On earth, about 80% of the population is infected with the human papillomavirus. Because, due to HPV infection, not only harmless papillomas can appear in the body, but also genital warts, as well as potentially degenerative growth, it is very important to know how HPV is transmitted. Perhaps this knowledge will help a person prevent infection and protect themselves from dangerous diseases such as cervical cancer of the uterus, vulva, vagina, anal canal, penis and even breast. In this article, we will tell you about HPV: how it is transmitted, risk factors and preventive measures.
How is the papillomavirus transmitted?
First, it can be said that papillomas are spread through the epidermis and saliva. At the same time, for some time the infection may not be felt and manifested with the formation of genital warts and papillomas only with a decrease in immunity.
If we discuss how the papilloma virus is transmitted, then the likelihood of infection increases significantly if there are cuts, scratches and abrasions on the skin.
Attention!Many people wonder if papillomas are inherited. The answer is no. Only when one family member becomes infected, does the papilloma virus spread in daily life or from mother to baby during childbirth.
The following methods of transmission of viral infections from person to person are known:
- It is spread through everyday life, that is, through touch, ordinary household items, clothing. Infections can be spread through kissing.
- If a person has a genital papilloma, the infection may occur sexually, i. e. during unprotected sex.
- Self-infection may occur during shaving, epilation and other skin damage. As the papilloma spreads to the surrounding healthy skin cells, one can transmit the virus from the diseased part of the body to the healthy one.
- The path of vertical infection is the transmission of infection from mother to child at birth.
- More rarely, infections occur during blood transfusions, during HPV-induced neoplasm surgery. Also, infections are not excluded in beauty salons, manicure rooms, baths, saunas and swimming pools, where the rules of asepsis are ignored.
If we discuss how you can get papilloma, then in 70% of cases of sexual infection, the culprit is male. If there is a neoplasm of the epithelium on the lips or genitals, the probability of infection is almost 90%. It should also be noted that the presence of a condom, although reducing the risk of infection, still does not guarantee 100 percent protection, as HPV can penetrate through microtrauma on the skin of the hands and other parts of the body. Moreover, condyloma can be localized in the groin or genital area, where condoms will not protect from direct contact with a partner.
Important!If one of the partners is a carrier of the virus, but he or she does not have papilloma, warts or genital warts, the risk of infection of the other partner is significantly reduced.
If you list all the ways in which you can be infected with papillomavirus in newborns, then infection during intrauterine is unlikely to occur, as the virus does not penetrate into the blood and the fetus is protected by amniotic fluid, bladder andplacenta. However, in medical practice, rare cases of intrauterine infection have been recorded with damage to the placenta and fetal bladder.
For women who are planning a pregnancy, it is very important to know if the child's father is contagious and whether he can spread the infection to the pregnant mother, because the genital warts that appear during pregnancy are very dangerous for the child. If there is an infection in the baby at birth, there is a threat of laryngeal papillomatosis and shortness of breath. Since the infection is transmitted through saliva, it is important to consider the presence of papillomas, genital warts and warts in the mouth of men and in the mucous membranes of the oral cavity, as a woman can be infected with oral sex.
If family members have papilloma, how it is transmitted in daily life, it is important for all members of the household to know:
- through shared bedding, towels, soap, cosmetics, wipes and other personal items, the virus can penetrate microtrauma to the skin;
- Saliva infection may occur when using a toothbrush, glass or other appliance; Infection
- through clothing and other household items is also possible.
Risk Factors
We know how you can be infected with the human papillomavirus virus, but it is just as important to know not only the route of transmission, but also the risk factors of human papillomavirus infection.
Thus, human papillomavirus penetrates the skin and mucous membranes more easily against the background of the following provoking factors:
- In men, children and women, the infection is most likely due to decreased immunity. Colds or sore throats can cause this.
- The risk of contracting HPV increases when the intestinal or vaginal microflora is disturbed. In the first case, general immunity suffers, in the second case, the local body's defenses decrease, and the likelihood of sexual contractions increases.
- Genital tract infections are more often the cause of infections against the background of other sexually transmitted diseases (syphilis, gonorrhea, trichomoniasis).
- Any means of transmission is potentially dangerous for a person with a background of chronic chronic disease, when the body is weakened by the disease.
- There is no denying that papilloma is contagious. The virus can easily enter from the host to the cells of a healthy person if its defenses are weakened by stress, energy loss, overwork or depression.
Important!Any virus is more easily spread to men and women with bad habits (smoking, alcohol). The risk of infection also increases significantly in women taking birth control pills.
The following conditions and diseases are the predisposing factors of sexually transmitted viruses:
- early onset of sexual activity;
- prostitution;
- frequent sexual partner exchanges;
- tapered sex life;
- history of venereal disease;
- age over 35;
- cervical pathology;
- immune deficiency conditions.
Prevention
We know how human papillomavirus (women, men and children) are transmitted, now we still need to consider preventive measures. Immediately it should be said that the most effective way to avoid infection is preventive vaccination. To date, two types of vaccines are known for this infection. They protect against the most dangerous oncogenic strains from viral infections. However, the high efficacy of protection can only be seen with vaccination at an early age, before sexual intercourse or before being infected with one of the HPV strains.
As for other prevention methods, nothing cancels out hygiene rules, condom use, selective sex life and rejection of bad habits. It is useful to maintain the strength of the immune system: eat properly, get angry, exercise, walk in the fresh air, drink vitamins regularly.