On the ground is approx. 80% of the population infected with the human papillomavirus. Since due to HPV infection not only harmless papillomas can occur on the body but also genital warts as well as outgrowths that can malignantly degenerate, it is very important to know how HPV is transmitted. Perhaps this knowledge will help someone avoid infection and protect themselves from such dangerous diseases as cancer of the cervix, vulva, vagina, anal passage, penis and even breast. In this article, we tell you about HPV: how it is transmitted, risk factors and preventative measures.
How is human papillomavirus transmitted?
First, it must be said that the papilloma is transmitted through the epidermis and saliva. At the same time, the infection for some time may not be noticeable and manifests itself in the formation of genital warts and papillomas only with a decrease in immunity.
If we talk about how papillomavirus is transmitted, the likelihood of infection increases significantly if there is damage, scratches and abrasions on the skin.
NOTE!Many people wonder if papilloma is inherited. The answer is no. It's just that when one of the family members is infected, the papillomavirus is transmitted in everyday life or from mother to baby during birth.
The following ways of transmitting viral infection from person to person are known:
- It is transmitted through everyday life, ie. by touch, ordinary household items, clothing. Infection can be transmitted through kissing.
- If a person has genital papillomas, transmission could have taken place sexually, that is, during unprotected sex.
- Self-infection is possible during shaving, epilation and other skin damage. Since papilloma is contagious to the surrounding healthy skin cells, a person can even transmit the virus from diseased parts of the body to healthy ones.
- The vertical route of infection is the transmission of the infection from mother to child during birth.
- Infection during blood transfusion occurs much less frequently during surgical removal of neoplasms caused by HPV. Infection is also not ruled out in beauty salons, manicure rooms, baths, saunas and swimming pools, where the rules of asepsis are neglected.
If we talk about how to get papilloma, the culprit in 70% of cases of sexual infection is a man. In the presence of an epithelial neoplasm of the lips or genitals, the probability of infection is almost 90%. It should also be borne in mind that the presence of a condom, although it reduces the risk of infection, still does not guarantee 100 percent protection, as HPV can penetrate microtrauma on the skin of the hands and other parts of the body. In addition, condyloma can be located in the groin or pubic area, where a condom does not protect against direct contact with a partner.
Important!If one of the partners is a carrier of the virus but does not have papillomas, warts or genital warts, the risk of infection in the other partner is significantly reduced.
If you list all the ways in which a newborn can be infected with papillomavirus, infection in the prenatal period is unlikely as the virus does not enter the bloodstream and the fetus is reliably protected by amniotic fluid, bladder and placenta. However, in medical practice, rare cases of intrauterine infection have been registered with damage to the placenta and the fetal bladder.
For women planning a pregnancy, it is very important to know if the baby's father is contagious and if he can transmit the infection to the expectant mother, as genital warts that appear during pregnancy are very dangerous for the baby. In case of infection of the baby during birth, there is a threat of laryngeal papillomatosis and subsequent suffocation. As the infection is transmitted through saliva, it is important to take into account the presence of papillomas, genital warts and warts in the man's mouth and on the oral mucosa because a woman can become infected with oral sex.
If a family member has a papilloma, how it is transmitted in everyday life, it is important for all household members to know:
- Through split sheets, towels, soap, cosmetics, washcloths and other personal belongings, the virus can penetrate the microtrauma of the skin;
- saliva infection is possible when using a toothbrush, glasses or other tool;
- infection through clothing and other household items is also possible.
Risk Factors
We found out how you can get infected with the human papillomavirus, but it is equally important to know not only the routes of transmission but also the risk factors for papillomavirus infection.
So, human papillomavirus penetrates the skin and mucous membranes much more easily due to the following provocative factors:
- In men, children and women, infection is likely due to impaired immunity. A cold or sore throat can contribute to this.
- The risk of getting HPV increases when the intestinal or vaginal microflora is disturbed. In the first case, general immunity suffers, in the second case, the body's local defenses decrease, and the likelihood of being sexually increased.
- The genitals of the infection more often become the cause of infection due to other sexually transmitted diseases (syphilis, gonorrhea, trichomoniasis).
- Any means of transmission can be potentially dangerous for a person due to an exacerbation of a chronic disease when the body is weakened by the disease.
- There is no doubt that papillomas are contagious. The virus can easily penetrate from the host into the cells of a healthy person if his defenses are weakened by stress, loss of energy, overexertion or depression.
Important!Any virus is more easily transmitted to men and women who have bad habits (smoking, alcohol). The risk of infection is also significantly increased in women taking combined contraceptives.
The following conditions and diseases are predisposing factors for the sexual transmission of the virus:
- past sexual activity;
- prostitution
- frequent change of sexual partners;
- promiscuous sex life;
- history of sexually transmitted diseases;
- age is over 35;
- pathology of the cervix;
- immune deficiency conditions.
Prevention
We found out how the human papillomavirus (women, men and children) is transmitted, now preventive measures are still being considered. It must be said immediately that the most effective way not to get infected is preventive vaccination. To date, two types of vaccines are known for this infection. They protect against the most dangerous oncogenic strains of viral infection. However, the high efficacy of such protection is observed only by vaccination at an early age, before intercourse or before infection with one of the HPV strains.
As for other prevention methods, no one has annulled the hygiene rules, condom use, a picky sex life and rejection of bad habits. It is useful to maintain the strength of the immune system: eat right, temper, exercise, walk in fresh air, drink vitamins regularly.