Absolutely everyone should know how the human papillomavirus is transmitted. More than half of the world's population is already a carrier of the papillomavirus. HPV is a special microorganism capable of reproducing in epithelial cells and preventing their division. More often activated in the body in women. Are people carrying the virus contagious and what are the ways in which it is transmitted? Only by having complete information about what the ways of transmission of the virus are, you can alert yourself and your loved ones of the infection. The main source of infection is the carrier of the HPV virus.
transfer methods
Among the mechanisms under the influence of which you can become infected are:
- contact;
- vertical (from mother to child during labor).
The implementation of the contact mechanism is carried out through sexual and household contact routes. Therefore, HPV can be transmitted through:
- handshake and kiss;
- the use of other people's hygiene products, which include a razor, washcloth, soap, towel and cosmetics;
- wearing clothes that belong to the carrier of the infection;
- visit public baths, saunas and swimming pools.
The oncogenic types of the virus are sexually transmitted. The risk of infection often increases in those people who are promiscuous in partners. The more often they change, the greater the likelihood of infection, and even using a condom you cannot be sure of its safety.
You can also get infected with homosexual relationships, because they are the ones that are characterized by lesions in the epithelium and mucosa. And a condom in this case doesn't help much either. The presence of warts on the body of the sexual partner also signals the possibility of acquiring HPV through microtraumas in the body.
Pregnant women with HPV should be aware of the possibility of infecting a child during its passage through the birth canal.
Infection is carried out only in the presence of characteristic growths in the genital area and on the cervix. At the same time, papillomavirus infection in a child manifests itself in the form of growths on the larynx, which are particularly dangerous. It will be difficult for the baby to breathe and eat, maybe even suffocate.
Conditions conducive to infection
Contact with a person with HPV does not necessarily mean infection. Only if there are lesions on the skin and mucous membranes, the papillomavirus can enter the body. So HPV is much easier to get infected if the skin has:
- wounds;
- scratches;
- abrasions;
- cracks;
- abrasions;
- to comb.
During sexual intercourse, it should be borne in mind that various types of skin lesions can occur on the tissues adjacent to the genitals. By using a condom, infection can also be carried out.
The mucosa becomes unprotected from infection with a depressed immune system. The appearance of papillomas and warts in the genital area is often triggered by the presence of other infections in the body. If such growths are found, treatment should be carried out not only by the HPV carrier, but also by their partner.
Violation of the microflora of the vagina in women and even in the intestines in both sexes can also lead to a decrease in immunity and, accordingly, the papillomavirus enters the body more easily.
HPV activation
Even if the papillomavirus infection is already present in the body, you may not notice any of its manifestations. It is not necessary for the growths to appear on the body. Often, the papillomavirus occurs in the latent phase and absolutely without symptoms.
HPV can be compared to the herpes virus, which is also present in the body of the majority of the population, but the characteristic symptoms in the body are far from always indicating its presence. With a strong immune system, the papillomavirus may not multiply.
Only under favorable conditions for the development of HPV infection does it begin to intensify. There is an active reproduction of virions in the nuclei of cells, which leads to disturbances in cell reproduction. Using human cells, the papillomavirus creates copies of itself. As a result, uncontrolled cell reproduction and the appearance of neoplasms in the body.
Conditions that trigger the activation of the virus:
- exacerbation of any diseases that could be called chronic;
- recent infectious diseases;
- the presence of an intestinal infection;
- congenital immunodeficiency;
- non-compliance with diet and diet;
- work in production, which belongs to the harmful category;
- frequent stressful situations.
Virus activation can be caused by several factors that, to a greater or lesser extent, affect the state of the immune system. Only with depressed immunity, neoplasms appear in the body.
prevention measures
There are several preventive measures, due to which it is highly likely that human papillomavirus infection will not enter the body.
- all skin damage should be treated with antiseptics;
- use only personal hygiene products;
- in public saunas, baths and swimming pools, it is necessary to use rubber flip-flops;
- any illness must be treated in a timely manner;
- loyalty to a trusted sexual partner;
- use condoms for any sexual intercourse. Although this does not guarantee safety, however, through a condom, the papillomavirus enters the body of women and men less likely;
- regular exercise;
- hardening of the body;
- adherence to sleep and nutrition.
Such care must be taken not only to avoid HPV infection, but also other sexually transmitted infections. Condoms provide a guarantee against infection by many diseases that trigger the activation of the HPV virus.
In the case of the presence of a virus in the body of pregnant women and its manifestations in the genital area, a thorough examination and removal of such neoplasms is necessary. If there are papillomas on the genitals, a cesarean section is recommended for a woman to prevent infection of the child while passing through the birth canal.
There is a special vaccine against highly oncogenic strains of the virus, recommended primarily for women under 26 and adolescents. Even under the condition that the HPV carrier himself is vaccinated, his immunity improves markedly and the virus passes into an inactive phase.
At the same time, it must be taken into account that the virus does not disappear from the body and, therefore, the person remains a carrier of the infection. For safety reasons, he must use a condom during sexual intercourse and use only personal hygiene products.
Forecast
More prone to such manifestations of HPV as growths on the body of women's body. Your immune system is much weaker and doesn't resist the virus well. But at the same time, there is no reason to believe that a man does not need to be concerned about the presence of a virus. It also poses a threat, being a source of infection.
Any neoplasms in the body cannot be removed independently. All actions must be carried out only under the supervision of the attending physician.
Infection can be prevented. It is enough to follow personal hygiene, use condoms during sexual intercourse, carefully monitor your own skin and pay attention to the presence of growths on the body of loved ones.