Human Papilloma Virus in Man
Most often human papilloma virus in man doesn’t induce symptoms or diseases. Generally speaking, human papilloma virus can be responsible for different kinds of epithelial tumors, including warts and some types of cancer. Warts appear on the mucosal membranes and skin. Human papilloma virus cause one of the most common sexually transmitted diseases - genital warts (condyloma). Cancerous conditions that can develop in men due to human papilloma virus infection are anal and penile cancer. Human papilloma virus has about 100 strains, and the strains that induce cancerous lesions are not the same as the strains that cause warts.
Human papilloma virus can be transmitted from one person to another by any contact with the infected area of the skin or mucosa. Most frequently the transmission of human papilloma virus occurs through sexual contacts. Most virus carriers transmit it unknowingly because human papilloma virus in man and in woman rarely manifests itself. The use of condoms during sex and limiting the number of sex partners help to decrease the risk of HPV infection. However, the use of condoms does not guarantee an absolute protection against human papilloma virus infection, for the reason that genital areas not covered by the condom may also be infected.
Warts are the most common disease caused by human papilloma virus in man. They may appear at any part of the body: genitalia, hands, feet, arms etc. They are benign growths with variable shape, color and size. Warts may occur several months after the infection. Human papilloma virus associated penile and anal cancer may develop without any clinically obvious signs. At the same time, cancer of the anus may be accompanied by swollen lymph nodes, anal bleeding, abnormal discharges, pain, itching.
In general, human papilloma infection is as frequent in men as in women. However, human papilloma virus infection is more dangerous for women as it considerably increases the likelihood of cervical dysplasia and cervical cancer. The cancer of the cervix affects hundreds of thousands of women every year and it is considered to be an important problem. Nowadays in many countries special programs are organized to detect early and to prevent this condition. That’s why in case of detection of human papilloma virus in man, doctors recommend his female partner to undergo medical examination.
