Human papillomavirus (HPV) – a common name of a group of viruses that cause various diseases. Known more than 100 types. Pathogens spread throughout the world. To prevent infection, it is important to know, as is the human papilloma virus.
What is HPV infection?
HPV infection – a group of viral diseases caused by the human papilloma virus. At the moment, studied, described, above 100 types of the virus. For a long time scientists have studied the morphology of the pathogen, which allowed to determine what types of viruses that cause the pathology. Were identified separately, the group of HPV high risk cancer.
Due to the fact that HPV primarily affects the reproductive system, a considerable attention to the study of problems relative to gynecologists. Talk about what is HPV in gynecology, it is necessary to note a high risk of developing cancer of the cervix. Experts have found that the virus directly, rather, the 16-th and 18-th types cause the development of cancer process in the female reproductive system.
HPV transmission and infection
HPV is known for its resistance to environmental factors, so long time can keep the activity in the environment. This explains the ability of pathogens to spread. However, the direct transfer of HPV by droplets does not occur. Talking about how HPV is transmitted from person to person doctors point to the obligatory presence of a direct contact with the skin and mucous membranes of the carrier of the virus.
The way of transmission of HPV varied:
- sexual;
- contact-household;
- vertical.
The most common way of transmitting HPV
First heard about this type of pathogen, patients often ask the doctor: is successful if the human papilloma virus sexually. Doctors say that this method is the most common. According to statistics, about 70% of sexually active people are carriers of HPV. The infection can occur repeatedly throughout life.
Most women and men become infected with HPV, after a few months from the beginning of active sexual life. It should be noted that HPV is often attributed to sexually transmitted infections, but infection is possible during sex without penetration. Contact with the genitals of the virus may lead to infection.
Doctors call and the following modes of transmission of HPV:
- when the kiss;
- during oral sex.
HPV infection in the household
Some infectious disease specialists assign to the household the transmission of HPV. The percentage distribution of the virus in this way is small, however, we cannot completely exclude this possibility. The virus can stay active, hitting the pool, the bath, so infection is possible in public areas.
The infestation in the home takes place through kissing, use of personal care products infected with HPV. In such cases, increase the risk of infection:
- the weakening of the immune system;
- violation of the rules of personal hygiene.
The risk of HPV infection
The probability of HPV infection increases sharply with the beginning of sexual life. This transfer path is considered to be the main. Thus, the specialists identify a number of factors, the presence of which is several times increases the risk of infection:
- early sexual debut;
- frequent change of sexual partners;
- neglect of birth control.
It is separately necessary to tell about the possibility of infection in childhood. In most cases, HPV is transmitted from mother during childbirth. When promoting through the birth canal infection occurs in a child. Children are more easily borne infection, have it almost does not occur. In addition, with the advent along with mother's milk ready-made antibodies observed a spontaneous cure.
How is HPV infection?
Infection with HPV occurs by direct contact of mucous membranes, skin and genitals. During sexual intercourse, often have microcracks and damage to the mucous membranes, that only increases the risk of HPV infection. While there are some differences in the mechanisms of transmission of the virus in women and men.
How is human papillomavirus in men?
The probability of HPV infection in men is directly dependent on the number of permanent sexual partners. Frequent promiscuity in several times to increase the likelihood of infection. In this case, the person is in most cases not aware of the presence of the HPV virus in the body. The result is the spread of the virus further. 90% of sex occurs infection of the partner who had previously been completely healthy.
As a woman, the human papilloma virus?
Ways of infection with HPV in women do not differ from those characteristic of men. In the first place is sexual. However, the risk of infection in women and increase some factors.
Among those gynecologists provide:
- early sexual debut;
- frequent change of sexual partners;
- abortion;
- traumatic childbirth in anamnesis;
- gynecological diseases;
- stress;
- long-term use of oral contraceptives.
Transferred baby the human papilloma virus?
He knew of the presence of HPV in the body women planning pregnancy in the near future, it is questionable whether transmitted human papillomavirus from mother to child. Experts say that the risk of infecting the newborn exists. However, children rarely has HPV, ways of infection are different from those in adults. Transmission often occurs at the stage of promotion of the fetus through the birth canal: the virus of the mucous membrane of the mother passes to the child.
It is worth noting that the danger of such infection is low. In most cases, children's body is able to get rid of HPV within the first 2-3 months of life. This happens due to the receipt in the body of the infant antibodies from the breast milk. The main danger HPV for toddlers is respiratory lesions – the incidence of polyps. Such cases are rare and are treated more as exceptions.
HPV how long after exposure?
Learning about how is human papilloma virus, many patients are interested in the timing of the first symptoms. Doctors can't say how quickly manifested after infection with HPV.
Very important are the following factors:
- the age of the patient;
- the presence of chronic inflammatory processes in the body;
- the status of the immune system.
In practice, it clinical manifestations of HPV are different. The incidence of warts, changes in the affected cells can be observed after a few weeks or months. In some cases the first lesions on the skin in the groin area and the genitals are detected a year later after he was hit by a papilloma virus in the body. If you want to know the exact time to get the HPV in the organism is possible on the basis of laboratory tests.
Symptoms of HPV infection
Symptoms of HPV infection occur lesions of the genital area. In most cases, the virus causes characteristic skin lesions. Patients record the vulgar appearance of papillomas and genital warts. Externally, these growths are similar to those of cauliflower, so confuse them with other skin manifestations, it is difficult.
In women papillary growths of pale pink color localized:
- in the area of large minora;
- in the groin;
- on the clitoris;
- in the vicinity of the external opening of the urethra;
- on the eve of the vagina.
In some cases, warts are formed in the anus, if the woman is into the rectum. The strong growth in such services leads to bleeding, pain during sexual intercourse. Men, like education, are localized in the pubic area, the crotch, at least – on the surface of the penis.
Vaccination against HPV after infection
Even for those who know, as is the human papilloma virus, it is not always possible to prevent infection. After rehabilitation and treatment, to prevent HPV infection, to prevent development of relapse, doctors performed a vaccination against the human papilloma virus. Vaccinations prevent viral infections for 15 years or more.