How HPV is transmitted from person to person, how you can get infected

An HPV carrier may not know they are infected. Symptoms do not appear immediately and only in the form of papillomas of different localization:

  1. Vulgar. They appear in the form of a small hard bump with a diameter of about 1 cm, most often on the hands.
  2. Filamentous. Small seals in the form of yellow cones, often change and grow.
  3. Plantar warts. It is often confused with corns.
  4. Apartment. Itching before the manifestation, similar to the manifestation of an allergy. Then they become rounded, light.
  5. Pointed warts. They are located in intimate places, on the mucous membrane.

In women with formations on the genitals, accompanying signs may appear:

  • warmth;
  • itching;
  • cycle disorder;
  • pain, blood at the sites of neoplasms.

In men, HPV manifests itself in the form of genital warts rarely, they act as carriers of the disease.

Blood test for papillomavirus type 18 (16)

A blood test for human papillomavirus in developed countries is used for mass detection of carriers and sick people. The diagnostic accuracy of cytology is up to 95%. A DNA test in the US is performed for the following indications:

  • In women over 30 as a screening test;
  • To identify questionable research results;
  • In the absence of screening programs;
  • For control after removal of cervical cancer.
papillomas on the neck

The list of diagnostic procedures for the detection of papilloma virus:

  1. Cytological examination in combination with the Digene test allows you to determine the clinically significant concentration of the virus in the blood;
  2. Urological, gynecological examination - to detect genital warts, genital warts;
  3. Histological examination of a piece of tissue taken after a gynecological or urological examination.

The main task of papillomavirus diagnostics is the detection of precancerous conditions. Colposcopy and cytology are the most common and affordable ways to diagnose the disease.

Transfer methods

Among the mechanisms under the influence of which you can become infected, there are:

  • contact;
  • vertical (from mother to child during birth).

The application of the contact mechanism is carried out through sexual and contact-domestic ways. Therefore, HPV can be transmitted through:

  • handshake and kiss;
  • the use of other people's hygiene products, which include a razor, towel, soap, cloth and cosmetics;
  • wearing clothes that belong to the carrier of the infection;
  • visiting public baths, saunas and swimming pools.

Oncogenic types of viruses are sexually transmitted. The risk of infection increases many times in those people who have promiscuous partners. The more often they change, the greater the chance of infection, and even if you use a condom, you cannot be sure of your safety.

You can also get infected through homosexual relations, since they are characterized by damage to the epithelium and mucous membrane. And a condom in this case doesn't help much either. The presence of warts on the body of a sexual partner also signals the possibility of HPV infection through microtraumas on the body.

Pregnant women who are carriers of HPV should be aware of the possibility of infecting the child during its passage through the birth canal.

The infection occurs only in the presence of characteristic formations in the genital area and the cervix. At the same time, papillomavirus infection in a child manifests itself in the form of growths in the larynx, which are particularly dangerous. It will be difficult for the baby to breathe and eat, maybe even suffocation.

To begin with, it is worth saying that papilloma is transmitted through the epidermis and saliva. At the same time, the infection may not be felt for some time and manifest itself in the formation of genital warts and papillomas only with a decrease in immunity. If we talk about how the papillomavirus is transmitted, then the probability of infection increases significantly if there is damage, scratches and abrasions on the skin.

attention! Many people are interested in whether papilloma is inherited. The answer is no. Just when one of the family members is infected, the papillomavirus is transmitted at home or from mother to baby during childbirth.

There is an opinion that most often the human papilloma virus is transmitted through sexual contact. This is true, but there are other routes of infection. The incubation period of the human papillomavirus can be up to 10 years. Papillomas on the body can be formed by a simple touch or by the saliva of another person.

There are more than a hundred strains of HPV, most of which are transmitted through various types of intimate contact.

sexually

HPV is sexually transmitted. This reason is considered the most common and insidious, because often girls and boys do not know about the presence of an infection in the blood. Popular protection methods do not provide 100% security against the virus, especially if it is not a barrier method.

A condom gives a person little protection against HPV. It all depends on the type of infection and the person's immune system.

HPV can affect the skin anywhere on the body. Papillomas are often sexually transmitted.

Infection can happen even through a condom. This is due to the fact that the virus lives on surface tissues and easily colonizes mucous membranes.

In the presence of microabrasion, the virus enters the blood and begins its destructive work. As a result of infection of the mucous membranes of the genital organs, genital warts or cauliflower-like neoplasms appear.

Men often infect their partners during intimate relations. They have stronger immune systems and rarely show visible signs of infection. If there are many sexual relations with unknown women, they can be in the role of virus carriers for some time. Papillomavirus can be passed from woman to man if the sexual partner has a weak immune system.

A person who is naturally immune to this virus can touch warts, have sex with a sick person and remain healthy. There are cases when one partner is positive for HPV and the other is negative, despite the fact that they have been living together for a long time.

Other routes of infection

The method of infection through household means is quite common, as well as the possibility of infection during sexual intercourse.

The virus can be transmitted by swimming in contaminated water, outdoor or indoor pools. You can see peculiar growths on the body some time after visiting a bath or sauna where an infected person visited.

HPV is transmitted intranatally or transplacentally. For each method there is a certain risk of infection.

Research shows that cesarean delivery increases the chance of human papillomavirus infection. In natural birth or artificial birth in women, the risk of infection does not change.

The recurrent course of respiratory papillomatosis is provoked by the presence of several types of pathogens - 68, 59, 56, 52, 51, 45, 39, 35, 33, 31, 18, 16. The differences in the oncogenicity of serotypes lie in the ability of each typeto determine the number of divisions intracellularly.

HPV transmission through sexual contact

Through intercourse, HPV is transmitted as a sexually transmitted infection. After contact of the blood of a carrier or an infected person with the blood of a donor (through erosion, cracks in the genital organs), the virion enters the bloodstream. Clinical symptoms are formed according to the serotype of the virus:

  • Vulgar plantar warts are provoked by HPV 63, 1, 4, 2 types;
  • Flat warts - 75, 41, 28, 49. 10, 3;
  • Epidermodysplasia verruciformis is seen in patients with papillomatosis due to serotype 11 or 6.

According to scientists, there are many papillomaviruses that have not yet been studied. Mankind has carefully studied oncogenic representatives, which made it possible to create effective protection against cervical cancer in women.

The mechanism of infection with the papilloma virus at home

Human papillomavirus is a highly contagious virus and according to statistics, 50 to 70% of the population is infected with it. However, clinical manifestations of infection are not so common, in about 1-2% of cases. A person does not even realize that he is a carrier of HPV until there is a decrease in immunity and activation of the virus. By knowing the main ways HPV is transmitted, you can protect yourself from unwanted symptoms. So, HPV - how is the disease transmitted? All possible routes of transmission will be discussed below.

Papilloma: how is it transmitted and what is it?

About 100 different varieties of the virus are currently known. Among them there are both harmless to humans and dangerous from the point of view of the development of cancer.

The following facts may be encouraging: the viruses that cause the formation of warts and papillomas belong to subtypes 6 and 11, which have a low carcinogenic risk. Oncogenic subtypes include strains 16 and 18, which provoke cell mutation and cervical cancer.

The papilloma virus reproduces exclusively in the cells of the skin and mucous membranes, which leads to their uncontrolled division. As a result, a person has the following clinical manifestations:

  • various warts (ordinary, flat, plantar);
  • genital warts;
  • papillomatosis of the mouth and larynx;
  • papillomas of internal organs.

The role of the virus in the development of cervical cancer in women and penile cancer in men has been proven, so it is important to know how the papillomavirus is transmitted to prevent infection.

Human papillomavirus: modes of transmission

It is impossible to establish the presence of a virus in the body independently if there are no characteristic formations on the skin or mucous membranes. Specialized medical tests will allow to identify sleep pathology. The absence of symptoms does not guarantee that a person is not dangerous to others.

How is papilloma virus (HPV) transmitted? Doctors distinguish several ways.

Contact household way

HPV is transmitted through the household. It is worth noting that rarely, but this possibility of getting a human papillomavirus infection (PVI) still has the right to exist.

You can get infected by shaking hands, using common household items - towels, slippers, wearing foreign clothes, especially underwear. Often the infection occurs when visiting a swimming pool, fitness center.

The microscopic organism has such high activity that HPV is transmitted through saliva, a kiss.

The risk of infection increases if the skin has abrasions, scratches, microcracks and various wounds. People with characteristic manifestations of the disease - warts and papillomas - are especially contagious.

A fairly common question: Will regular hand washing reduce the risk of infection? Of course, clean skin is more protected. However, hygiene measures do not protect against infection with the papillomavirus.

Is papillomavirus (HPV) sexually transmitted?

One sexual contact is enough to infect a person. HPV is transmitted through oral, vaginal and anal sex.

More often, the infection comes from a man, but the opposite situation is also possible, when a reverse infection with HPV is registered - from a woman to a man.

Predisposing factors are:

  • early intimacy at a young age;
  • frequent change of sexual partners, because remember that the papillomavirus is sexually transmitted;
  • the presence of genital warts on the genitals.

Papilloma is also sexually transmitted through homosexual relations, in which minor injuries to the skin and mucous membranes of the anal area occur. This significantly increases the risk of infection, especially if one of the partners has external manifestations of the disease - anogenital warts.

Is human papillomavirus transmitted through protected sex? Unfortunately, yes. HPV is transmitted through a condom because invisible warts can be located in the inguinal area unprotected by the product.

Using a condom significantly reduces the risk of infection, but does not provide a complete guarantee of safety. However, condom use is recommended for all people who have multiple sexual partners.

HPV is easily transmitted through oral sex. This increases the risk of developing tonsil cancer, especially if a person has been infected with oncogenic strains.

Papilloma virus: transmission from mother to child (vertical method)

Many pregnant women worry - is HPV transmitted from mother to child? Unfortunately, there is such a route of infection, and infection can occur both transplacentally (in the prenatal period) and during childbirth.

If the first option is incredibly rare, then when the baby passes through an infected birth canal, the child can get the papilloma virus with a high degree of probability.

Infection of the larynx, bronchi and trachea in a newborn is possible. The virus is introduced into the mucous membranes and stimulates the formation of growths. Laryngeal papillomatosis can lead to stenosis and suffocation of the child, especially if the vocal cords are affected. Any infection, cold leads to swelling of the mucous membranes of the respiratory tract, and in the presence of accompanying papillomas, this ends with difficulty inhaling and exhaling.

Papillomavirus infection (PVI) is included in the group of anthroponous pathogens (transmission occurs exclusively from person to person). If we talk about how you can get infected with papillomavirus (HPV), then mainly through sexual contact with an infected partner. In addition, the virus can remain active in dead skin cells for a certain period of time (relatively short), which is why in certain situations the infection with the human papillomavirus is carried out through home remedies. Now a little more about how to get HPV and what methods of infection exist.

Contagious papillomatosis

First of all, it is worth answering the question: "Is the papilloma infected? ""Undoubtedly. And the appearance of warts requires complex treatment, including not only the removal of formations, but also the application of the necessary medications.

Is latent HPV contagious? Another frequently asked question by patients. The answer to it will also be positive. It is worth knowing that even practicing protected sex is not a complete guarantee against infection. The virus can be found in the groin and on the surface of the genitals unprotected by a condom.

Human papillomavirus: a sexually transmitted infection

The main way of transmission of papilloma is sexual intercourse with an infected partner. This type of transmission is characteristic of most varieties of the virus with high oncogenic activity.

The risk of disease is especially high in men and women who are promiscuous in choosing a sexual partner. People with homosexual tendencies should also be included in the risk group. The practice of anal sex is accompanied by trauma to the skin and mucous membranes, which greatly facilitates the process of introducing HPV DNA into the human body.

A person often accepts the formations on the skin as harmless and treats them with folk methods. This mistake can have dangerous consequences - the abnormal growth of epithelial tissue enhances the spread of papillomavirus in the body, and some of its strains provoke cell mutation with the formation of various types of cancer.

More than 80% of the world's population is a carrier of the human papillomavirus, regardless of age and race.

Human papilloma virus (HPV) is a very common disease against which neither children nor adults are protected. Getting infected with this infection is quite simple, since its cells are around us and retain their viability without a carrier for a long time.

In addition, it can settle in the human body imperceptibly and will not manifest itself until a certain moment. All this time, the infected object is a carrier of the disease, which is why HPV is transmitted both to people who are close to him and to members of his family.

Papillomavirus - a provocateur of the development of oncology

Almost every third person has small growths on the body, which initially seem harmless and harmless. When such neoplasms are found, the first reaction of the patient is to tear them off or remove them using folk methods.

In fact, such actions often cause irreparable harm to health, since improper removal of the papilloma can provoke active proliferation of epithelial tissues. This contributes to the rapid spread of HPV in the body and in some cases even causes mutation of skin cells with subsequent degeneration into a cancerous tumor.

To date, scientists have divided all types of papillomavirus into three categories:

  • safe;
  • low oncogenic;
  • highly oncogenic.

One of the characteristics of HPV is that it is not a sexually transmitted disease in the usual sense of the word. The sexual route is only one of several ways of infection and is far from the main one. That is why condoms cannot always protect against the human papilloma virus.

We propose to find out what methods of transmission of the virus exist, how the infection occurs and whether it can be avoided.

In total, about 130 types of human papilloma virus are known to medicine. Only about 40 of them affect the genitals. For most of these 40 species, sexual transmission is the main route, but studies show that it is not the only one.

HPV prevention

There are a number of preventive measures, due to which the human papillomavirus infection is very likely not to enter the body.

  • all skin damage must be treated with antiseptics;
  • use only personal hygiene products;
  • in public saunas, baths and swimming pools it is necessary to use rubber slippers;
  • any disease must be treated promptly;
  • loyalty to a sexual partner who can be trusted;
  • use a condom every time you have sex. Although this does not guarantee safety, nevertheless, through a condom, the papillomavirus enters the body of women and men with a lower probability;
  • regular exercise;
  • hardening of the body;
  • observance of sleep and nutrition.

Such precautions should be taken not only to avoid contracting HPV, but also other sexually transmitted infections. The condom provides a guarantee against infection with many diseases that provoke the activation of the HPV virus.

In the case of the presence of a virus in the body of a pregnant woman and its manifestations in the genital area, a full examination and removal of such neoplasms is necessary. If there are papillomas on the genitals, a cesarean section is recommended to the woman to prevent infection of the child during passage through the birth canal.

There is a special vaccine against viruses from highly oncogenic strains, which is recommended primarily for women under 26 years of age and adolescents. Even if the HPV carrier himself is vaccinated, his immunity improves significantly and the virus goes into an inactive phase.

At the same time, it should be borne in mind that the virus does not disappear from the body and, accordingly, the person remains a carrier of the infection. For safety reasons, he should use a condom during intercourse and use only personal hygiene products.

We understood how the human papilloma virus is transmitted (women, men and children), now it remains to consider preventive measures. It should be said right away that the most effective way to avoid infection is preventive vaccination.

To date, two types of vaccines against this infection are known. They protect against the most dangerous oncogenic strains of viral infection.

However, the high efficiency of such protection is observed only when vaccinated at an early age, before sexual activity or before infection with one of the HPV strains.

In order not to get infected with the human papillomavirus, you should follow some simple rules that will help you avoid other, more serious health problems:

  • be careful when choosing sexual partners - avoid casual contacts;
  • observe the rules of personal hygiene - wash your hands more often, especially after visiting public places;
  • strengthening immunity - if possible, avoid stress and overwork;
  • get vaccinated - the vaccine appeared relatively recently, in 2006.

Even after you have studied the ways of transmission of the human papillomavirus and follow all the rules of prevention, it is impossible to completely protect yourself from HPV infection. If you have had contact with a sick person and fear that the virus may be transmitted, you can take a PCR blood test. This way you will get a reliable answer. But it should be noted that HPV does not require treatment if you do not have characteristic clinical manifestations.