Warts on the penis are small formations located on the foreskin, frenulum, glans or shaft of the penis.They are also called genital warts.It is provoked by papillomavirus of certain strains, which are prone to pathological, repeated manifestations and are never completely removed from the body.
Causes of penile warts in men
Warts are viral growths caused by the human papillomavirus.HPV is a large group of pathogenic microorganisms.There are about 100 studied strains of this pathogen.These viruses are also divided into different categories according to the level of oncogenicity.
According to estimates, about 90% of the world's population is infected with one or another type of papillomavirus.Pathogens live very little in the external environment and die quickly.It is transmitted most often through sexual contact, less often in everyday life or from mother to child.Viral agents are localized in the surface layer of mucous membranes and epidermis.
As for penile warts in men, they are caused by strains 6 and 11.These viruses are responsible for causing genital warts.These are conditionally non-oncogenic types, rarely they can cause neoplasms to become malignant.
For the virus to enter the body, direct contact of infected skin or mucous membrane with healthy skin is necessary.This usually happens during unprotected sex.If there are microtraumas on the surface of the body - abrasions, cracks, scratches, the risk of infection increases.The virus penetrates these lesions particularly easily and quickly.
HPV multiplies in human epidermal cells in the deeper layers of the skin.As the disease progresses, the epithelial cells move upward along with the viral agents.Thus, the papillomavirus reaches the surface of the skin and provokes rapid chaotic growth of epidermal cells.This causes the formation of warts on the penis.
A distinctive feature of the papillomavirus is that it can remain inactive for a long time in the deep layers of the dermis.Various factors can contribute to its progress.For example, weakened immunity, hypothermia, taking antibiotics, stress, overwork, poor nutrition, vitamin deficiency, hormonal imbalance, etc.
However, even if the virus is latent, a person is potentially dangerous in terms of transmitting HPV to partners.Knowing the causes of warts on the penis, we can come to the conclusion that these formations can appear both in adolescents who have just started sexual activity, and in older people.
Symptoms and types of warts on the penis
In most male patients, warts on the penis, as a rule, do not manifest themselves in any way.They often appear in areas prone to injury during sexual intercourse.Therefore, neoplasms can be found on the scalp, frenulum and foreskin.Less often, they appear in the shaft of the penis, scrotum and testicles.
Warts on the penis usually look like small growths of pink, beige, whitish color, 2-30 mm in size.They can be collected singly or in groups, forming neoplasms similar to cock's nest.
During the active growth phase, when the immune system is disturbed, penile warts can cause itching and burning in the affected area.Also, neoplasms are sometimes noticeable during sexual intercourse.Under normal conditions, these growths are painless and do not cause significant discomfort.
Often, condylomas do not affect a limited area of the genital organs, but large areas.Therefore, warts on the head of the penis often gradually spread to the entire groin area, affecting the anus.
The types of warts on the penis depend on the strain of the virus that infects the man, as well as their location.
Let's take a look at their main types:
- Neoplasms in the foreskin area look like tubercles of a lighter shade than the skin.Sometimes they have a thin stalk.At first, single warts appear;over time, groups of condylomas may appear.
- Warts on the frenulum look like small whitish nodules with a chaotic structure.
- Warts on the head of the penis look like pale pink finger-like bumps.They usually form groups similar to broccoli florets.
- Giant Buschke-Levenschein tumors can sometimes develop in the shaft of the penis.They are several warts joined together.This is a rare but dangerous pathology, full of malignant degeneration, because neoplasm cells are prone to rapid mutation.
If suspicious growths are found on the penis, a man should immediately contact a specialist.The urologist examines the patient and gives an interview.In addition to the penis, the urologist should also examine the testicles, perianal area, and groin area.A visual examination is usually sufficient to make a diagnosis.In some cases, the doctor may send the man for additional examinations.
To determine the strain of the pathogen and the risk of oncogenicity, the patient should give blood for PCR testing.Also, if the frenulum is affected, a meatoscopy procedure may be necessary to determine the presence of warts in the urethra.
It should be remembered that warts on the head of the penis and scrotum look like neoplasms of different nature.For example, in the second stage of syphilis, papulosis is also characterized by the appearance of small tumors.To exclude other sexually transmitted diseases, as well as common sexually transmitted infections - syphilis, HIV, chlamydia, trichomoniasis, etc.
The danger of warts on the penis in men
At first, warts on the penis are more of an aesthetic defect than a serious pathology that threatens a man's health.However, this does not mean that they do not need treatment.If the disease is left to chance, it can lead to more serious problems in the future.
The danger of these neoplasms is as follows:
- The development of phimosis.In this case, the foreskin is attached to the head of the penis.For this reason, there may be problems with the normal release of sperm, pathogenic microorganisms may accumulate in the space under the foreskin, and inflammatory processes may occur.
- Inflammation of the head and shaft of the penis.This pathology is a complication of the condition described above, when bacteria penetrate under the foreskin and spread further.
- The appearance of erosions in the genitals.Often, they develop as a result of systematic trauma to warts on the penis.This happens when having sex, shaving, wearing tight underwear.
- Degeneration of neoplasms into cancerous tumors.This happens quite rarely, but there is a potential danger, especially if the warts on the penis are often damaged.
Also remember that active tumors are dangerous from the point of view of infecting partners.Moreover, even condoms cannot always protect a person from infection.
Methods of treatment of warts on the penis
Since the appearance of warts on the penis is directly related to the general decrease in immunity, the treatment of this pathology should be comprehensive and combined.Basically, different destruction methods are used in relation to neoplasms.Medicines are used to strengthen immunity and suppress the virus.
Ways to remove warts on the penis
Instrumental and chemical methods are used to remove warts on the penis.It should be remembered that these growths rarely go away on their own, and therefore, if a man tries to minimize the risk of complications, they should be removed.
There are several ways to get rid of warts on the penis:
- Laser destruction.The laser beam evaporates the liquid before it grows, dries, crusts and falls off after a few days.As a rule, no scars remain at the treatment site.The procedure is painless and rarely causes relapses or complications.
- Ice cream.Low-temperature liquid nitrogen is applied pointwise to the new growth, causing it to freeze and then die.After treatment, a crust forms at the site of the growth, which falls off after a few days along with the rest of the formation.
- Radiosurgical removal.The tumor is exposed to radio waves that destroy the growth tissue.This is one of the most accurate, effective and safe ways to remove warts on the penis.After the radio wave is removed, no trace is left on the skin.
- Electrocoagulation.At a certain frequency, a current is supplied to the electrode, which destroys the formation.This procedure to remove penile warts can cause burns and subsequent scarring.Therefore, it is prescribed with caution.
- Surgical excision.If the wart on the penis is very large, in extreme cases, the technique of cutting it with a scalpel can be used.However, such an operation is used very rarely, because of the risk of heavy bleeding and the spread of infection.Also, full circular excision of the foreskin is indicated for extensive wart lesions.
Your doctor may also prescribe chemical withdrawal.The procedure is performed using medical cauterizing agents.
Before treating warts on the penis with chemicals, you should definitely consult a doctor, because these products have a number of contraindications, and their improper use can cause complications.
Medicines for warts on the penis
To eliminate the risk of reappearance of warts on the head of the penis or other parts of the genitals, it is necessary to pay attention to increasing immunity, as well as suppressing the virus in the body.For this purpose, different drug groups are used - antiviral and immunomodulatory.
Also, it is important to stimulate the body's defenses, which are somehow suppressed by HPV.The immune system will actively fight the pathogen and reduce the risk of reappearance of warts on the penis.
It is important to understand that drug therapy cannot completely solve the problem of warts on the penis.To get rid of them, it is necessary to resort to instrumental methods to remove growths.
Folk remedies against warts on the penis
If you are wondering how to treat warts on the penis, then help can be found in traditional medicine.But remember that you should resort to such methods only after consulting a doctor.Self-medication can be at least in vain, and at worst can cause serious complications.
The following tools are popular:
- Tea tree oil.A powerful herbal antiviral agent that helps suppress pathogen activity.The substance should be rubbed on the warts on the head of the penis several times a day, every day until the growth is completely removed.
- Propolis.Another natural remedy that helps to cope with viruses.To remove warts on the penis, apply the substance to the growths every day before going to bed for 10-14 days.
- Egg white.It is necessary to buy raw protein several times a day and lubricate the tumor with it.
- Table vinegar.Acid actively destroys pathological tissues, so you need to be careful with it so as not to damage neighboring healthy areas.Lubricate carefully and accurately.
- Rowan juice.The acidic substance contains phytoncides that have an antiviral effect.Warts on the penis should be lubricated with freshly squeezed liquid every day.
The above recipes are suitable only if you are sure that you are dealing with HPV and the neoplasm is small and single.Otherwise, you can not do without special therapy.
Prevention of warts on the penis
Timely treatment of warts on the penis significantly reduces the risk of future complications and recurrences.This is also a way to avoid transmitting the virus to a sexual partner.
One of the most effective methods of prevention is vaccination with special polyvalent vaccines.They act against pathogens of types 6, 11, 16 and 18 - precisely those that cause the appearance of genital warts.
Although condoms cannot provide 100% protection against HPV, they should be used as they reduce the risk of infection by 20-30%.It also protects against other sexually transmitted infections.
If a man is already infected with HPV, then it is necessary to follow healthy lifestyle rules to reduce the risk of penile warts.It is important to prevent the exacerbation of chronic diseases, eat right, be physically active and keep the immune system in a "fight-ready" state.
If you are wondering how to remove warts from your penis, consult a doctor immediately.In this case, self-treatment can only harm.The tumor removal procedure is quick and practically painless.In addition, it is important to strengthen the protective functions of the body to prevent relapses in the future.