Today, one of the common viruses is HPV. About a hundred of its species are known that provoke the appearance of neoplasms of various shapes and localizations. Recently, however, the role of this virus in the onset of cancer has been proven, especially in the anogenital area. Moreover, various types provoke a malignant process with different probabilities. The most dangerous are HPV of high oncogenic risk.
Their role in the appearance of cervical cancer has already been proven . The most dangerous are 18 and 16 types. It is highly undesirable to combine them with HSV, especially 2 species. Women with these viruses need to carefully monitor their health. They should visit the gynecologist twice a year, take an analysis for atypical cells and undergo colposcopy.
However, it must be understood that HPV of high oncogenic risk does not always lead to cancer. But the presence of the virus significantly increases the likelihood of its occurrence. For men, HPV is also dangerous; it can cause penile head cancer. If any neoplasms appear on it, you should visit a urologist or venereologist.
High-risk HPVs include 68, 66, 56, 52, 51, 45, 35, 33, 31, 18, 16 types. The virus is transmitted through intimate contact, but other options are not ruled out. HPV may not manifest itself for a long time and for the first time will reveal itself many years after infection in the presence of provoking factors:
- pregnancy;
- medical manipulations (IUD insertion, abortion);
- bacterial and viral diseases (rhinitis, tonsillitis, flu, herpes);
- decreased immunity (hypothermia, overheating);
- physical stress, vitamin deficiency, poor nutrition;
- psycho-emotional stress, lack of sleep.
The virus is also sometimes transmitted from mother to child both in utero and during childbirth. In addition, pregnancy is a provoking factor for the appearance and growth of tumors, as well as their transition to cancer. This is due to a decrease in immune defense and changes in hormonal levels.
An infected newborn usually has laryngeal papillomatosis. However, statistics show that cesarean section does not always save from infection, therefore, with neoplasms on the genitals of the mother, it is not performed. This operation is advisable only for large papillomas that overlap the birth canal.
So, HPV symptoms:
- the appearance of neoplasms on the genitals (in the perineum, on the labia, clitoris, entrance to the urethra, in the anus, on the penis);
- genital itching;
- bleeding and itching during and after sex (can occur when there are papillomas in the vagina and on the neck when injured).
It is very important to undergo routine examinations for all women, since they themselves, as a rule, cannot notice the manifestations of the virus on the internal genital organs. Today, PCR is actively used to diagnose HPV . It helps not only determine the presence of the virus itself, but also conduct its genotyping.
However, most experts believe that the treatment of HPV is necessary only in the presence of clinical manifestations. That is, when there are neoplasms on the genitals, abnormalities in the smear for atypical cells and colposcopy, cervical erosion.
In other cases, even when HPV is detected by the PRC method, it is only necessary to observe. Twice a year, be examined by a gynecologist with a cytological smear and colposcopy. The latest study consists in examining the neck under a microscope while staining it with various solutions.
HPV treatment of high oncogenic risk in the presence of neoplasms must be performed. Today, even cervical cancer is eliminated quite successfully with timely detection.
So, HPV of high oncogenic risk should be treated only with the manifestation of the clinical picture. If there are no neoplasms, then such women need to be observed by a gynecologist. Patients should undergo colposcopy and PAP test twice a year.