Human papillomavirus is the most common sexually transmitted disease. Some of its forms can cause cancer, such as cervical cancer. This is why the diagnosis of HPV is extremely important, because timely treatment can prevent many unpleasant consequences. You can read more about how to diagnose and treat HPV in this article.
What is HPV?
HPV, or human papillomavirus, is one of the most common diseases on the planet. According to statistics, in America alone, there are about 80 million infected. Not all types of HPV can be considered hazardous to health; some types of the virus do not have any effect on the body. But others can cause cancer, the appearance of warts, and a number of other unpleasant symptoms. HPV in women - what is it? This is a virus that can penetrate into the deeper layers of the skin and mucous membrane, causing uncontrolled appearance of cells. Sometimes this process can cause the formation of malignant tumors. Studies have shown that in 70% of women diagnosed with cervical cancer, HPV was detected in the blood. Especially dangerous are the 16 and 18 types of virus.
How is it distributed?
The primary route of HPV transmission is through sexual contact. During any kind of sex, even oral, a person is in danger. The virus may not detect itself immediately, but after a few years, when your body will be more weakened. Prior to this, for a sufficiently long time, a person does not have any symptoms at all.
In most cases, the virus does not adversely affect the body due to the fact that human immunity suppresses its activity. But in some people, especially those weakened and undergoing a serious illness, the body ceases to heal itself, and the virus begins to multiply uncontrollably. Here are some additional factors that may contribute to infection:
- Immunodeficiency (primary or secondary).
- Other viral infections;
- A large number of sexual partners.
- Diabetes and other chronic diseases.
- Long-term use of COCs.
- Unprotected sex.
The effect of HPV on the body
Doctors say that in most cases, the papilloma virus is cured by the body on its own. But sometimes this does not happen, as a result of which the carrier gets health problems. The most common concomitant symptom of HPV is genital warts. It is precisely on these grounds that a doctor can suspect a disease and send his patient for diagnosis. It is not necessary to think that as soon as a person becomes infected with a virus, he will immediately develop cancer. No, this process can take years or even decades. So far, there is no way to find out what the consequences of an HPV in a given person can be. In one, the matter is limited to warts alone, and the other can acquire a more serious disease.
HPV: diagnosis
It is because of the unpredictable consequences of the papilloma virus that doctors strongly recommend that everyone be examined without exception. After all, with timely treatment, many problems can be avoided. What methods for diagnosing HPV can be distinguished?
- Inspection This method allows you to identify the general state of health of the patient, as well as see the external manifestations of the virus, such as warts.
- Colposcopy is a diagnostic method in which, using a special device, the surface of the cervix is examined for damage or neoplasms. For a more clear picture, the doctor can use a weak vinegar solution. When applied to the mucosa, areas of the mucosa affected by the virus begin to foam.
- A biopsy is a study of the tissues on which the virus most often appears. In women, this is the cervix, and in men, the head of the penis. A biopsy allows you to examine organ cells at a microscopic level, revealing all the abnormalities.
- Histology is carried out mainly as a confirmatory method before a patient is diagnosed with cervical cancer. The reliability of this diagnostic method reaches almost 99%.
- What HPV tests need to be given to those who want to verify the absence of the virus? The PCR method (polymerase chain reaction) currently provides some of the most accurate results. The only condition for obtaining a reliable diagnosis is to choose a good laboratory, and it is better to take an analysis in several different organizations.
- The Digene test entered the market recently, but has already become very popular among doctors and their patients. The main secret of this diagnostic method is that it has an extremely high sensitivity. So, it is able to "catch" even the slightest presence of HPV in the body. The main disadvantage of the test is its cost (about 6 thousand rubles).
Where to get tested for HPV? In all private laboratories, you can find different types of diagnostics (PCR, histology, etc.). Free analysis is a little more complicated. To do this, you need to contact the gynecologist at the place of residence and get a referral for analysis. Diagnosis of HPV in men is carried out mainly using the method of PCR, "Dagen" test and biopsy. The material of the fence is taken from the urethra.
Associated symptoms
Most people infected with the human papillomavirus are not aware of their disease. Therefore, it can only be determined using high-precision diagnostic methods. However, there are some concomitant symptoms that can directly indicate the presence of HPV.
- The formation of warts or other neoplasms on the face, genitals or mouth of a person.
- Frequent and unexplained diseases.
- The appearance of genital warts.
The incubation period of HPV lasts about a year. Therefore, it is impossible to draw a clear line between a sick and a healthy person without special analyzes.
PCR
What is a PCR method? This is a polymerase chain reaction, with which you can achieve a multiple increase in some nucleic acid fragments. HPV is a virus with two strands of DNA and with more than 8000 nucleotides. If it is in the human body, it leaves a noticeable trace, which can be seen by PCR. However, not all types of virus can cause malignant tumors. Only a few of them are recognized as the most oncogenic and dangerous: 6, 18, 31, 33, 35, 39, 45, 51, 52, 56, 58, 59, 66 and 68. For women, types 16 and 18 are of particular importance, since they cause cervical cancer. Diagnosis of HPV by PCR is currently the most popular non-invasive procedure, which is highly likely to determine whether there is a virus in the human body. PCR avoids unpleasant and painful diagnostic methods, such as colposcopy or biopsy.
Doctors recommend regular PCR diagnostics for HPV high oncogenic risk to all women over 30 years old. Before colposcopy, everyone is recommended to do this analysis first, and only then, if the virus has been detected, make a detailed examination of the tissues. No special preparation before PCR is required, which can also be attributed to the advantages of this method. It is enough to refrain from water procedures a few hours before the analysis.
Colposcopy
Another method for diagnosing HPV is colposcopy. This procedure is performed by specially trained medical specialists using a low-power microscope - a colposcope. It includes examination of the cervix, vagina and vulva with the simultaneous use of acetic acid. A solution of vinegar allows you to more strongly identify changes in tissues that, without the use of acid, look like healthy. The doctor examines all the bumps, neoplasms and, if necessary, takes a biopsy of the damaged tissue. They resort to colposcopy not so often, mainly in the following situations:
- immunosuppressive conditions;
- the patient has HIV;
- women who received different test results three times in a row or have an unclear clinical picture;
- positive cytology of the cervix for malignant neoplasms.
Colposcopy is an invasive procedure, so before going to the doctor you need to refrain from using vaginal suppositories, intimacy, or using tampons for several days.
Biopsy
Diagnosis of HPV using colposcopy involves taking biomaterial if the doctor suspects that there is an infection in the patient's body. In fact, a biopsy is part of colposcopy. A biopsy can be taken not only from the genitals, but also from warts or genital warts. All manipulations imply that the study is performed using a microscope. The material sampling itself is carried out in several ways: using a needle or a scalpel. A biopsy suggests the absence of any infectious diseases, as otherwise the risk of inflammation increases. Doctors consider a biopsy not the safest diagnostic method, so they try to conduct it only in extreme cases.
Histology
Another method of laboratory diagnosis of HPV is the histology of papillomas. HPV, once penetrated into the body, remains in it for many years. It may not have any effect on a person, but may cause various neoplasms on the skin. It is through the study of warts and other growths that the diagnostic doctor can determine if there is a danger to your health.
Digene test
An HPV smear compared with the Digene test shows low predictive reliability. The test developed by Digene is currently considered the true gold standard. This method of diagnosing HPV allows not only to establish the presence of the virus in the blood with 98% accuracy, but also to determine its oncogenicity. As a result, the patient receives not only “positively” or “negatively” in the results of the analysis, but can also find out what type of HPV he is carrying, with high or low onkorisk.
The Digene test has hypersensitivity, so it is prescribed in the most complicated cases, when a clear diagnosis using classical methods cannot be made. In addition, this method of diagnosing HPV is used in cases where you need to find out the tendency to develop cervical cancer. What other indications are there for this test?
- In a comprehensive examination of the patient to identify cancer or precancerous conditions.
- To monitor the results of therapy.
- As a preventive diagnosis of women older than 30 years.
Deciphering the results
Only your healthcare provider can interpret test results. It is to him that you need to seek help if you want to know the exact result. It happens so because only a test is not enough to make a diagnosis. Typically, a specialist pays attention to complaints, well-being, clinical presentation and other factors. Nevertheless, in many private laboratories, their reference value is indicated next to the analysis results, which allows you to determine how much they deviate from generally accepted norms. Ideally, no HPV titers should be detected in the blood or human tissues. If they do exist, but in small quantities, then it is worthwhile to more accurately determine what type of virus you are carrying. If this is the highest-oncore species, the doctor will prescribe the appropriate treatment for you. But making decisions and medicines without the recommendation of a specialist is highly discouraged.
Treatment and prevention
If a person’s immunity is working properly, then no additional therapy is required. If the patient is concerned about warts, or a smear on HPV revealed an oncogenic type of infection, then in most cases, doctors prescribe the following treatment:
- Removal of neoplasms;
- Course of antiviral drugs;
- The rise of immunity.
Ideally, preventive measures should be followed that will allow you to stay out of the risk zone.
- Vaccination against HPV significantly increases the body's resistance. The most “safe” way for vaccination is 11-12 years.
- Use barrier contraceptives (condoms) every time you have sex. This rule must be observed even if you have one regular partner.
Summary
HPV in women - what is it? The papilloma virus can manifest itself in different ways, but only some of its types can cause serious harm to the body. In order to determine the presence of the virus in the blood of women and men, different diagnostic methods are used: biopsy, histology, PCR and Digene-test. Each of them has its pros and cons, so only a doctor can prescribe tests.