HPV infection in women: diagnosis with symptoms and 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 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.

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 , both skin and 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, neoplasia (this phenomenon is characterized by a change in the normal structure of cells), which are both benign and malignant.

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 dysplasia of the cervical epithelium

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

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 serious illnesses - cancer of the vagina 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 the case of urogenital chlamydia , bacterial vaginosis , mycoplasmosis 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 hypothermia , hormonal imbalance, and some medical interventions ( abortion , introduction of intrauterine contraceptives ). The risk of infection also increases in pregnant women. People whose bodies lack a number of vitamins and folic acid .

Manifestations of human papillomavirus infection

The duration of the incubation period 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, human papillomavirus infection is manifested by the appearance in the patient of genital warts , flat and inverted warts with internal growth , and papillary varieties of warts .

Genital condylomas form in the patient on the 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.

With internal (endophytic) 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, genital condylomas .

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.

This type of disease is most often diagnosed in young people and is associated with genital warts and herpes .

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.

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

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.

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

In addition, cytotoxic drugs are used in the treatment of human papillomavirus: podophyllotoxin , 5-fluorouracil, podophyllin . interferons 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. Vaccination against the human papillomavirus is also considered the primary method of prevention

The most effective impact of such a vaccine will be if it is administered to young people before the onset of sexual activity.

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.

Source: https://medside.ru/papillomavirusnaya-infektsiya-virus-papillomyi-cheloveka

Signs of HPV in women, diagnosis and drug therapy

Human papillomavirus infections were known back in Ancient Greece. At that time the disease was called “condylomas.”

Today, most people know it under the name genital warts. We can say for sure that papillomas contain virus-like bodies. Papillomas are a member of the Papovaviridae family, the Papillomavirus (HPV) group, which means they belong to the category of viruses.

Prevalence of infection

Condylomas caused by HPV, the human papillomavirus, are one of the most common diseases worldwide, transmitted through unprotected sexual intercourse.

Important! The maximum incidence rate occurs among people in the age group of 18–28 years.

The disease can also appear at an older age. The danger there is that papillomas often develop into oncological processes.

HPV infection in women frightens the fairer sex with its cosmetic defect and unattractiveness of the intimate area. Of course, this matters, but what is much more important is that papillomavirus infection in women can lead to malignant processes in the lower genital tract.

In women, pathologies in the intimate area bring a lot of inconvenience, including oncological manifestations in the future

Studies have proven that in cases of cervical cancer, in more than 90% of cases, oncogenic types of HPV were identified - 16 out of 18. In addition, in 46-67% of cases, the infection is transmitted to a sexual partner. Interestingly, this figure is even higher for homosexual couples.

After conducting mass studies in women, it turned out that human papillomavirus infection occurs in 40-50% of all examined representatives of the fairer sex.

The positive thing is that in most women the virus disappears suddenly and in only 5-15% it causes a chronic infection of the cervix, vagina or vulva.

Most often, the infection manifests itself as genital warts located in the genital or anal area.

How does infection occur?

When a human papillomavirus infection enters the body, it does not always lead to the progression of the disease. This only happens if there are a number of predisposing factors.

Among these it is worth highlighting:

• Frequent change of sexual partners.
• Early sexual activity.
• Frequent sexual intercourse (without using contraception).
• Making love with a man who has had unprotected sexual intercourse with a girl who has anogenital warts or has uterine cancer.
• Endometriosis.
• Pregnancy.
• Bad habits.
• Avitaminosis.
• Weak immunity.

Experts are convinced that the infection develops when changes occur in the immune system. Therefore, it is impossible to do without immunocorrection during HPV.

Frequent sexual intercourse (without the use of contraception) may be one of the factors in the development of PVI

You can only become infected through direct contact. The virus, when it comes into contact with the mucous membrane or skin, leads to the proliferation of epithelial cells of the lower deep layer. As a result, multiple warts or condylomas are formed.

Important! It is a mistake to think that warts are not spread from person to person. They tend to become infected, and anyone can become infected.

Another thing is that often such formations go away on their own. If this does not happen, then you should consult a doctor.

Clinical signs of infection and its diagnosis

Warts are a chronic and benign formation.

Today the following types are classified:

• Regular. These are epidermal nodular formations, dense and limited. The surface of the wart has a slight roughness.
• Flat. Such warts rise only slightly above the dermis, so they are not particularly noticeable. These are thread-like, nodular growths or epidermal papules that are most often found in the mouth.
• Plantar. These are ordinary warts, but very dense due to keratinized cells.
• Genital warts are pale red in color and small in size. They are soft and often develop in the genital area and anus.

For example, signs of popilovirus infection in women can be noticed immediately, if only because the external opening of the urethra, the vestibule of the vagina, its walls and even the cervix are covered with warts. In men, the problem makes itself felt somewhat less frequently, but it also occurs. Representatives of the stronger sex notice formations on the scrotum, foreskin of the penis, head and anus.

Important! If a woman has a papillomavirus infection, then during childbirth it can be transmitted to the baby, causing laryngeal papillomatosis.

The diseases to which they lead depend on the type of HPV.

Nowadays, endophytic and exophytic condylomas are classified. They can appear individually or be combined with each other. Exophytic forms include papillary or genital warts. It is interesting that today not all doctors can detect this infection in time.

Cytological smear (PAP test) is a diagnostic method for detecting human papillomavirus infection

When diagnosing genital warts in women, a cervical cancer screening test or cytological smear (PAP test, or Papanicolaou test) is used. In case of the first signs of PVI, a targeted biopsy is used with curettage of the mucous surface of the cervical canal (a diagnostic method for detecting the typical structure of the papillary structure of condylomas).

Top article: Choosing a remedy for papillomas - what is the best way to treat warts

Symptoms of pathology

Papilovirus infection may not show general signs of the disease for some time. The first symptoms tend to appear 3 months after infection. Sometimes the incubation period lasts up to 9 months.

It is important to know. Symptoms directly depend on the type of infection that became the catalyst for the development of the disease.

If we talk about genital warts, they can be single or multiple and appear as formations on a short stalk that resemble a wart, cabbage, cockscomb or raspberry.

The color of condylomas can be different and depends directly on the location. As for the location, this is an intimate area.

Sometimes the growths of candilomas are so numerous that they even close the entrance to the vagina and sphincter.

It must be said that single genital warts are generally difficult to notice and palpate. In this case, the symptoms remain silent for a long time. At the same time, a girl who is sexually active, without even knowing it, shares her illness with her sexual partner. As the disease progresses, papillomavirus infection leads to symptoms becoming more obvious, causing discomfort and inconvenience.

Namely:

• Manifestations of condylomas. This leads to burning and itching.
• Discomfort when moving. This applies to those patients who have large condylomas.
• During an in-person examination by a gynecologist, cervical condylomas may be noticed.

Laboratory diagnostics

To determine whether women have HPV infection, DNA methods are used:

• Amplification methods. PCR analysis is used in 95%, as well as the LCR ligase chain reaction.
• Non-amplification methods. We are talking about in situ hybridization on tissues and in a filter, Southern blot hybridization, and pre-blot hybridization.
• Signal amplification methods. Hybrid trap system. Such methods are considered the best because they are specific.

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Differential diagnosis

• Intraspecific. During it, the HPV serotype is determined.
• Papular syphilide. Used for secondary syphilis.
• CC – histological examination of a biopsy specimen.

Treatment methods

Human papillomavirus infection is a disease for which treatment is completely impossible. In this case, only condylomas are eliminated, which allows for a cosmetic effect. The disease can be eliminated in 50-94% of patients, but it is not a fact that it will not return again. Some doctors believe that if condylomas appear once, they will manifest themselves throughout life.

During treatment, it is very important to make love only using barrier contraceptives. In addition, if a woman had close intimate relationships with someone before the moment when she learned about her illness, she is obliged to inform the men about this so that they undergo an examination.

In general, when papillomavirus infection manifests itself in women, treatment is prescribed as follows:

• Cytotoxic drugs are prescribed. This may be fluorouracil ointment, podophyllotoxin or podophyllin.
• Destructive methods (laser therapy, electrosurgery, diathermocoagulation, cryodestruction).
• Immunological methods.
• Correction of vaginal microbiocenosis – bifidobacterin, lactobacterin.
• Combined techniques.

The goal of local treatment is to remove condylomas and atypically changed epithelium. To eliminate condylomas on the cervix, surgical excision is used.

In addition, the doctor selects drugs and remedies for papillomas that affect the macroorganism and the pathogen. Sometimes nonspecific antiviral therapy is used.

In recent years, interferons, as well as their inducers, have gained popularity. All of them have immunomodulatory, immunomodulatory and antiviral properties. Depending on the severity, systemic administration of interferons, intralesional or local can be used.

The doctor may prescribe local therapy medications:

• PD (podophyllin) is a special resin that is made from plants and has a cytotoxic effect. The product is used on an outpatient basis several times a week. A maximum of five weeks can be used.
• PDT (podophyllotoxin). A solution or ointment may be used.
• Feresol is a mixture of tricresol (40%) and phenol (60%). Candylomas are treated with the product after a week's break.
• Solcoderm is a preparation of inorganic and organic acids that is applied to the affected area of ​​the skin.
• Trichloroacetic acid (its concentration is 80 - 90%) is a weak destructive chemical. It is effective only for the initial stage of candylomas or single formations.

If women have been diagnosed with HPV infection, they may also be prescribed physiosurgical treatment, for example, laser therapy. It is performed on the 5th or 7th day of the menstrual cycle.

This technique is considered more gentle and also effective. In addition, small scars will be almost invisible.

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Systemic therapy

Today there are no specific anti-HPV drugs. Some people believe that acyclovir and similar drugs can be used as some kind of vaccine, but this is not the case. In any case, scientists have not been able to prove their 100% effectiveness.

However, Gardasil and Cervarix managed to prove themselves on the positive side.

 These drugs have undergone a full cycle of studies and have managed to demonstrate their safety and immunogenicity, that is, they have stable immunity to the types of papillomaviruses against which these vaccines are directed.

Antiviral therapy can be used as a systemic treatment, together with IF and its inducers, as well as synthetic immunomodulators. And again, the treatment protocol is prescribed only by the doctor.

How are children and pregnant women treated?

Expectant mothers are often treated in the early stages of pregnancy. For these purposes, only cryotherapy is used. Cytotoxic agents cannot be used. The same applies to children.

Human papillomavirus infection is a rather complicated disease, as is its treatment. This issue is approached comprehensively, taking into account associated ailments. If an infection is detected in one of the partners, the other is examined and also treated.

Source: https://infemed.ru/zppp-ippp/vpch/papillomavirusnaya-infekciya-u-zhenshhin.html

Review of the best methods for diagnosing HPV: how to find out the type of virus

HPV diagnostics are methods for identifying the virus in the body. Some methods can determine the presence of papillomavirus in cells, others determine the concentration and type: high, low carcinogenic risk. This allows us to judge the danger of the pathology and the need for treatment.

Mechanism of HPV infection

More than 170 types of HPV are known. Some cause benign skin papillomatosis, others lead to the development of cancer. The virus has been proven to cause cervical cancer. Hpv is not related to intraductal papillomas of the mammary glands. HPV testing begins without waiting for the clinic to open.

The mechanism of transmission of the virus is due to contact with the carrier. The condition for infection is contact with the skin and mucous membrane of HPV particles in the desquamated elements of the epidermis.

The patient often does not know about his status - the infection does not appear for a long time.

Stages of HPV development:

1. Latent: the virus is limited to the basal epithelium, there are no manifestations.
2. Subclinical: tissues are modified.
3. Clinical: the morphological structure of epithelial cells is transformed, warts, papillomas, and condylomas are formed.

The disease is activated during periods of decreased immunity: with a prolonged infectious disease, pregnancy, menopause, pathology of internal organs and systems. Diagnostics in such cases is more effective.

HPV diagnostic methods

As a rule, the patient consults a doctor to remove growths on the body, and not to diagnose the virus. Formations spoil the appearance and cause psychological discomfort.

Condylomas on the genitals are damaged during intercourse, causing itching, pain, making a full intimate life impossible. Some strains carry a high risk of malignancy of formations (MC), for this reason diagnosis is carried out as early as possible.

The therapy should be carried out by a venereologist. Treatment is carried out by gynecologists, cosmetologists, urologists, ENT doctors for papillomas in the throat and mouth.

Visual inspection

When examining the skin and mucous membranes, detection of HPV is possible only at the stage of clinical manifestations. The primary task of the doctor is to differentiate viral elements from other diseases of the epidermis. The classic case of genital warts does not require differential diagnosis.

This does not exclude additional examination methods: information is needed about the type of virus and its oncogenicity. Warts must be distinguished from skin tuberculosis, lichen ruber; spines - from calluses, abrasions, syphilis elements; thread-like outgrowths - from a mole, fibroma on a stalk. The second task is to recognize the likely malignancy of the formation.

Dermatoscopy and other specific diagnostic methods and consultation with an oncologist may be required.

PCR

The papilloma virus, entering a skin cell, actively divides. The asymptomatic period of the disease begins. At this stage, the polymerase chain reaction can already show the presence of the virus in the body. The method is based on identifying DNA sections specific for hpv in biomaterial samples - diagnostics of scrapings from the urethra.

Interpretation of positive results - the content of the virus genome per 100 cells:

• Lg less than 3 means that the virus is found in low concentration;
• Lg 3–5 indicates clinically significant presence of HPV;
• Lg more than 5 – high HPV content.

Benefits of analysis:

• confirmation of the presence of HPV;
• determining its type;
• counting the amount of virus.

The value of the latter diagnostic method is in determining the percentage of the virus and its strain. It is possible to establish the probable timing of infection and identify the circle of contact persons for examination and preventive therapy.

Digene

Daijin test is a hybrid capture method. Detects specific DNA elements of the human papillomavirus. Allows you to identify HPV genotypes based on their degree of carcinogenicity. The test is distinguished by the highest clinical sensitivity, which reliably determines the level of infection with papillomavirus and the likelihood of cancer in the future. Women over 30 years of age are examined once every 3 years.

Algorithm of actions in case of a positive test result:

• for women under thirty years of age - repeat the test after 9 months to exclude the transient nature of the disease;
• in patients over thirty years of age, conduct a cytological examination. If confirmed, undergo treatment.

Benefits of diagnostics:

• predictive value up to 99%;
• objective assessment of the results of therapy;
• sensitivity more than 95%;
• specificity is equivalent to cytological examination;
• accessibility;
• lack of long-term complex training;
• samples (smear, scraping) are also used for cytology.

PAP test

HPV can be detected by performing a Pap test. This is a frequently used examination of scrapings from the uterine cervix in gynecology. The goal is to detect precancerous and cancerous changes.

The material is subjected to cytological diagnostics for the presence of signs:

• atypia;
• dysplasia;
• malignant cells.

The material is taken from three zones: the vaginal vault, the ectocervix, and the cervical canal. It is then stained using the Papanicolaou method, dried and examined under a microscope. The result is considered negative if all cells are typical.

Assessment of the stages of abnormal transformations of HPV cells:

1. Normal cytological picture.
2. Initial inflammatory changes in cells are normal, but additional research is necessary.
3. There are cells with an abnormal nuclear structure; a repeat test is carried out with the histology of the material.
4. Identification of cells with defective cytoplasm, chromosome and nucleus, additional examination is carried out.
5. A significant number of malignant cells.

Other

HPV can be detected using an ELISA test. It indicates the presence in the blood of specific substances that are produced in response to infection activity. The first stage of infection is determined by the presence of class M globulins.

Then class G enzymes are recorded. They indicate the chronicity of the disease. The diagnostic method allows you to distinguish primary infection from relapse. Quantitative and qualitative research is carried out in the laboratory.

One of the newer tests offered in some laboratories is the Femoflor test for diagnosing STDs.

Based on the PCR method with decoding results in real time. Specific representatives of normo- and opportunistic flora with the total number of microorganisms are diversified and compared.

Which method of detecting HPV is most effective?

If there are no skin manifestations and there is a suspicion of contact with a patient, the examination can begin with a qualitative ELISA test, which will show whether the body has encountered the virus. For the same purpose, qualitative PCR is carried out.

If the analysis shows the presence of HPV or in the presence of skin manifestations, proceed to quantitative PCR diagnostics to determine the strain and the degree of carcinogenic risk.

This is an affordable universal examination that can be used as a screening test.

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When identifying oncogenic strains responsible for the development of cervical and anal cancer, it is advisable to proceed to the study of cells using a Pap test. Diagnostics allows you to quickly and relatively easily obtain information about the stage of atypia and take urgent action.

Used during medical examination. According to medical standards, the Pap test is performed in conjunction with Digene. The latter confirms or refutes the diagnosis if the results of the Pap test are uncertain.

Polymerase chain reaction and daijin are recognized as effective tests.

What influences reliability

The reliability of diagnostic indicators is influenced by two factors: the patient’s preparedness and the quality of the procedure.

How to prepare for PCR:

• exclude sexual activity for 2 days;
• do not use antibacterial agents and douching the day before;
• Men should not urinate for an hour and a half before sampling;
• do not take antibiotics, probiotics 48 hours in advance or notify your doctor about the fact of taking them;
• Do not take it during menstruation, you should wait until the bleeding stops.

The Pap test requires abstaining from the use of tampons with medications, vaginal suppositories, douching, and sexual intercourse for 2 days. HPV testing is not carried out during critical periods, exacerbation of chronic pathologies, or infections. Failure to comply with these requirements is associated with up to 30% of false negative results.

The Daijin test can also show an inaccurate result; after 30 years, it must be taken once a year to prevent cancer.

Other factors that affect the reliability of all HPV tests include:

• improper collection of material;
• improper transportation and storage of material;
• insufficient technical and material base of the laboratory;
• untimely research;
• low level of qualifications of personnel performing diagnostics.

How long will it take for the analysis results to be ready?

Analysis name	Material under study	Ready date after delivery
PCR	Urogenital scraping	3 working days
Digene HPV Test	Epithelium	9 days
Pap test	Vaginal scraping	4 days
ELISA	Blood and other body fluids	1-2 days
Femoflor	Smear, urogenital scraping	5 days

Human papillomavirus can be detected in a number of ways. The main thing is to seek diagnosis and treatment in a timely manner, preventing the development of consequences that threaten the patient’s life. It is necessary to undergo tests for the presence of HPV in the body regularly; ignoring the problem is unacceptable.

The article has been reviewed by the site editors

Source: https://VashaDerma.ru/hpv/diagnostika

Human papillomavirus in women: types, symptoms and treatment methods in gynecology

Human papillomavirus infection - what is it and what to do if manifestations of this disease are detected? The human papillomavirus (HPV) in women leads not only to external defects of the mucous membranes of the external genitalia.

External manifestations of infection indicate the active development of the pathological process, the spread of viruses to the cervix, ovaries, and vagina. The overall prevalence in the population reaches 85%. However, not all patients with HPV develop pathological neoplasms.

A woman’s immunity and general health play a special role in the further development of the disease. How are pathogenic viral strains transmitted and how dangerous is the course of HPV?

Human papillomavirus in women requires differential diagnosis with genital herpes and other sexually transmitted diseases

Human papillomavirus infection is a viral disease in gynecological practice. The wide prevalence is due to the high level of contagiousness. The main cause of infection is sexual contact with a carrier of pathogenic strains. However, barrier contraception is not a guarantee of safety. The contact and household route of infection is not of key importance in gynecology.

Papillomas are growths of mucous epithelium, reminiscent of cauliflower inflorescences. When several lesions coalesce, the appearance of the formation resembles a dark brown cockscomb.

The cause of deformation of the mucous membranes is a violation of cell division as a result of the replacement of healthy cells with pathological ones. Neoplasms can grow outward or deep into the epithelial layer.

The growth activity of papillomatous lesions depends on the influence of multiple factors.

Classification and types

Papillomavirus has many different strains under a certain serial number. Often one person has a combination of several strains at once. The classification of human papillomavirus infection makes it possible to determine the nature of the disease, the degree of oncological risks, prescribe adequate treatment and determine the prognosis.

By flow phase

Clinicians distinguish the following phases of the disease:

• hidden, asymptomatic. Viral strains are in a “dormant” state, do not in any way affect the condition of the mucous membranes, and do not threaten the life and health of patients. This form is found in most healthy people on the planet;
• active. The process of replacing healthy epithelial cells with pathological ones begins, followed by the formation of papillomatous foci. Violation of tissue regeneration occurs under the influence of various factors: a persistent decrease in immunity, chronic pathologies of internal organs and systems, autoimmune and hormonal disorders.

According to statistics, only 35–40% of virus carriers suffer from damage to the genital mucosa by papillomas. The transition to the active phase can last for years, depending only on the individual characteristics of the woman’s body. The types of strains are important.

By strain type

Among the large number of viral strains, several groups are distinguished, which differ in varying degrees of oncological danger:

• non-oncogenic, do not contribute to the development of cancer. The group of non-oncogenic viruses includes HPV 3, 16, 13, 34–42. When these species are combined with oncogenic strains, the risk of cell malignancy increases;
• low-oncogenic, characterized by minimal oncogenic risks. The group consists of HPV 52 and 56. The strains penetrate the surface epithelium of the cervical canal of the uterus and disrupt the structure of the mucous membranes. With regular exposure to adverse factors, the risk of malignancy increases;
• highly oncogenic, or papillomas of high carcinogenic risk. Papillomavirus strains of types 16, 18, 31 have high oncogenic risks and contribute to the formation of cervical cancer. These viruses synthesize a special protein E7, which converts healthy cells into atypical ones.

How are oncogenic strains transmitted? The routes of transmission are the same for all strains of viruses.

By type of tumor

Depending on the strain of the HPV pathogen, the following types of formations that develop in the tissues of an infected person are distinguished:

• squamous condylomas;
• condylomas acuminata;
• inverted condylomas (transitional cell);
• papillomas;
• warts

Condylomas and papillomas often appear on the mucous membranes of the genital organs. In men, neoplasms affect the penis, the base of the urethral canal, in women – the labia minora, the clitoris. Warts form on the surface of the skin.

Active HPV causes itching, redness, burning and unusual vaginal discharge

Main symptoms

The symptomatic complex is determined by the stage of development of the disease. Clinical manifestations also depend on the localization of tumors:

• labia majora and labia minora. Neoplasms quickly spread throughout the mucous membranes and can be felt when washed. The growths tend to coalesce and form a conglomerate. At the same time, daily hygiene of the labia becomes more difficult, and the risk of injury and bleeding increases. Women complain of itching, unpleasant odor;
• clitoris. Viral growths complicate the quality of a woman’s sexual life, inhibit or increase the sensitivity of the organ. The disease is accompanied by severe itching, even to the point of irritating pain. Similar symptoms occur with other genital tract infections in women: ureaplasmosis, mycoplasmosis, chlamydia;
• pubic area. When papillomatous lesions form, localized pain, slight swelling, redness, and itching are noted. With large growths on the pubic hair, there is a risk of inflammation and injury.

If papillomatous lesions appear on the external genitalia and genitals, then there is a high probability of damage to the cervix. With internal localization, the following symptoms are noted:

• pain during sexual intercourse;
• cramping pain during menstruation, especially if there was no previous discomfort;
• atypical discharge in the form of mucus, blood, pus;
• bleeding between the active phases of menstruation.

Given the peculiarities of localization and high humidity, papillomatous lesions emit an unpleasant odor and disrupt the healthy appearance of the genital organs.

Large tumors can be felt when walking or playing sports. During the progression of human papillomavirus infection, general malaise, weakness, irritability, and sweating are noted. Early symptoms include copious mucus discharge and discomfort during sexual intercourse.

Human papillomavirus infection and pregnancy

Detection of HPV in women during pregnancy does not endanger the life and health of the child, but the probability of infection during natural delivery reaches 85%.

Against the background of the child’s absolute health, his immune system successfully copes with the infection.

The question of the method of delivery is decided by a medical council, where all potential risks for the woman and child are assessed.

If HPV is detected by a gynecologist, consultations with other specialists may be required: infectious disease specialist, oncologist, surgeon

Diagnosis of HPV

Modern diagnostics make it possible to detect human papillomavirus infection even in asymptomatic cases. A typical diagnostic algorithm includes the following activities:

• external examination of the genital organs;
• gynecological examination of the internal genital organs with mirrors;
• Ultrasound of the uterus, abdominal organs;
• a smear from the cervical canal (before donating the material, other necessary tests are performed);
• General, biochemical analysis of blood and urine.

Additionally, PCR is carried out - polymerase chain reaction to determine the DNA of the human papillomavirus and immunological tests - tests determine atypical cells.

Colposcopy and test data are important. During an internal examination, the structural features of the mucous membranes of the cervical canal and external pharynx are assessed. Even with such an examination, it is possible to identify small neoplasms that match the shade of the mucous membrane. If there are no visible changes, an analysis is carried out with acetic acid. A little solution is applied to the neck and the reaction is assessed.

During colposcopy, a biopsy can be performed with further histological evaluation of the sample. This test allows you to exclude the development of cancer in the early stages.

Treatment tactics

Treatment of the disease consists of prescribing immunomodulators, antiviral drugs and surgical removal of growths. Drug therapy brings temporary relief and can be difficult due to the localization of the growths.

A promising direction in therapy is a radical solution to the problem of papillomatosis. Removal in gynecology is carried out in the following ways:

• laser vaporization is a safe, effective method of removal in one visit;
• electrocoagulation – the papillomatous lesion is cauterized with electric current using an electrode;
• radio wave method - a non-contact method of removing growths;
• cryodestruction - cauterization of the pathological area with liquid nitrogen within healthy tissue.

For large and generalized rashes, conventional removal with a scalpel can be used. After removal, the tissue sample is sent for histology.

To eliminate unpleasant symptoms, taking painkillers and antispasmodics is indicated.

After treatment, continue taking antiviral drugs and immunocorrective drugs. The rehabilitation period depends on the amount of medical care provided.

Complications

The main complication of infection with the human papillomavirus in women is the malignization of papilloma cells, the occurrence of squamous cell condyloma.

When the sixteenth and eighteenth strains are identified, this risk increases significantly. Other complications include bleeding, infertility, dysplasia, and inflammation of the internal genital organs.

Single neoplasms on the cervix provoke the development of erosions.

The only measure to prevent HPV infection is vaccination of girls and boys during puberty, followed by revaccination several years later.

Considering how human papillomavirus infection is transmitted, casual sexual intercourse should be avoided, adequate genital hygiene should be maintained, and various diseases should be treated in a timely manner.

When the human papillomavirus is activated, it is important to consult a gynecologist.

The prognosis for women is predominantly favorable, subject to regular monitoring of the growth dynamics of tumors and high-quality treatment. In the absence of therapy, human papillomavirus infection significantly worsens a woman’s quality of life, disrupts sexual life, and leads to extensive damage to the genital organs by papillomatous lesions.

 treatment of genital warts in women

Source: https://www.baby.ru/wiki/virus-papillomy-celoveka-u-zensin/