examination in advance and be tested for various infections so that this does not harm your baby.

Human papillomavirus infection in men

Human papillomavirus is also common in men, but due to differences in the structure of the genital organs, it usually affects the skin around the anus and the rectal mucosa.

It is in these areas that the development of genital warts is observed, and they often lead to squamous cell carcinoma of the rectum.

Methods for detecting human papillomavirus

The high oncogenicity of some HPV strains requires their timely detection. For this purpose, several tests have been developed that can detect the virus if its concentration in tissues is increased and can cause their degeneration. There is, of course, a test for cytological examination of cells (PAP test), which is included in a number of preventive measures when examining women, but a cytological examination can show already changed cells, and this analysis is not specific for HPV.

A laboratory test for human papillomavirus is called an HPV test. It differs from the PAP test in that it is performed using a polymerase chain reaction (PCR). It allows you to isolate and study the DNA of viruses of a certain type and their concentration in the collected material.

How are women usually tested for human papillomavirus? Usually, this is done by scraping from the cervix, less often from the urethra or cervical canal. This test is very specific and allows you to identify not only the type of virus, but also its concentration in tissues. Test shown:

when genital warts are detected in the genital and anal areas;
if the PAP test reveals cell degeneration (dysplasia);
during a preventive examination.

Detection of the virus during an HPV test does not always indicate cancer. So, in the absence of dysplasia, the woman remains under observation and the test is repeated after 6 months. Repeated detection of HPV, especially its highly oncogenic strains 16 and 18, indicates the risk of developing an oncological tumor in the cervix and the need for treatment. Antiviral and immunomodulating drugs are used for treatment. The examination must be repeated, since the high concentration of these strains suggests that the patient is at risk.

A positive HPV test with second-degree cervical dysplasia requires surgical intervention, namely removal of the uterus, an operation called extirpation. Not only the affected uterine tissue is removed, but in some cases it is necessary to remove the fallopian tubes and ovaries. This is necessary if there is a suspicion of tumor metastasis. Computer, magnetic resonance imaging, PET-CT helps to identify early metastasis.

Treatment of human papillomavirus

When human papillomavirus is detected in women, treatment is most often surgical. Pointed papillomas are removed by excision; sometimes cauterization is used with a laser, electrocoagulator, or cryotherapy. A histological examination of the tissue must be done to exclude degeneration into a cancerous tumor. Therefore, the method of cryotherapy for genital warts is not always indicated, since the cells are damaged more during such removal, which can lead to erroneous analysis.

For flat condylomas, which are more often found on the cervix or vaginal mucosa, a biopsy is done. That is, they take a piece of tissue for analysis, and if there is no dysplasia, then they cut out the condyloma along with a section of adjacent tissue. When cell degeneration is detected, a more radical operation is required, and in some cases extirpation.

How else can human papillomavirus be treated? When there is no cell dysplasia, antiviral drugs are prescribed. Before prescribing, you need to determine the type of virus, since prescription regimens and medications used for them are different for different types of virus. There is no point in taking antiviral medications without a doctor's prescription, since many of them are ineffective against some types of HPV. At the same time, it is necessary to use nonspecific treatment, which is aimed at increasing general immunity.

Can human papillomavirus be cured? Unfortunately, it is impossible to completely get rid of it. Once infected, a person remains a carrier for life. You can only reduce its activity, and for this you need to promptly remove papillomas and condylomas, take antiviral drugs prescribed by the doctor, and, most importantly, help the body overcome the virus itself. A healthy lifestyle is not just a word; a person who takes care of his health, eats right, plays sports, thereby increases his immunity. A good immune system can prevent infection and prevent the virus from developing quietly in the body, causing disease.

Will traditional treatment help?

If the human papillomavirus is detected in a woman, then treatment with folk remedies cannot be carried out!

Folk remedies cope well with skin papillomas or warts, so many try to cure condylomas in the same way. This is dangerous and in some cases has the opposite effect, increasing uterine dysplasia. Removal must be carried out in medical clinics in order to necessarily conduct a histological examination of the material for dysplasia.

Among the folk remedies, those that help increase overall immunity may be useful. Many of them can also be used in children to avoid contracting the virus at home.

Specific and nonspecific prevention

As for methods of nonspecific prevention, these are, of course, maintaining hygiene, rules of conduct in public places, increasing general immunity and the need to avoid promiscuous sexual intercourse.

Methods of specific prevention are vaccines, the development of which has been carried out for more than 30 years. Currently, there is a vaccine called Gardasil, which is used to vaccinate children and young girls before they become sexually active. The vaccine can be used starting from 9 years of age. In adults, the result of vaccination has no effect, since the vaccine does not work when infection has already occurred. The Gardasil vaccine is aimed at the 4 most common strains of the human papillomavirus, namely 16, 18 and 6, 11. And if you are already infected with any of these types of virus, then vaccination will help you avoid infection with the others.

The human papillomavirus, especially some of its highly oncogenic types, often leads to the development of a malignant tumor, so you need to promptly consult a doctor if you suspect infection and undergo regular preventive examinations. Under no circumstances should you self-medicate, as there are many observations where cell dysplasia increased during self-medication, which significantly changed the prognosis of the disease and could lead to metastasis.

Human papillomavirus infection is a pathophysiological lesion that develops in the human body and provokes the appearance of both genital warts and warts in intimate areas.

Certain strains of the virus can cause more severe changes - the appearance of tumors.

Medical designation (according to ICD-10): numerical definition as an infection - B 97.7 and as the initiator of the occurrence of viral warts - B 07.

In English terminology, HPV is referred to as HPV.

We will tell you what it is - human papillomavirus in women (HPV, papillomavirus), what the infection looks like in the photo, what are the causes, symptoms and signs, what is the treatment.

Causes and routes of infection

Where does the human papillomavirus come from in women, who can be a carrier of HPV and what is it?

The main way a woman becomes infected is through unprotected sex., which, as a method of infection, ensures the transmission of strains leading to the appearance of genital warts.

However, transmission routes are not limited to sexual contact.

Risk factors:

violation of personal hygiene (using other people's towels, razors, scissors);
intrauterine development in the body of a mother affected by HPV;
visiting saunas, gyms and showers with improper sanitary treatment;
using poorly disinfected instruments;
wearing someone else's clothes.

The risk group includes women taking contraceptive medications or who have had sexually transmitted diseases.

The danger lies in the simultaneous transmission of sexually transmitted infections - gonorrhea, syphilis - together with HPV, therefore Unprotected sex may result in complex infection of the body.

The use of cesarean section also increases the risk of virus entry through epithelial tissue.

Under equal infection conditions Women who have a weakened immune system are more likely to be infected with HPV(chronic decline in immunity, acute respiratory infections, flu, stress, chronic fatigue).

Watch the video about the causes and symptoms:

Types and types of HPV: classification, list of strains of high oncogenicity

Modern technologies have made it possible to identify more than 100 types of human HPV, which differ significantly in the degree of danger.

The presence of highly oncogenic human papillomavirus (oncogenic HPV) increases the risk of developing cancer in women, especially the cervix.

Certain varieties of HPV can remain in the human body throughout life, but do not provoke the appearance of dangerous conditions - these are strains of the non-oncogenic group.

Completely non-oncogenic HPV types. 1, 2, 4, 5 are strains that do not lead to pathogenic changes in tissues and dermis.
Low danger strains. Types 40–44, together with 3, 11, 13, 32, 34, 51,61, 72, 73 and 6, with good immunity, do not provoke degenerative changes, but with prolonged exposure to negative factors they sometimes lead to the appearance of malignant tumors.
HPV medium risk - 52, 53, 56, 58 and 30, 35, 45.

HPV strains of high oncogenic risk in women. , mammary glands, cervix - these are the consequences of the influence of the most dangerous strains.

Full list: 50, 59, 68, 64, 70 and 16, 18, 31, 33, 39. These types of HPV are the most dangerous for women, they can even change the DNA of cells that begin to malfunction.

There is also direct dependence on the location of the growths on the body and the type of infection: HPV types 1, 2, 4 lead to the appearance of warts on the sole of the foot, HPV 13 and 32 - on the mucous membranes of the mouth, HPV 30, 11, 6 - on the pulmonary tract.

Pointed neoplasms are formed when exposed to HPV types 11 and 6, 54 and 42.

Development algorithm: symptoms and signs, photos

HPV infection occurs without the appearance of sharp signs of infection, as happens with venereal diseases.

A sluggish process, not associated with manifestations of relapses, develops slowly until it manifests itself completely or is destroyed by the body.

Incubation period of HPV in women. The asymptomatic development of HPV lasts about three months, during which the infection multiplies (virus replication occurs) and affects healthy tissue.

Sometimes the latent stage lasts only 16 days or reaches a long period - up to 12 months.

In 80–90% of cases, the immunity of young women under 25 years of age copes with the pathology, eliminating the infection (natural elimination). In the remaining 10–20%, the virus becomes more active and enters the chronic stage.

Activity stage. Signs of infection can be detected even with the naked eye - skin tumors appear and grow rapidly.

A decline in immunity can lead to decreased energy and relapses of chronic diseases.

Signs of HPV and differences from other neoplasms. After activation of the virus, vaginal lesions are often diagnosed, characterized by bacterial vaginosis and itching in the intimate area.

The main differences: papillomas are characterized by their ability to change color, although moles are not characterized by shade transformation.

How HPV (human papillomavirus) manifests itself in women: there is a burning sensation at the site of the papilloma, and a colorless liquid may flow out of it, causing inflammation.

Neoplasms due to HPV infection:

exophytic condylomas. They include large genital warts and small ones, which are compared in appearance to “cauliflower”;
flat warts. Localized on the mucous membrane of the cervix and vagina;
vestibular papillomatosis. It appears in the area of the vestibule of the vagina, on which small but large numbers of papilloma-like growths grow.

Papillomas should also be distinguished from moles by their structure, which usually do not contain blood vessels in their structure, but consist of melanocytes.

However, exact confirmation of the identity of the formation on the skin is provided by a medical study - a biopsy.

This manifestation of HPV, such as a sudden and intense formation of skin growths on the body, indicates a decline in immunity and the progression of HPV in women.

Symptoms and signs of the presence of human papillomavirus on the body and face in the photo:

Who to contact and how to identify papillomavirus

How to detect HPV in women? If you are concerned about condylomas in the intimate area - consult a gynecologist, if on other parts of the body - see a dermatologist.

In the absence of visible manifestations of the disease, you can visit a therapist who will refer you for tests to determine the types of HPV (after studying the results, adequate treatment is prescribed).

To remove tumors, you need visit a surgeon.

Strains are identified by several methods, among them - PCR (a swab is taken from the woman’s urethra) and blood test.

If changes in the cervix are suspected, material for examination is taken from this area, and diagnosed using the Papanicolaou method.

A cystological smear from a scraping of the skin or mucous membrane is uninformative, since it detects only large clusters of pathogens, while PCR detects even single viruses.

The most advanced - Digene test, which has the greatest sensitivity to detecting different strains. It allows you to most effectively diagnose viral DNA fragments in the cells and tissues of the body.

Danger, consequences

Why is human papillomavirus dangerous in women? Lack of treatment leads to disfigurement of the skin, on which unaesthetic changes form, and the presence of oncogenic varieties provokes the occurrence of cancer.

With HPV, dysplasia can also be observed - a precancerous condition that transforms the nuclei of epithelial cells. If detected early, it can be treated conservatively; if detected late, it can only be treated surgically.

The most dangerous combination is considered identified combination of 16 and 18 HPV strains leading to rapid cell mutations. In these patients, prompt treatment is indicated to minimize potential harm. The treatment prognosis is favorable if the patient follows all the doctor’s recommendations, but you will have to pay attention to your health for the rest of your life.

Prevention measures

Maintaining immunity - a fundamentally important way to prevent infection.

The second most important condition includes limiting contact with infected people, third - maintaining hygiene when visiting the pool, bathhouse, and other public places.

Other effective ways to prevent infection:

use barrier methods of contraception when having sex with casual partners;
refuse to use other people's things and hygiene products;
play sports, avoid a sedentary lifestyle;
Periodically visit a therapist and get tested for HPV.

Another well-known method of prevention is vaccination., but vaccination helps protect against only four species (16 and 18, 6 and 11).

The most famous vaccine is the German Gardasil, which is supplemented by a separate variant called Gardasil 9, which also includes additional types of HPV (52 and 58, 33 and 45, 31).

Cervarix (UK) is used only to affect strains of types 16 and 18.

Human papillomavirus in women - treatment and prevention:

Now you know where it comes from, how the papillomavirus manifests itself in women, which of them are dangerous, and how to identify them.

HPV carries certain health risks, however, by choosing the proper therapy, the damage from the virus can be minimized.

Particular attention is necessary if high oncogenic virus types are identified. A virus that is in a latent form and does not lead to degenerative changes is not subject to serious treatment.

Human papillomavirus infection is a disease that belongs to the group of infectious diseases and is transmitted between people through sexual contact. And even if a person does not have visible manifestations of this disease, this disease is still quite serious and dangerous. Moreover, every year doctors note a general increase in the number of patients with this disease.

The causative agent of human papillomavirus infection

Papillomatosis in humans manifests itself as a consequence of exposure to a virus belonging to the papovirus family. This virus belongs to the group of viruses containing DNA . The structure of the virus contains nucleic acid , which has transformative and infectious properties.

Human papillomavirus can be detected on mucous membranes and human skin. It can also be contained in other organs: in the rectum, in the esophagus, in the genitals, etc. According to experts, the virus initially affects the basal cells, after which they transform and divide. As a result, a person develops papilloma .

To date, more than 100 papilloma viruses have been isolated, which differ in the variety of species and tissue specificity. characterized by species and tissue specificity. Damage to certain human tissues and organs occurs depending on the type of virus. Moreover, the papilloma virus in men and women is very often combined with exposure to other pathogens that provoke the development of sexually transmitted diseases.

For a long time, it was generally accepted that this virus is the sole cause of warts , How skin , so genital . However, there is currently information that papillomaviruses have oncogenic properties, therefore, they can provoke cancer.

The fact is that when epithelial cells are infected with the human papillomavirus, they develop neoplasia (this phenomenon is characterized by a change in the normal structure of cells), having both a benign and malignant nature. Some of the human papillomaviruses provoke the process of activation of the oncogenes of the virus. They not only directly affect the cell cycle, but also inhibit the effects of blocking proteins. As a result, a process of malignancy may occur. However, it should be noted that all papilloma viruses can be divided into two different subtypes: with a low and a high degree of oncogenic risk.

If a person becomes infected with a virus with a low degree of oncogenicity, then the infected person will eventually develop genital warts, as well as mild ones.

Human papillomavirus types 16 and 18, which are highly oncogenic, can provoke the development of precancerous diseases.

Risk factors affecting infection with human papillomavirus infection

Much more often, human papillomavirus infection is detected in women if they constantly have a large number of sexual partners and do not lead an orderly sex life. A high risk of infection with this virus also occurs among those girls who began sexual activity very early, as well as those who ignore barrier contraception, in particular the condom.

The catalyst for the progression of the virus in the female body is also bad habits - constant drinking of alcohol, heavy smoking. Risk factors are inflammatory processes in the body and immunosuppressive diseases.

In turn, it is infection with the human papillomavirus that later becomes the cause of the development of cancer. Studies conducted over many years indicate that in women, HPV often becomes one of the causes of severe illnesses - vaginal cancer And vulva , squamous cell carcinoma of the cervix .

Therefore, it is important to know that transmission of the disease occurs mainly through sexual contact, as well as through household contacts, during medical procedures and during the passage of the baby through the birth canal. There is also confirmed information about the infection of doctors during medical procedures.

A patient with human papillomavirus is contagious to a sexual partner.

Human papillomavirus infection in women and men is often combined with other diseases that a person contracts through sexual contact. Moreover, in case urogenital , and some other diseases, the progression of HPV infection occurs much more actively.

As a result, both diseases become chronic, and the patient’s genitourinary area undergoes pathological changes and inflammatory processes develop. At the same time, diseases are very difficult to treat. If the patient has a human papillomavirus infection and a sexually transmitted disease, the overall treatment period lasts much longer, and relapses often occur.

In addition to the above factors, the development or recurrence of HPV is facilitated by a general deterioration in the functions of the body’s immune system, severe hormonal imbalance, and some medical interventions (, introduction ). The risk of infection also increases in pregnant women. People whose bodies lack a number of vitamins are more susceptible to infection by the virus.

Manifestations of human papillomavirus infection

The papilloma virus in men and women does not manifest visible symptoms for quite a long period of time. But at the same time, the virus develops active life activity in the human body, which ultimately leads to negative consequences. According to medical statistics, mild dysplasia becomes severe in approximately 10% of cases; moderate degree of dysplasia – in 20% of cases; severe dysplasia gradually turns into cancer in 12% of cases. However, the periods of transition from one stage of the disease to another are quite long. Therefore, both the patient and the doctor have time to do everything to prevent the future development of cancer.

The duration of the disease can last for a different period of time - from one month to one year. But on average it lasts from three to six months.

Most often the disease affects young people. Human papillomavirus infection can develop in different ways: its symptoms are very diverse. In most cases, papillomavirus infection manifests itself in the patient genital warts , flat and inverted condylomas with internal growth , papillary varieties of condylomas .

Condylomas acuminata form on the patient’s skin and mucous membranes. They have a wide base or a very thin stalk, and can look like a single nodule or multiple outgrowths. This formation on the skin looks like a cauliflower or cockscomb.

At internal (endophytic) In the formation of condylomas, the disease is quite difficult to diagnose, since there is no pronounced damage to the epithelium.

On the genitals in places where there are injuries or there is constant contact with moisture, g genital warts . In women, such formations affect the vagina, labia minora, cervix, area near the anus, and skin on the genitals. When a man is infected, genital warts appear on the head of the penis, near the foreskin, and in the perianal area.

When a person is infected with human papillomavirus type 16, the so-called bowenoid papules . These formations are similar to ordinary or seborrheic keratoses. This type of disease is most often diagnosed in young people and is combined with genital warts and. Such formations disappear spontaneously, but in some cases they can become malignant.

The color of genital warts can be flesh-colored, pink, or red. Sometimes itching occurs at the sites where papillomas appear, and due to the fact that they are easily injured, pain occurs in the areas of their development. During the period when condylomas increase especially intensively, the patient may feel a burning sensation, and sometimes ulcers appear at the sites of such formations.

Rarely, condylomas that appear on the external genitalia change into the so-called giant Buschke-Levenshtein condyloma . Initially, small wart-like formations appear on the genitals, which grow very quickly and merge into a single formation. As such a condyloma grows, the underlying tissues are destroyed, but still such a formation very rarely turns into a malignant form.

In children, papilloma infection causes laryngeal papillomatosis and the appearance of genital warts. The virus is transmitted to the child transplacentally, as well as during the passage of the baby through the birth canal. Sometimes a baby becomes infected through domestic means after birth.

During pregnancy, very often an infected woman experiences a relapse of the disease. At the same time, condylomas grow and become loose. After childbirth, the disease usually regresses.

Diagnosis of human papillomavirus infection

Due to the fact that it is very easy to determine the presence of genital warts and papillomatous growths even without special instruments, diagnosing the disease is a simple process. However, in the initial stages of the disease, when condylomas are poorly expressed and resemble only a rough surface, identifying them is quite problematic. Therefore, cytology of biopsy specimens and smears is considered an important method for establishing a diagnosis. The so-called Pap test is performed if there is damage to the woman’s cervix and vagina. If specialists determine that a patient has koilocytosis (we are talking about necrosis of the cytoplasm and the appearance of balloon-like cells), then this sign is considered a criterion for assessing papilloma infection of the genital organs. During the diagnostic process, the necessary information can be obtained by using colposcopy, in which the area of probable damage is treated with 3% acetic acid. As a result, the lesions become white-gray.

If the patient has no symptoms of the disease, or they are not clearly expressed, then the polymerase chain reaction technique is sometimes used for diagnosis. This test also makes it possible to determine what type of virus a person is infected with.

Treatment of human papillomavirus infection

If we evaluate the total number of infectious diseases, then HPV infection is the most widespread. But, unfortunately, at present medicine offers practically no methods to completely get rid of this disease.

Consequently, treatment of human papillomavirus infection is aimed, first of all, at getting rid of condylomas, as well as at creating conditions under which the virus multiplies and progresses as slowly as possible.

By using different methods of therapy, you can get rid of genital warts in most cases. But in about a quarter of cases there is a relapse of the disease, which occurs within three months.

If treatment for the human papillomavirus is not practiced at all, then sometimes genital warts can disappear on their own. However, there is a high probability that without treatment, condylomas will progress. In addition, it is important to conduct additional research to determine the presence of sexually transmitted diseases and treat them.

When choosing treatment methods, the doctor does not allow the use of toxic therapy, as well as procedures that contribute to the appearance of scars and scars. Treatment of the disease is prescribed taking into account where the condylomas are localized, how the disease manifests itself, what ailments accompany it, and what is the general condition of the human body. The treatment regimen should be selected exclusively individually.

Today, there are many different methods of treating human papillomavirus infection. In particular, surgical excision of formations, cryotherapy, laser therapy, the use of electrosurgical methods, and diathermocoagulation are practiced as destructive methods.

Among the chemical methods of therapy, treatment with nitric acid, pheresol, and trichloroacetic acid is practiced.

In addition, in the treatment of human papillomavirus, cytotoxic drugs are used: , 5-fluorouracil, . In the process of combined treatment, they are also used. It is combination treatment that is most preferable.

When treating pregnant women, you should not hesitate, so that therapy is carried out as early as possible. In this case, only physical destructive treatment methods are practiced, for example, cryotherapy.

During the treatment process, it is important to know that a person is not a carrier of this virus for life. However, if the virus is detected three times, and the intervals between disease progression are 4 months, then the risk of epithelial cancer increases 14 times.

For any manifestations of human papillomavirus infection, you should under no circumstances undertake independent and unsystematic treatment, so as not to provoke complications.

The doctors

Medicines

Prevention of human papillomavirus infection

By adhering to methods of preventing human papillomavirus infection, you can significantly reduce the risk of certain cancer pathologies in women and men. There are several types of preventive methods. Thus, as a primary prevention of papillomavirus, it is important to timely identify foci of infection and risk factors that contribute to its spread. Also considered primary methods of prevention are vaccination against human papillomavirus. The most effective impact of such a vaccine will be if it is administered to young people before the onset of sexual activity.

Methods of secondary prevention of this infection include the use of screening diagnostic programs, which allows the disease to be diagnosed as early as possible.

Tertiary prevention involves reducing the likelihood of relapses in people already infected with human papillomavirus.

One of the most important aspects in the prevention of the disease is considered to be educational work among adolescents who are about to start sexual relations. Young people should be clearly aware of the risk of contracting papillomavirus and other sexually transmitted diseases.

A simple but very effective method of prevention is the use of condoms during sexual contact with non-regular sexual partners. If a person is diagnosed with an infection, it is important to examine all sexual partners of the infected person over the past year.

Diet, nutrition for papillomavirus infection

List of sources

Dmitriev G.A., Bitkina O.A. Human papillomavirus infection. - M.: Medical book, 2006;
Molochkov V.A., Kiselev V.I., Rudykh I.V., Shcherbo S.N. Human papillomavirus infection. A manual for doctors. - M.; Publishing House "Russian Doctor", - 2004;
Bitkina O.A., Ovsyanikova R.D. Diseases caused by the human papilloma virus. - M., 2004;
Govorun V.M., Shkarupeta M.M., Portnova N.I., Baitsur M.V. Human papillomavirus infection: a manual for doctors. M.: NPF "Litekh", 2009.

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is an extremely common sexually transmitted infection in the world.

The peculiarity of this infection is that it may not manifest itself for many years, but ultimately lead to the development of benign (papilloma) or malignant (cervical cancer) diseases of the genital organs.

Types of human papillomavirus

More than 100 types of HPV are known. Types are unique “subspecies” of the virus that differ from each other. Types are designated by numbers that were assigned to them as they were discovered.

The high oncogenic risk group consists of 14 types: 16, 18, 31, 33, 35, 39, 45, 51, 52, 56, 58, 59, 66, 68 (these types are related to the development of cervical cancer).

In addition, types of low oncogenic risk are known (mainly 6 and 11). They lead to the formation of anogenital warts (genital warts, papillomas). Papillomas are located on the mucous membrane of the vulva, vagina, in the perianal area, and on the skin of the genital organs. They almost never become malignant, but they lead to significant cosmetic defects in the genital area. Warts on other parts of the body (arms, legs, face) can also be caused by these types of viruses, or may have a different origin. In subsequent articles we will separately discuss the “high risk” and “low risk” types of HPV.

Infection with human papillomavirus

The virus is transmitted mainly through sexual contact. Sooner or later, almost all women become infected with HPV: up to 90% of sexually active women will encounter this infection during their lifetime.

But there is good news: the majority of those infected (about 90%) will get rid of HPV without any medical intervention within two years.

This is the normal course of the infectious process caused by HPV in the human body. This time is enough for the human immune system to completely get rid of the virus. In such a situation, HPV will not cause any harm to the body. That is, if HPV was discovered some time ago, but now it is not there, this is absolutely normal!

It must be taken into account that the immune system works at different speeds in different people. In this regard, the speed of getting rid of HPV may be different among sexual partners. Therefore, it is possible that one of the partners has HPV, but the other does not.

Most people become infected with HPV soon after becoming sexually active, and many never know they have been infected with HPV. Stable immunity is not formed after infection, so re-infection is possible both with the same virus that has already been encountered, and with other types of virus.

“High-risk” HPV is dangerous because it can lead to the development of cervical cancer and some other types of cancer. “High-risk” HPV does not cause any other problems.
HPV does not lead to inflammation of the vaginal/cervical mucosa, menstrual irregularities or infertility.

HPV does not affect the ability to conceive or carry a pregnancy.
“High-risk” HPV is not transmitted to a child during pregnancy and childbirth.
Diagnosis of human papillomavirus

It is almost pointless to take an HPV test for high oncogenic risk before the age of 25 (except for those women who begin sexual activity early (before 18 years of age)), since at this time there is a very high probability of detecting a virus that will soon leave the body on its own.

After 25–30 years, it makes sense to get tested:

together with a cytology analysis (PAP test). If there are both changes in the PAP test and “high-risk” HPV, then this situation requires special attention;
Long-term persistence of “high-risk” HPV in the absence of cytological changes also requires attention. Recently, the sensitivity of HPV testing in the prevention of cervical cancer has been shown to be higher than the sensitivity of cytological testing, and therefore HPV testing alone (without cytological testing) has been approved as a stand-alone test for the prevention of cervical cancer in the United States. However, in Russia an annual cytological examination is recommended, so a combination of these two studies seems reasonable;
after treatment of dysplasia/precancer/cervical cancer (the absence of HPV in the analysis after treatment almost always indicates successful treatment).
For the study, it is necessary to obtain a smear from the cervical canal (it is also possible to study material from the vagina, however, as part of screening, it is recommended to obtain material from the cervix).

The analysis must be taken:

1 time per year (if “high-risk” HPV was previously detected and the test is taken together with a cytological examination);
Once every 5 years, if the previous test was negative.

There is almost never a need to get tested for HPV of low oncogenic risk. If there are no papillomas, then this analysis does not make sense in principle (carriage of the virus is possible, there is no treatment for the virus, so what to do next with the test result is unknown).

If there are papillomas, then:

most often they are caused by HPV;
they must be removed regardless of whether we detect 6/11 types or not;
if you take a smear, then directly from the papillomas themselves, and not from the vagina/cervix.

There are tests to detect different types of HPV. If you periodically get tested for HPV, pay attention to which specific types are included in the test. Some laboratories do research only for types 16 and 18, others - for all types together. It is also possible to take a test that will identify all 14 “high-risk” types of virus in a quantitative format. Quantitative characteristics are important for predicting the likelihood of developing precancer and cervical cancer. These tests should be used in the context of cervical cancer prevention, and not as a stand-alone test. An HPV test without cytology results (PAP test) most often does not allow any conclusions to be drawn about the patient’s health status.

There is no analysis that will determine whether the virus will “go away” in a particular patient or not.

Treatment of human papillomavirus

There is no drug treatment for HPV. There are methods for treating conditions caused by HPV (papillomas, dysplasia, precancer, cervical cancer).
This treatment should be carried out using surgical methods (cryocoagulation, laser, radioknife).

No “immunostimulants” are related to the treatment of HPV and should not be used. None of the drugs widely known in Russia (Allokin-Alfa, Isoprinosin, Groprinosin, etc.) have undergone adequate testing to show their effectiveness and safety. These drugs are not included in any protocols/standards/recommendations.

The presence or absence of cervical “erosion” does not affect the treatment strategy for HPV. You can read more about those situations when it is necessary to treat erosion in the article “Erosion or not erosion?”

If the patient has no complaints, and there are no papillomas/changes on the cervix during colposcopy and according to the PAP test, no treatment procedures are needed.

You only need to retake the test once a year and monitor the condition of the cervix (annually PAP test, colposcopy). In most patients, the virus will “go away” from the body on its own. Even if it does not go away, it is not at all certain that it will lead to the development of cervical cancer, but control is necessary.

Treatment of sexual partners is not required (except in cases where both partners have genital papillomas).

Prevention of human papillomavirus infection

Vaccines have been developed that protect against HPV types 16 and 18 (one of the vaccines also protects against types 6 and 11). HPV types 16 and 18 are responsible for 70% of cervical cancer cases, which is why protection against them is so important. Routine vaccination is used in 45 countries around the world.
Condom (does not provide 100% protection).

The only method that provides 100% protection is abstinence from sexual intercourse. I am in no way advocating for him, I am simply providing food for thought.

Sources:

www.cdc.gov (official website of the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, USA);
www.who.int (official website of the World Health Organization);
AB Moscicki, M Schiffman, S Kjaer, LL Villa. Chapter 5: Updating the natural history of HPV and anogenital cancer. Vaccine 2006; 24: S42-51. (Data on the natural history of human papillomavirus infection and anogenital cancer);
FT Cutts, S Franceschi, S Goldie, X Castellsague, S de Sanjose, G Garnett, WJ Edmunds, P Claeys, KL Goldenthal, DM Harper, L Markowitz Human papillomavirus and HPV vaccines: a review HPV Review.);
Shipulina O.Yu. Abstract of the dissertation for the degree of Candidate of Medical Sciences. Epidemiological features and preventive measures of gynecological oncological pathology of papillomavirus etiology. 2013;
Prevention of cervical cancer. Guide for doctors. Ed. Academician RAMS G. T. Sukhikh, prof. V.N. Prilepskaya. Moscow. "MEDpress-inform" 2012;
Stoler MH, Austin RM, Zhao C. Point-Counterpoint: Cervical Cancer Screening Should Be Done by Primary Human Papillomavirus Testing with Genotyping and Reflex Cytology for Women over the Age of 25 Years. J Clin Microbiol. 2015 Sep;53(9):2798-804. doi: 10.1128/JCM.01087-15. Epub 2015 May 6. (Cervical cancer screening should be done using HPV testing in the first stage).

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