If an analysis is needed to identify HPV, there is nothing to worry about. Most procedures are absolutely painless and some are quite tolerated by any patient. Consider the most common questions regarding the delivery of tests.
What is HPV?
Human papillomavirus is a microorganism that contains the cell's structure of DNA. When introduced into the human body, HPV DNA causes a mutation, leading to irreversible processes. Most of the population are already carriers of the virus, but few realize this as the virus does not manifest itself in any way.
As soon as the body fails, the immune system weakens and growth grows on the body. For all formations on the skin, except moles and acne, it is HPV that affects. If the growth is not treated quickly, malignancy occurs and a harmless wart can turn into cervical cancer in women and urethral cancer in men.
Why is the human papillomavirus dangerous?
When papillomas, genital warts or warts appear on the body, an ordinary person is hardly able to distinguish them from each other and confuse them with something that is incapable of causing harm.
It is not so simple - a small papilloma can grow to such a size that it will cause many nuisances - from aesthetic discomfort to the development of cancerous tumors. More than 130 strains of human papillomavirus are known, and each of them manifests itself in different ways.
The most common of them are types 16 and 18, which cause cancer of the mucous membranes, cervix, vagina, penis and other similar diseases. When a person first does not know about the presence of the virus in the body, HPV develops gradually, and after 5-10 years, a person sees changes in his body in the form of growth.
Papilloma analysis can be performed at any clinic. After 40 years, more than half of the lesions become malignant. A timely diagnosis gives a person a chance at a painless old age that will not be overshadowed by cancer.
Why test for human papillomavirus?
To protect yourself from oncogenic diseases, you should identify a potential threat to life and health in a timely manner. With a comprehensive list of the causes of its spread, HPV is transmitted from person to person through close contact - hugs, kisses, intercourse and the use of common hygiene products.
The virus takes root under the skin and destroys the healthy DNA structure and mutates throughout the body. When immunity fails, HPV appears on the skin in the form of warts, papillomas and similar rashes. Only one study can detect the virus at an early stage and block its further spread.
When is an HPV test scheduled?
When the first signs of the disease appear on the body, the doctor can see them himself with a visual examination. An HPV test is prescribed to understand where the virus came from in the body, identify the type and then remove.
Even considering that not all infected people are able to become cancer patients, no one wants to tempt fate, which means it is necessary to perform tests. If a woman is planning to become pregnant, she should be tested for HPV as the virus will easily penetrate the baby. The father should also not care because he may be a carrier of papillomavirus.
Functions for passing analysis for HPV
It is believed that detection of HPV before the age of 30 is not informative, as the disease extends far beyond the human eye. After 30, the first tests are prescribed that can detect papillomavirus even in the earliest stages.
The less time that has elapsed since the time of infection, the more effective the subsequent treatment will be. It is necessary to identify the moment when normal cells begin to grow into cancer. The methods for diagnosing human papillomavirus depend on several factors:
- Identification of the virus and its very presence in the body
- Find out the variety
- Assess the injury caused during the period when the person did not seek medical attention
- Prescribe effective, high-quality treatment
Remember:the virus will never leave the host completely as it already interacts with the cells in the body's DNA. HPV will remain calm until the immune system is weakened.
What kind of analysis should pass on the detection of HPV?
- Colposcopic examination. HPV testing in women is performed by this method. It is designed to detect genital warts. It is prescribed for women to detect genital warts located in the cervical area.
- Cytology. A smear containing epithelial cells is taken, then the samples are examined under a microscope. If the cells change, there is a risk of developing HPV. There is a risk of a false result.
- Histology. It is an addition to cytology to rule out a defect. A small piece of the affected tissue is taken and the doctor assesses the severity of the position through a microscope. By means of histological examination it is possible to determine the nature of the formation.
- PCR diagnostics. The most truthful way with 98% accuracy. Swab, urine, blood or amniotic fluid taken
If at least one study reveals the presence of a virus, the patient is sent for further analysis to ensure the accuracy of the result. If the result turned out to be false positive, contaminated test material or a violation of generally accepted sampling technique may be the cause.
Sometimes patients prepare incorrectly for the analysis or choose the wrong time for the procedure - these factors can also cause false results.
Test rules
In addition to trusting the attending physician, the patient must follow the process of passing the analysis and know the basic processes. The doctor is a specialist, but health belongs to the patient.
How is biomaterial taken?
The strokes are taken with a soft brush resembling a brush. In free clinics, a Volkmann spoon is sometimes used - it is a small spoon on a long stem. Such a brush is carefully inserted into the channel and then removed with rotational movements. The brush is placed in a sterile flask and sent for further research.
How to prepare the procedure for women
2 days before the procedure you can not live sexually, use soap with an antibacterial effect, shower, use tampons. If a smear was taken from the cervix, after the procedure for 3 weeks you can not have sex, play sports, overheat, swim in public places and take medication that affects blood thinning.
How to prepare the procedure for men
Sexual intercourse is excluded, shower for 2 days without detergents. Do not urinate before the procedure.
General preparation for the procedure
It is necessary to inform the doctor about all medicines that have been taken by a person in the last 2 months.
How is an HPV blood sample taken?
Used for PCR diagnostics. From a finger, sometimes from a vein, depending on what kind of analysis the person will take. A slight tingling sensation from the injection is the maximum discomfort of the procedure. If the vessels in the elbow area are narrow, the process of taking blood becomes difficult, but the doctor will tell you how to properly dilate the vein.
The procedure is performed on an empty stomach, you can not even drink water. It is advisable to bring a chocolate bar. 3 days before donating blood, it is necessary to exclude all foods that cause an allergic reaction from the diet.
How is urine tested?
It is better to take care of the sterile jar yourself. You can buy it at the pharmacy. Collect morning urine in a jar on an empty stomach. Then take it for examination, preferably immediately, the maximum period is 4 hours or the result will be invalid. The method is not as accurate as taking blood, but if it is not possible to donate blood, you will need to use this method.
How long does it take to test for HPV in women and men?
If a colposcopic examination took place, the result is issued immediately. With a cytological examination, the results will only be ready after a week. Histology is performed for 3 days, then you can get the test result on your hands. With PCR diagnostics, you can take the results immediately or wait up to 2 days.
When and how often should you get tested for HPV?
Until the age of 30, only those who have clear signs of growth on the body are examined. Normally at this age, HPV is dormant and does not spread throughout the body.
From 30 to 60 years, it is necessary to go for examination every 3 years. The level of immunity decreases, so the signs of the human papillomavirus should be detected in time.
After 60 years, no examinations are usually performed. If the presence of a virus was not detected during the last two tests, you do not need to worry. If there were manifestations, you will need to go into treatment until the last 2 results are negative.
Costs and prices for delivery of HPV test
In the presence of acute diseases or at the end of a cancerous tumor, most examinations are free. They can be prescribed by the treating oncologist.
For a complete picture of the development of the virus, 2 methods are usually used to eliminate the likelihood of false information.
Decoding the results
Decryption should only be performed by the attending physician. Patient intervention will not do any good. To understand what the results are about, pay attention to the following words:
- reference values- HPV is absent;
- positive result - an oncogenic HPV strain was detected;
- the result is negative - no cancers were found, but it is possible to find other types of HPV.
If the patient decided to take health and find out about the presence of the human papillomavirus in his body, one should resort to the above methods. Early diagnosis saved millions of people and helped find a calm and healthy life. Only after thorough testing is it possible to prescribe quality treatment.
Sometimes the patient is sent for testing without external signs of the disease and the procedure shows that there is HPV in the body. In this case, the treatment will not take long. It is for this reason that doctors recommend seeking help on time.