How HPV is transmitted and methods of infection

On earth, about 80% of the population is infected with the human papillomavirus. Since, due to HPV infection, not only harmless papillomas can appear on the body, but also genital warts, as well as growths that can degenerate in a malignant way, it is very important to know how HPV is transmitted. Perhaps this knowledge will help someone avoid infection and protect themselves from dangerous diseases such as cancer of the cervix, vulva, vagina, anal passage, penis and even breast. In the article we will tell you about HPV: how it is transmitted, risk factors and preventive measures.

How is the human papillomavirus transmitted?

First of all, it must be said that the papilloma is transmitted through the epidermis and saliva. At the same time, for some time the infection may not make itself felt and manifest itself with the formation of genital warts and papillomas only with a decrease in immunity.

If we talk about how the papilloma virus is transmitted, the likelihood of infection increases significantly if there are wounds, scratches and abrasions on the skin.

Attention!Many people wonder if papilloma is hereditary. The answer is no. It's just that when one of the family members becomes infected, the papilloma virus is passed on in everyday life or from mother to baby during childbirth.

The following methods of transmission of the viral infection from person to person are known:

1. It is transmitted through everyday life, that is, through touch, common household objects, clothes. The infection can be transmitted through kissing.
2. If a person has genital papillomas, transmission may have occurred sexually, that is, during unprotected sex.
3. Self-infection is possible during shaving, epilation and other skin damage. Since papilloma is contagious to surrounding healthy skin cells, a person himself can transfer the virus from diseased parts of the body to healthy ones.
4. The vertical route of infection is the transmission of the infection from mother to child during delivery.
5. Much less often, infection occurs during blood transfusion, during the surgical removal of neoplasms caused by HPV. In addition, infection is not excluded in beauty salons, manicure rooms, baths, saunas and swimming pools, where the rules of asepsis are neglected.

If we talk about how you can contract papilloma, in 70% of cases of sexual infection, the culprit is a man. In the presence of an epithelial neoplasm on 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% protection, as HPV can penetrate through microtraumas on the skin of the hands and other parts of the body. Also, warts can be located in the groin or pubic region, where a condom does not protect against direct contact with a partner.

Important!If one partner is a carrier of the virus but does not have papillomas, warts or genital warts, the other partner's risk of infection is significantly reduced.

If you list all the ways in which one can become infected with papillomavirus in a newborn, infection during the prenatal period is unlikely, since the virus does not enter the bloodstream and the fetus is protected soreliable from amniotic fluid, bladder and placenta. However, in medical practice, rare cases of intrauterine infection with damage to the placenta and fetal bladder have been recorded.

For women planning 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 childbirth, there is a threat of laryngeal papillomatosis and subsequent suffocation. Since the infection is transmitted through saliva, it is important to take into account the presence of papillomas, warts and warts in the man's mouth and on the mucous membranes of the oral cavity in a man, because a woman can become infected by oral sex.

If a family member has papilloma, as it is transmitted in everyday life, it is important for all family members to know:

• by sharing bed linen, towels, soap, cosmetics, wipes and other personal items, the virus can penetrate microtrauma of the skin;
• saliva infection is possible when using a toothbrush, glasses or other utensils;
• infection through clothing and other household items is also possible.

Risk Factors

We have discovered how one can become infected with the human papillomavirus, but it is equally important to know not only the transmission routes, but also the risk factors for human papillomavirus infection.

Thus, the human papillomavirus penetrates the skin and mucous membranes much easier against the background of the following provoking factors:

1. In men, children and women, infection is very likely against the background of reduced immunity. A common cold or sore throat can contribute to this.

2. 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 defenses of the body decrease and the likelihood of contracting sexually increases.
3. The genital tract of the infection most often becomes the cause of infection against the background of other sexually transmitted diseases (syphilis, gonorrhea, trichomoniasis).
4. Any means of transmission can be potentially dangerous for a person against the background of an exacerbation of a chronic disease, when the body is weakened by the disease.
5. There is no doubt that papillomas are contagious. The virus can easily enter the cells of a healthy person by the host if its defenses are weakened by stress, loss of energy, overwork 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 sexual transmission of the virus:

• early onset of sexual activity;
• prostitution;
• frequent changes of sexual partners;
• promiscuous sex life;
• history of sexually transmitted diseases;
• age is over 35;
• pathology of the cervix;
• immunodeficiency states.

Prevention

We have understood how human papillomavirus (women, men and children) is transmitted, now it remains to consider prevention measures. It must be said right away that the most effective way to avoid becoming 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 with vaccination at an early age, before sexual intercourse or before infection with one of the HPV strains.

As for the other methods of prevention, no one has canceled the rules of hygiene, the use of condoms, a demanding sex life and the rejection of bad habits. It is useful for maintaining the strength of the immune system: eating well, tempering, exercising, walking in the fresh air, periodically drinking vitamins.