#HPV Bumps on the back of the tongue

[mihikavasant]

HPV Bumps on Tongue - Surya Dental Care

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is commonly linked to skin growths, but many are unaware that it can also affect the tongue and oral cavity. While oral HPV infections often resolve on their own, persistent infections may lead to the development of bumps on the tongue, particularly at the back of the tongue, tonsils, or roof of the mouth.

This blog explores HPV bumps on the tongue, how HPV spreads to the tongue, the causes behind the bumps, and their potential impact on overall health.

How Does HPV Spread to the Tongue?

HPV primarily spreads through skin-to-skin contact and mucosal surfaces, most commonly through sexual activity. Below are the primary ways in which HPV can spread to your tongue:

Oral sex with someone infected with genital HPV can transmit the virus to the mouth, leading to HPV in mouth and causes HPV bumps on the tongue or other areas of the oral cavity. 

HPV can also spread indirectly through items that come into contact with infected areas.

What Causes HPV Bumps on the Back of the Tongue?

HPV bumps are small, wart-like growths caused by certain strains of the virus. These bumps can appear white, flesh-colored, or red and are usually painless, though they may sometimes cause discomfort, especially when located at the back of the tongue.

Factors contributing to the development of HPV bumps include:

A weakened immune system 

Stress 

Prolonged exposure to the virus

Types of HPV That Cause Bumps on the Tongue

HPV includes over 100 strains, but only a few are known to cause oral bumps, especially on the tongue. Different strains affect various body parts, and some are more likely to cause oral symptoms. Below are the main types of HPV that can lead to bumps on the tongue:

HPV-6 and HPV-11 (Oral Papillomas) 

HPV-13 and HPV-32 (Focal Epithelial Hyperplasia or Heck's Disease) 

HPV-16 and HPV-18 (High-Risk HPV) 

HPV-1 and HPV-2 (Commonly Cause Skin Warts)

HPV-6 and HPV-11

These low-risk HPV strains are the most common causes of benign oral warts, also known as oral papillomas. HPV-6 and HPV-11 cause small, soft, painless bumps in the mouth, including the tongue. These bumps may appear as single growths or in clusters, often resembling cauliflower, and typically do not lead to cancer.

HPV-13 and HPV-32

These strains are linked to Heck’s disease, also called focal epithelial hyperplasia (FEH), which causes small, soft bumps on the mucosal surfaces of the mouth, including the tongue. While rare, these growths usually clear up on their own and are generally not harmful.

HPV-16 and HPV-18

High-risk strains like HPV-16 and HPV-18 can also infect the mouth, leading to bumps on the tongue. These strains are more commonly associated with cancers, such as cervical and throat cancers. Although less common, bumps from these strains should be monitored carefully as they can sometimes lead to malignancies if left untreated.

HPV-1 and HPV-2

HPV-1 and HPV-2 are typically associated with skin warts, but they can occasionally cause oral warts, especially in individuals who may transfer the virus from their hands to the mouth through nail-biting or other habits.

How Long Will HPV Bumps on the Tongue Take to Go Away?

HPV infections in the mouth often resolve on their own as the immune system fights off the virus. Oral HPV bumps may disappear within a few months, although some may persist longer, especially in individuals with weakened immune systems. For those with a strong immune system, the infection and symptoms, including tongue bumps, may resolve within 1-2 years.

In cases where bumps persist, treatments like cryotherapy (freezing the growths), laser therapy, or minor surgery can be used to remove them. Immune-boosting treatments may also help speed up the recovery process.

Can HPV Bumps Spread to Other Parts of the Body?

While HPV tends to remain localized in the mouth, it can spread through direct contact, especially if the infected area is touched and then transferred to other parts of the body. This is known as self-inoculation. However, it is unlikely for HPV bumps on the tongue to spread to distant areas such as the genital region on their own.

Since HPV is contagious, those with oral HPV should take precautions to avoid spreading it to others, especially through intimate contact or shared items. Practicing good hygiene, such as avoiding touching the bumps and washing hands regularly, can help prevent transmission.

How to Prevent HPV from Spreading to the Mouth

While HPV is common, you can take several measures to reduce your risk of developing HPV-related bumps on the tongue or elsewhere in the body:

HPV Vaccination: The HPV vaccine is effective in preventing infections from high-risk strains, including those affecting the oral cavity. Getting vaccinated significantly reduces the risk of developing HPV-related growths.

Safe Practices: Avoiding direct contact with infected areas, practicing safe sex, and limiting the number of sexual partners can reduce the chances of contracting or spreading HPV. Using protection during oral sex can also help reduce transmission.

Avoid Sharing Utensils or Personal Items: Since HPV can spread through contact with contaminated surfaces, it's advisable to avoid sharing items like toothbrushes, towels, or eating utensils.

Routine Dental Checkups: Regular dental visits can help detect abnormal growths early. Dentists can monitor for unusual tissue changes and refer patients to specialists if needed.

Maintain Good Oral Hygiene: Proper oral care helps create a healthier environment in the mouth, making it less susceptible to infections.

Takeaway

HPV bumps on the tongue are often harmless and may clear up on their own. However, it's important to take preventive steps like vaccination and practicing good hygiene to reduce the risk of oral HPV infections. If the bumps persist, grow, or cause discomfort, it's advisable to consult a dentist for an accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment.

[the-diagnosis-archive]

HIV(AIDS)

HIV stands for human immunodeficiency virus. It is a virus that attacks cells that help the body fight infection, specifically the white blood cells called CD4 cells. HIV destroys these CD4 cells (T cells), making a person more vulnerable to other infections and diseases such as tuberculosis and some cancers. It is spread by contact with certain bodily fluids of a person with HIV, most often spreads through unprotected sex (without a condom or HIV medicine to prevent or treat HIV) with a person who has HIV. It may also spread by sharing drug needles or through contact with the blood of a person who has HIV. Women can give it to their babies during pregnancy or childbirth. First identified in 1981, HIV is the cause of one of humanity’s deadliest and most persistent epidemics.

The human body can’t get rid of HIV and no effective HIV cure exists. So, once you have HIV, you have it for life. However, by taking HIV medicine (called antiretroviral therapy or ART), people with HIV can live long and healthy lives and prevent transmitting HIV to their sexual partners. In addition, there are effective methods to prevent getting HIV through sex or drug use, including pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP).

Without treatment, the infection might progress to an advanced disease stage where it reduces the number of CD4 cells (T cells) in the body, making the person more likely to get other infections or infection-related cancers. Over time, HIV can destroy so many of these cells that the body can’t fight off infections and disease, this stage is called AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome). However, modern advances in treatment mean that people living with HIV in countries with good access to healthcare very rarely develop AIDS once they are receiving treatment.

Causes:

Scientists identified a type of chimpanzee in Central Africa as the source of HIV infection in humans. Scientists suspect the simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) jumped from chimps to humans when people consumed infected chimpanzee meat or when they came into contact with their infected blood. Studies show that HIV may have jumped from apes to humans as far back as the late 1800s. Over decades, the virus slowly spread across Africa over the course of several decades and later into other parts of the world. We know that the virus has existed in the United States since at least the mid to late 1970s.

To become infected with HIV, infected blood, semen or vaginal secretions must enter your body. This can happen by having sex, you may become infected if you have any kind of sex with an infected partner whose blood, semen or vaginal secretions enter your body. By sharing needles, sharing contaminated IV drug paraphernalia (needles and syringes) puts you at high risk of HIV and other infectious diseases, such as hepatitis. The risk of HIV transmitting through blood transfusions is extremely low in countries that have effective screening procedures in place for blood donations. Infected mothers can pass the virus on to their babies during pregnancy or delivery or through breast-feeding. Mothers who are HIV-positive and get treatment for the infection during pregnancy can significantly lower the risk to their babies.

How HIV doesn't spread

You can't become infected with HIV through ordinary contact. That means you can't catch HIV or AIDS by hugging, kissing, dancing or shaking hands with someone who has the infection. HIV doesn't spread through the air, water nor insect bites.

Symptoms:

After the first month or so, HIV enters the clinical latency stage. This stage can last from a few years to a few decades. Some people don’t have any symptoms during this time, while others may experience a flu-like illness within 2 to 4 weeks after infection (Stage 1 HIV infection). But some people may not feel sick during this stage. Flu-like symptoms include fever, chills, rash, night sweats, muscle aches, sore throat, fatigue, swollen lymph nodes, or mouth ulcers. Other symptoms may include dark splotches under the skin or inside the mouth, nose, or eyelids, sores, spots, or lesions of the mouth and tongue, genitals, or anus, bumps, lesions, or rashes of the skin, recurrent or chronic diarrhea, rapid weight loss, neurologic problems such as trouble concentrating, memory loss, and confusion, and anxiety and depression.

HIV symptoms at this stage may come and go, or they may progress rapidly. This progression can be slowed substantially with treatment. With the consistent use of this antiretroviral therapy, chronic HIV can last for decades and will likely not develop into AIDS, if treatment was started early enough.

For the most part, infections by other bacteria, viruses, fungi, or parasites cause the more severe symptoms of HIV. These conditions tend to progress further in people who live with HIV than in individuals with healthy immune systems. A correctly functioning immune system would protect the body against the more advanced effects of infections, and HIV disrupts this process.

As with the early stage, HIV is still infectious during this time even without symptoms and can be transmitted to another person. However, the only way to know for sure whether you have HIV is to get tested. If someone has these symptoms and thinks they may have been exposed to HIV, it’s important that they get tested.

For the most part, symptoms of HIV are similar in men and women. However, symptoms they experience overall may differ based on the different risks men and women face if they have HIV. Both men and women with HIV are at increased risk of sexually transmitted infections (STIs). However, women may be less likely than men to notice small spots or other changes to their genitals. In addition, women with HIV are at increased risk of recurrent vaginal yeast infections, other vaginal infections, including bacterial vaginosis, pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), menstrual cycle changes, and human papillomavirus (HPV), which can cause genital warts and lead to cervical cancer.

Diagnosis:

The only way to know for sure if you have HIV is to get tested. Knowing your status is important because it helps you make healthy decisions to prevent getting or transmitting HIV. Testing is relatively simple. You can ask your health care provider for an HIV test. Many medical clinics, substance abuse programs, community health centers, and hospitals offer them too. You can also buy a home testing kit at a pharmacy or online, however, such results should only be considered as a full diagnosis following review and confirmation by a qualified health worker.

Knowledge of one’s HIV-positive status has two important benefits. People who test positive can take steps to get treatment, care and support before symptoms appear, which can prolong life and prevent health complications for many years. And people who are aware of their status can take precautions to prevent the transmission of HIV to others.

HIV can be diagnosed through blood or saliva testing. Available tests include, antigen/antibody tests. These tests usually involve drawing blood from a vein. Antigens are substances on the HIV virus itself and are usually detectable in the blood within a few weeks after exposure to HIV. Antibody tests. These tests look for antibodies to HIV in blood or saliva. Most rapid HIV tests, including self-tests done at home, are antibody tests. Antibody tests can take three to 12 weeks after you're exposed to become positive. Nucleic acid tests (NATs). These tests look for the actual virus in your blood (viral load). They also involve blood drawn from a vein. If you might have been exposed to HIV within the past few weeks, your doctor may recommend NAT. NAT will be the first test to become positive after exposure to HIV. Talk to your doctor about which HIV test is right for you. If any of these tests are negative, you may still need a follow-up test, weeks to months later to confirm the results.

Treatment:

Currently, there's no cure for HIV/AIDS. Once you have the infection, your body can't get rid of it. However, there are many medications that can control HIV and prevent complications. These medications are called antiretroviral therapy (ART). Everyone diagnosed with HIV should be started on ART, regardless of their stage of infection or complications. A person living with HIV can reduce their viral load to such a degree that it is no longer detectable in a blood test. After assessing a number of large studies, the CDC concluded that individuals who have no detectable viral load “have effectively no risk of sexually transmitting the virus to an HIV-negative partner.” Medical professionals refer to this as undetectable = untransmittable (U=U). The person still has HIV, but the virus is not visible in test results. However, the virus is still in the body. And if that person stops taking antiretroviral therapy, the viral load will increase again and the HIV can again start attacking CD4 cells. People living with HIV generally take a combination of medications called highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) or combination antiretroviral therapy (cART). This approach has the best chance of lowering the amount of HIV in the blood. There are many ART options that combine three HIV medications into one pill, taken once daily.

There are a number of subgroups of antiretrovirals, such as:

- Protease inhibitors, protease is an enzyme that HIV needs to replicate. These medications bind to the enzyme and inhibit its action, preventing HIV from making copies of itself. These include:

o   atazanavir/cobicistat (Evotaz)

o   lopinavir/ritonavir (Kaletra)

o   darunavir/cobicistat (Prezcobix) 

- Integrase inhibitors: HIV needs integrase, another enzyme, to infect T cells. This drug blocks integrase. These are often the first line of treatment due to their effectiveness and limited side effects for many people.

o   elvitegravir (Vitekta)

o   dolutegravir (Tivicay)

o   raltegravir (Isentress)

o   Nucleoside/nucleotide reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs)

- This class of drugs, also referred to as “nukes,” interfere with HIV as it tries to replicate:

o   abacavir (Ziagen)

o   lamivudine/zidovudine (Combivir)

o   emtricitabine (Emtriva)

o   tenofovir disproxil (Viread)

o   Non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTIs) that work in a similar way to NRTIs, making it more difficult for HIV to replicate.

There are also emergency HIV pills, or post-exposure prophylaxis

If an individual believes they have been exposed to the virus within the last 3 days, anti-HIV medications, called post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP), may be able to stop infection. Take PEP as soon as possible after potential contact with the virus. PEP is a treatment lasting a total of 28 days, and physicians will continue to monitor for HIV after the completion of the treatment.

People will often use a combination of these drugs to suppress HIV. A medical team will adapt the exact mix of drugs to each individual. HIV treatment is usually permanent, lifelong, and based on routine dosage. A person living with HIV must take pills on a regular schedule. Each class of ARVs has different side effects, but possible common side effects include:

nausea

fatigue

diarrhea

headache

skin rashes

When people get HIV and don’t receive treatment, they will typically progress through three stages of disease. Treatment can slow or prevent progression from one stage to the next. Also, people with HIV who take HIV medicine as prescribed and get and keep an undetectable viral load have effectively no risk of transmitting HIV to an HIV-negative partner through sex.

Stage 1: Acute HIV infection

Within 2 to 4 weeks after infection with HIV, people may experience a flu-like illness, which may last for a few weeks. This is the body’s natural response to infection. When people have acute HIV infection, they have a large amount of virus in their blood and are very contagious. But people with acute infection are often unaware that they’re infected because they may not feel sick right away or at all. To know whether someone has acute infection, either an antigen/antibody test or a nucleic acid (NAT) test is necessary. If you think you have been exposed to HIV through sex or drug use and you have flu-like symptoms, seek medical care and ask for a test to diagnose acute infection.

Stage 2: Clinical latency (HIV inactivity or dormancy)

This period is sometimes called asymptomatic HIV infection or chronic HIV infection. During this phase, HIV is still active but reproduces at very low levels. People may not have any symptoms or get sick during this time. For people who aren’t taking medicine to treat HIV, this period can last a decade or longer, but some may progress through this phase faster. People who are taking medicine to treat HIV (ART) as prescribed may be in this stage for several decades. It’s important to remember that people can still transmit HIV to others during this phase. However, people who take HIV medicine as prescribed and get and keep an undetectable viral load (or stay virally suppressed) have effectively no risk of transmitting HIV to their HIV-negative sexual partners. At the end of this phase, a person’s viral load starts to go up and the CD4 cell count begins to go down. As this happens, the person may begin to have symptoms as the virus levels increase in the body, and the person moves into Stage 3.

Stage 3: Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS)

AIDS is the most severe phase of HIV infection. People with AIDS have such badly damaged immune systems that they get an increasing number of severe illnesses, called opportunistic illnesses.

Source: x x x x x x 

[homeremedynaturalcure]

Oral Cancer: symptoms, causes and risk factors

Oral Cancer: symptoms, causes and risk factors

We know that the cancer is defined as uncontrollable growth of cells which invade and cause damage to the surrounding tissue. The oral cancer is the growth or sore in the mouth which does not go away. Oral tumor is also known as mouth cancer or oral cancer. This type of cancer refers to a cancer which develops in any part of the parts that make up the mouth. There are some studies in which are said that men face twice the risk of developing oral cancer as women [1]. Also, men who are older than 50, have increased risk of developing oral tumors. There are some studies in which are said that 40,000 people in the United States of America have been diagnosed with oral cancer in 2014 [2]. The mouth cancer can happen on the:

Floor of the mouth

Roof of the mouth

Inner lining of the cheeks

Tongue

Gums

Lips

The cancer that is happening on the inside of the mouth is also known as oral cavity cancer or oral cancer. The mouth cancer is one of the several types of cancer which is grouped in a category known as “head and neck cancers”. It is known that the mouth cancer and other “head and neck cancers” are treated similarly in most cases.

Symptoms of oral cancer

Here are some signs and symptoms of mouth cancer [2]:

Sore throat

Difficult or painful swallowing

Difficult or painful chewing

Dramatic weight loss

Jaw pain or stiffness

Tongue pain

Difficulty moving the tongue

Unexplained bleeding in the mouth

Persistent sores on the face, neck or mouth that bleed easily and do not heal in a period of two weeks

Poorly fitting dentures

Loose teeth

A growth, lump or thickening of the skin or lining of your mouth

A sore that bleeds

Difficulty moving the jaw

The development of velvety white, red or speckled (white and red) patches in the mouth

Ear pain

A sore that does not heal

Difficulty with speaking

There can be lumps or bumps, swellings/thickenings, rough spots/crusts/or eroded areas on the lips, gums or other areas inside the mouth

You can have a feeling or soreness that something is caught in the back of your throat

A change in the way your teeth or dentures fit together

You can have unexplained numbness, loss of feeling or pain/tenderness in the area of the face, mouth or neck

You need to talk with your doctor or dentist if you have any persistent signs and symptoms which bother you and which last for more than 2 weeks. Your doctor will try to find out which could be the cause for your condition, such as infection.

Causes of oral cancer

The mouth cancer is happening when the cells on your lips or your mouth develop mutations (changes) in their DNA. These types of mutations are allowing the cancer cells to continue growing and dividing when the healthy cells would die. These accumulating abnormal mouth cancer cells can form a tumor. As the time passes, they can spread inside the mouth and on to other areas of the head and neck or other parts of the body. The mouth cancers are commonly beginning in the flat and thin cells (also called squamos cells) which line your lips and the inside of the mouth. The most oral cancers are squamous cell carcinomas. It is not known the reason for the mutations in the squamous cells which lead to mouth cancer. Doctors have identified the factors which are increasing the risk of mouth cancer.

Oral cancer risk factors

Here are some factors which can increase your risk of mouth cancer:

A weakened immune system

A sexually transmitted virus called HPV (human papillomavirus) [3]

Excessive sun exposure to your lips, especially at young age

Heavy alcohol use. [4] It is known that people who drink are having 6 times more chances to develop oral cancer compared to people who do not drink.

Tobacco use of any kind, including cigarettes, cigars, pipes, chewing tobacco and snuff, among others [5]. It is known fact that users of dip, snuff or chewing tobacco products have 50 times more chances to develop cancers of the gums, cheek and lining of the lips.

Family history of cancer

There are some studies in which are shown that over 25% of all oral cancers are happening in people who only drink alcohol occasionally or in people who do not smoke. This is a reason why you should stop smoking and drinking. References: [1] Cancer Research UK. Men twice as likely to develop oral cancer. 2017. Retrieved from www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-us/cancer-news/press-release/2017-11-29-men-twice-as-likely-to-develop-oral-cancer [2] WebMD. Oral cancer. Retrieved from www.webmd.com/oral-health/guide/oral-cancer#1 [3] Kim SM. Human papilloma virus in oral cancer. Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons. 2016;42(6):327-36. [4] Bagnardi V, Blangiardo M, La Vecchia C, Corrao G. Alcohol consumption and the risk of cancer. Retrieved from pubs.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/arh25-4/263-270.htm [5] Gautam DK, Jindal V, Gupta SC, et al. Effect of cigarette smoking on the periodontal health status: A comparative, cross sectional study. Journal of Indian Society of Periodontology. 2011;15(4):383–7.

[drjainstuff]

Signs and Symptoms of Common STDs in Men

Overview

Many men area unit fast to assume that if that they had a sexually transmitted unwellness (STD), they'd are aware of it. whereas most STDs do cause symptoms, several area unit simply mistaken for alternative conditions. In some cases, there aren't any symptoms in the least.

Understanding the risks and knowing the signs and symptoms of common STDs in men is crucial for any man UN agency is sexually active.

Want to treat STDs, so Dr. shriyans Jain is the top sexologist in Delhi and they also treat STDs problems, they have most famous STD clinic in Delhi.

Chlamydia

Chlamydia could be a microorganism STD that's transmitted throughout anal, oral, or epithelial duct sex with somebody UN agency is infected with chlamydia. It’s one amongst the foremost common STDs within the u. s.. per the Centers for unwellness management and bar (CDC)Trusted supply, 1,598,354 chlamydia infections were rumored within the u. s. in 2016.

Many people UN agency become infected with chlamydia don’t ever show symptoms. Others solely begin to show symptoms many weeks when changing into infected.

Common symptoms of chlamydia in men include:

pain once urinating penile discharge swollen testicles Less common symptoms will occur once chlamydia has infected your body part. These symptoms will include:

rectal pain discharge bleeding

Gonorrhea Gonorrhea could be a microorganism infection that may have an effect on the orifice, throat, or urethra. It’s transmitted throughout anal, oral, or epithelial duct sex with a person or girl UN agency has been infected. Most men with clap don’t show any symptoms in the least.

For people who do, common symptoms include:

pain once urinating a green, white, or yellow discharge from the erectile organ Less common symptoms will include:

swollen or painful testicles painful joints rash

Hepatitis B Hepatitis B could be a type of infectious disease that's caused by the serum hepatitis virus (HBV). not like alternative common STDs that may manufacture additional obvious symptoms centered round the genitalia, serum hepatitis causes a dangerous inflammation of the liver.

You can contract serum hepatitis by returning into contact with the blood or bodily fluids of an individual UN agency is infected with the virus.

Many people infected with serum hepatitis won’t show symptoms in the least. people who do, usually mistake symptoms for a chilly or the contagious disease. though an individual has no symptoms, the virus will still harm the liver if it’s left untreated.

When symptoms of serum hepatitis area unit gift, common symptoms include:

loss of appetency feeling stuporous low-grade fever muscle and joint pain and aches nausea vomiting jaundice (yellow hue to the skin and dark urine)

Herpes (simplex) Herpes could be a infection that's caused by the herpes simplex virus (HSV). Herpes might have an effect on the mouth (oral herpes or HSV kind 1) or the genitalia (genital herpes or HSV kind 2). The virus is transmitted through direct contact with the mouth or genitalia of an individual UN agency has been infected with the virus through gender or sexual perversion and fondling. whereas kinds of HSV like sure locations, either kind is found in either location.

The symptoms of herpes is tough to identify. many folks won’t have any symptoms in the least. people who do can develop blisters that area unit usually mistaken for alternative skin conditions like pimples. Symptoms usually occur between 2 days and fortnight when infection. The initial irruption is severe.

Common symptoms of herpes in men are:

tingling, itching, or burning of the skin within the space wherever the blisters can seem blisters on the erectile organ or testicles, or on and round the orifice, buttocks, or thighs blisters on the lips, tongue, gums, and alternative elements of the body aching muscles within the lower back, buttocks, thighs, or knees swollen and generally tender body fluid nodes within the groin loss of appetency fever feeling unwell

Human papillomavirus (HPV) HPV could be a term accustomed seek advice from a bunch of viruses that contains quite one hundred fifty strains. whereas most of those strains area unit quite harmless, forty area unit thought-about doubtless harmful. These area unit classified as being either low-risk or bad strains.

HPV is one amongst the foremost common sexually transmitted diseases these days. Most men and ladies can eventually acquire one strain of the virus throughout their time period. per the CDCTrusted supply, there area unit or so fourteen million new cases of HPV per annum within the u. s.. presently there area unit a minimum of seventy nine million Americans infected with HPV.

The low-risk strains might end in sex organ warts in some individuals, whereas in men the bad strains could lead on to cancers of the orifice, throat, and penis. HPV is transmitted through skin-to-skin contact with an individual UN agency has been infected with the virus and is most ordinarily transmitted through anal, oral, or epithelial duct sex.

Symptoms Most normally, men infected with HPV won’t have any symptoms in the least. For people who do, symptoms include:

genital warts (flat and flesh-colored or clusters of little bumps delineated as having a cauliflower appearance) warts within the mouth or throat (spread through sexual perversion with associate infected partner)

Preventing HPV Unlike alternative STDs, which may solely be prevented through the employment of condoms or by abstinence, HPV will currently be prevented with vaccines.

There area unit 2 HPV vaccines that are approved by the FDA: Gardasil and Cervarix. they're each effective within the bar of HPV varieties sixteen and eighteen, that area unit high risk and liable for inflicting most cervical cancers (70 percentTrusted Source), and kinds half-dozen and eleven, that cause over ninety percentTrusted supply of sex organ warts.

A new version of Gardasil, referred to as Gardasil nine, protects against 5 additional strains of the virus. Gardasil nine was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in December 2014. It’ll eventually replace the older version of the immunogen.

Though originally suggested just for females age eleven to twenty six, Gardasil has currently conjointly been licenced to be used in boys and men age eleven to twenty one to forestall sex organ warts.

Syphilis Syphilis could be a microorganism STD that may be transmitted through anal, oral, or epithelial duct sex. This ancient unwellness continues to be quite current these days. social disease is taken into account one amongst the additional serious STDs in men due to its link to HIV and therefore the multiplied risk of developing HIV once infected with social disease.

Common symptoms of social disease Syphilis has four completely different phases: primary, secondary, latent, and tertiary. every part has its own set of symptoms. The symptoms of syph in men might include:

a very tiny, firm, and painless sore wherever the microorganism entered the body, typically on the erectile organ, anus, or lips swollen body fluid nodes within the space close to the sore Symptoms of pox might include:

a roseola that doesn’t itch, normally found on the palms of the hands or soles of the feet tiredness sore throat headache swollen body fluid nodes

Less common symptoms of social disease Latent social disease is that the stage that happens when the symptoms of pox have stopped and therefore the STD has gone untreated.

Tertiary syphilis is that the fourth stage. It’s rare, as few individuals really enter the fourth stage even once the social disease is left untreated. It will cause serious complications, including:

damage to the guts damage to the systema nervosum, as well as the brain joint harm damage to alternative elements of the body Syphilis will cause serious medical problems and death if it reaches this stage, even many years when infection.

Preventing STDs Many people is infected with associate STD while not experiencing any visible symptoms. this suggests that active sexual practice is crucial if you would like to forestall STD infection.

The only thanks to utterly stop associate STD is abstinence from associatey sort of sexual contact or contact with open sores and bodily fluids of an infected person. however there area unit alternative ways in which to forestall STDs too. Condoms throughout intercourse and dental dams or barriers throughout sexual perversion area unit well-tried effective once used properly. Refraining from sex with multiple partners and instead choosing a monogamous relationship may facilitate to forestall STDs.

[howpeopledo]

HPV in Men: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment

Human papillomavirus is the most common sexually transmitted infection. It can lead to cancer. Most information about human papillomavirus (HPV) focuses on women because certain types of the virus can cause cervical cancer. However, HPV can also cause health problems in men.

What is HPV?

HPV poses a risk for men as well as women.

HPV is a group of over 100 viruses. The viruses affect the skin and moist membranes that line the body. Although most men who get HPV do not show any symptoms, they may go on to develop growths or warts. These may appear on the:

Penis

Testicles

Anus

Groin and thighs

Back of the throat

Different types of HPV affect different areas of the body. HPV types 6 and 11 cause more than 90 percent of genital warts in men and women. HPV types 16 and 18 cause most HPV-related cancers.

How can men get HPV?

Men can get HPV in the same way as women, through direct, intimate contact, including sexual contact. HPV can be spread from one person to another through oral, anal, or vaginal sex, or intimate skin-to-skin contact. If a person has HPV, the virus can be spread, even when there have never been visible symptoms. The chance of contracting HPV is increased by:

Having multiple sexual partners

Age, occurring more in adolescence or young adulthood

Weakened immune system due to organ transplant, HIV, or other conditions that weaken the immune system

Being uncircumcised

Damaged skin

It is important to consult a doctor if warts of any kind appear on the genitals, or if there are warts that cause discomfort or pain.

Complications of HPV in men

HPV normally goes away by itself within 2 years. In fact, 90 percent of HPV infections will go away with the help of the body’s natural immune system without causing any harm.

Some types of HPV can cause cancer.

However, while some types of HPV can cause genital warts, other types can cause cancers. Around 38,793 HPV-related cancers occur in the United States each year. Around 23,000 of those cases are among women and about 15,793 among men. In men, HPV is thought to be responsible for:

Over 90 percent of cases of anal cancer, which affect 1,500 men each year, come from HPV.

HPV is responsible for over 60 percent of penile cancers, and it affects around 400 men each year.

Oropharyngeal cancer, which occurs in the back of the throat, the base of the tongue, and the tonsils. It affects around 3,920 men a year, and about 70 percent of cases are due to HPV.

Compared with men who have sex with women only, men who have sex with men are 17 times more likely to develop HPV-related anal cancer. Men who have a weakened immune system due to HIV or other reasons have a higher chance of developing HPV-related anal cancer. Men with HIV tend to have more severe genital warts that are harder to treat.

Symptoms of HPV and HPV-related cancer

There is currently routine screening to diagnose HPV in men. However, a doctor might be able to diagnose HPV infection by examining any warts that have appeared. If a man is considered high risk, a doctor may also swab the anal region for HPV.

A constant sore throat and cough can be a sign of throat cancer.

The warts can be small or large, flat or raised, or cauliflower-shaped and appear as a bump or group of bumps in the area surrounding the penis, anus, or genitals. The warts usually do not hurt but can be unsightly. An HPV infection is not cancer, but the infection can cause changes in the body that may lead to cancer. Cancer may not be diagnosed for years after a person is infected with HPV because the infection develops very slowly. Some of the symptoms of HPV-related cancers to look out for are: Anal cancer:

Bleeding, discharge, pain, or itching of the anus

Swelling in the anal or groin area

Changes to bowel habits or the shape of stools

Penile cancer:

Tissue changes on the penis such as color, skin thickening, or tissue buildup

Painful or painless sores or growths on the penis that might bleed

Cancer of the back of the throat:

Constant sore throat or ear pain

Persistent coughing

Trouble breathing or swallowing

Weight loss

Voice changes or hoarseness

Lumps or growths in the neck

There is no way to tell who will have a temporary HPV infection and who will go on to develop cancer.

Treatment for HPV

There are no treatments for HPV, but there are treatments for the conditions caused by the infection. A doctor can treat genital warts with prescription medication. They can also be surgically removed or frozen or burned off, depending on the size, location, and shape. Getting rid of the warts may not prevent the infection from being passed on to a sexual partner. If genital warts are not treated, they are unlikely to turn into cancer. They will go away, grow, multiply, or stay the same. Anal, penile, or throat cancers are usually treated with a combination of surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy.

Which men should get the HPV vaccine?

Getting vaccinated and using condoms correctly when having sex can lower the risk of getting HPV. Condoms cannot provide full protection against HPV because HPV infects some areas that are not covered by a condom. Though there is no treatment for HPV, there are three effective HPV vaccines available to prevent HPV. All three vaccines prevent infection with HPV types 16 and 18, which are the two types most linked to cancer. One of the vaccines also prevents infection with HPV types 6 and 11, which are most linked to genital warts. The three-dose HPV vaccine series is routinely recommended for boys age 11-12 years. Some groups of men are also advised to have the vaccine if they did not have the full three doses in childhood. These include:

Any males through age 21 years

Men through age 26 years who have sex with men

Men with a weakened immune system or HIV through age 26 years

Since HPV vaccination commenced in the U.S., the number of women affected by the four main HPV types has dropped from 11.5 percent to 4.3 percent among females aged 14 to 19 years and from 18.5 percent to 12.1 percent among females aged 20 to 24 years. The HPV vaccine is safe and effective. No serious side effects have been reported from the vaccine. The HPV vaccine does not prevent other sexually transmitted infections or treat people who have existing HPV infections or HPV-related diseases.

Living with HPV

Viruses are difficult to treat. The body gets rid of viruses by developing immunity to them, which may take months or even years. A person could potentially have HPV for many years before it is diagnosed or causes any health issues. There is no way to find out which person in the relationship gave the infection to the other person. If a person has genital warts, they should avoid sex until the warts are removed or have gone away. However, it is currently unknown how long after genital warts have disappeared that a person can spread HPV infection. Wearing a barrier contraceptive, such as a condom can help prevent spread. Although HPV is common and most sexually active adults will have HPV at some point in their lifetime, the health problems that are caused by HPV and HPV-related cancers are overall less common.

from HPV in Men: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment

[dentalinfotoday]

Dr. Berglass and all of us at Central Avenue Dental would like to take this opportunity to talk about oral cancer, the lives that are lost to it, and what it could mean for you and your family. Oral cancer is one of the only cancers that is actually becoming more common, and we want our Charlotte patients to know what it is and how to protect themselves.

Oral cancer refers to mouth cancer, tongue cancer, throat cancer, tonsil cancer, and a number of others. This year alone, more than 5,000 people will lose the battle to some form of oral cancer. Dr. Berglass is teaming up with the entire healthcare community to beat this disease by teaching people everywhere about how to spot it and maintain low risk.

*This post is not intended to diagnose or treat oral cancer. Its purpose is simply to inform Charlotte residents. If you suspect that you or a loved one may have oral cancer, come see Dr. Berglass as soon as possible.*

Oral cancer is a group of diseases that can affect your body in a number of different ways. In order to list all the symptoms and warning signs of each different type, we would need an entire website! So, to keep it convenient, here is a list of the most common ways oral cancer can affect you:

You experience white or red patches on your lips, gums, tongue, or inside your cheeks

You develop sores on your face, neck or mouth that bleed and won’t heal

Your face, mouth and/or neck are numb or lose feeling

You notice lumps, bumps, or swelling on your lips, tongue, gums, or within your cheeks

You have difficulty speaking, chewing, swallowing, or moving your jaw or tongue

Your throat is sore or feels as though something is stuck in the back of it

You experience a persistent sore throat, or a hoarse or different-sounding voice

You have pain in your ears

You are losing weight abnormally fast

You notice your teeth or dentures have shifted

Are You at Risk of Developing Oral Cancer?

As with the symptoms, the common risk factors for oral cancer are numerous, but there is something very important to understand before you start matching up risk factors and begin to panic. Even if most or all of these apply to you, it does not mean that you are doomed to have oral cancer. On the other hand, it is possible to develop oral cancer even if you don’t have any of the risk factors. Dr. Berglass just wants you to know which conditions should have you seriously thinking about a consultation at Central Avenue Dental. Here the most common risk factors associated with oral cancer:

Tobacco use in all forms

Excessive sun exposure

Excessive alcohol consumption

Cancer throughout family history

Exposure to human papillomavirus (HPV)

How is Oral Cancer Treated?

If you find that the symptoms and risk factors are familiar to you or a loved one, talk to Dr. Berglass as soon as you can. We at Central Avenue Dental will give you a check-up and explore treatment options if cancer is detected. Most importantly, don’t delay! If you catch it early, the survival rate for oral cancer is much higher. Please don’t hesitate to contact Central Avenue Dental with any questions or concerns. We care about your health and we want to keep your mouth safe!

Sources

http://ift.tt/14bS0OQ

http://ift.tt/1qbBFUE

from Central Avenue Dental http://ift.tt/2k0ztCn

[howpeopledo]

HPV in Men: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment

Human papillomavirus is the most common sexually transmitted infection. It can lead to cancer. Most information about human papillomavirus (HPV) focuses on women because certain types of the virus can cause cervical cancer. However, HPV can also cause health problems in men.

What is HPV?

HPV poses a risk for men as well as women.

HPV is a group of over 100 viruses. The viruses affect the skin and moist membranes that line the body. Although most men who get HPV do not show any symptoms, they may go on to develop growths or warts. These may appear on the:

Penis

Testicles

Anus

Groin and thighs

Back of the throat

Different types of HPV affect different areas of the body. HPV types 6 and 11 cause more than 90 percent of genital warts in men and women. HPV types 16 and 18 cause most HPV-related cancers.

How can men get HPV?

Men can get HPV in the same way as women, through direct, intimate contact, including sexual contact. HPV can be spread from one person to another through oral, anal, or vaginal sex, or intimate skin-to-skin contact. If a person has HPV, the virus can be spread, even when there have never been visible symptoms. The chance of contracting HPV is increased by:

Having multiple sexual partners

Age, occurring more in adolescence or young adulthood

Weakened immune system due to organ transplant, HIV, or other conditions that weaken the immune system

Being uncircumcised

Damaged skin

It is important to consult a doctor if warts of any kind appear on the genitals, or if there are warts that cause discomfort or pain.

Complications of HPV in men

HPV normally goes away by itself within 2 years. In fact, 90 percent of HPV infections will go away with the help of the body’s natural immune system without causing any harm.

Some types of HPV can cause cancer.

However, while some types of HPV can cause genital warts, other types can cause cancers. Around 38,793 HPV-related cancers occur in the United States each year. Around 23,000 of those cases are among women and about 15,793 among men. In men, HPV is thought to be responsible for:

Over 90 percent of cases of anal cancer, which affect 1,500 men each year, come from HPV.

HPV is responsible for over 60 percent of penile cancers, and it affects around 400 men each year.

Oropharyngeal cancer, which occurs in the back of the throat, the base of the tongue, and the tonsils. It affects around 3,920 men a year, and about 70 percent of cases are due to HPV.

Compared with men who have sex with women only, men who have sex with men are 17 times more likely to develop HPV-related anal cancer. Men who have a weakened immune system due to HIV or other reasons have a higher chance of developing HPV-related anal cancer. Men with HIV tend to have more severe genital warts that are harder to treat.

Symptoms of HPV and HPV-related cancer

There is currently routine screening to diagnose HPV in men. However, a doctor might be able to diagnose HPV infection by examining any warts that have appeared. If a man is considered high risk, a doctor may also swab the anal region for HPV.

A constant sore throat and cough can be a sign of throat cancer.

The warts can be small or large, flat or raised, or cauliflower-shaped and appear as a bump or group of bumps in the area surrounding the penis, anus, or genitals. The warts usually do not hurt but can be unsightly. An HPV infection is not cancer, but the infection can cause changes in the body that may lead to cancer. Cancer may not be diagnosed for years after a person is infected with HPV because the infection develops very slowly. Some of the symptoms of HPV-related cancers to look out for are: Anal cancer:

Bleeding, discharge, pain, or itching of the anus

Swelling in the anal or groin area

Changes to bowel habits or the shape of stools

Penile cancer:

Tissue changes on the penis such as color, skin thickening, or tissue buildup

Painful or painless sores or growths on the penis that might bleed

Cancer of the back of the throat:

Constant sore throat or ear pain

Persistent coughing

Trouble breathing or swallowing

Weight loss

Voice changes or hoarseness

Lumps or growths in the neck

There is no way to tell who will have a temporary HPV infection and who will go on to develop cancer.

Treatment for HPV

There are no treatments for HPV, but there are treatments for the conditions caused by the infection. A doctor can treat genital warts with prescription medication. They can also be surgically removed or frozen or burned off, depending on the size, location, and shape. Getting rid of the warts may not prevent the infection from being passed on to a sexual partner. If genital warts are not treated, they are unlikely to turn into cancer. They will go away, grow, multiply, or stay the same. Anal, penile, or throat cancers are usually treated with a combination of surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy.

Which men should get the HPV vaccine?

Getting vaccinated and using condoms correctly when having sex can lower the risk of getting HPV. Condoms cannot provide full protection against HPV because HPV infects some areas that are not covered by a condom. Though there is no treatment for HPV, there are three effective HPV vaccines available to prevent HPV. All three vaccines prevent infection with HPV types 16 and 18, which are the two types most linked to cancer. One of the vaccines also prevents infection with HPV types 6 and 11, which are most linked to genital warts. The three-dose HPV vaccine series is routinely recommended for boys age 11-12 years. Some groups of men are also advised to have the vaccine if they did not have the full three doses in childhood. These include:

Any males through age 21 years

Men through age 26 years who have sex with men

Men with a weakened immune system or HIV through age 26 years

Since HPV vaccination commenced in the U.S., the number of women affected by the four main HPV types has dropped from 11.5 percent to 4.3 percent among females aged 14 to 19 years and from 18.5 percent to 12.1 percent among females aged 20 to 24 years. The HPV vaccine is safe and effective. No serious side effects have been reported from the vaccine. The HPV vaccine does not prevent other sexually transmitted infections or treat people who have existing HPV infections or HPV-related diseases.

Living with HPV

Viruses are difficult to treat. The body gets rid of viruses by developing immunity to them, which may take months or even years. A person could potentially have HPV for many years before it is diagnosed or causes any health issues. There is no way to find out which person in the relationship gave the infection to the other person. If a person has genital warts, they should avoid sex until the warts are removed or have gone away. However, it is currently unknown how long after genital warts have disappeared that a person can spread HPV infection. Wearing a barrier contraceptive, such as a condom can help prevent spread. Although HPV is common and most sexually active adults will have HPV at some point in their lifetime, the health problems that are caused by HPV and HPV-related cancers are overall less common.

from HPV in Men: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment

[howpeopledo]

HPV in Men: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment

Human papillomavirus is the most common sexually transmitted infection. It can lead to cancer. Most information about human papillomavirus (HPV) focuses on women because certain types of the virus can cause cervical cancer. However, HPV can also cause health problems in men.

What is HPV?

HPV poses a risk for men as well as women.

HPV is a group of over 100 viruses. The viruses affect the skin and moist membranes that line the body. Although most men who get HPV do not show any symptoms, they may go on to develop growths or warts. These may appear on the:

Penis

Testicles

Anus

Groin and thighs

Back of the throat

Different types of HPV affect different areas of the body. HPV types 6 and 11 cause more than 90 percent of genital warts in men and women. HPV types 16 and 18 cause most HPV-related cancers.

How can men get HPV?

Men can get HPV in the same way as women, through direct, intimate contact, including sexual contact. HPV can be spread from one person to another through oral, anal, or vaginal sex, or intimate skin-to-skin contact. If a person has HPV, the virus can be spread, even when there have never been visible symptoms. The chance of contracting HPV is increased by:

Having multiple sexual partners

Age, occurring more in adolescence or young adulthood

Weakened immune system due to organ transplant, HIV, or other conditions that weaken the immune system

Being uncircumcised

Damaged skin

It is important to consult a doctor if warts of any kind appear on the genitals, or if there are warts that cause discomfort or pain.

Complications of HPV in men

HPV normally goes away by itself within 2 years. In fact, 90 percent of HPV infections will go away with the help of the body’s natural immune system without causing any harm.

Some types of HPV can cause cancer.

However, while some types of HPV can cause genital warts, other types can cause cancers. Around 38,793 HPV-related cancers occur in the United States each year. Around 23,000 of those cases are among women and about 15,793 among men. In men, HPV is thought to be responsible for:

Over 90 percent of cases of anal cancer, which affect 1,500 men each year, come from HPV.

HPV is responsible for over 60 percent of penile cancers, and it affects around 400 men each year.

Oropharyngeal cancer, which occurs in the back of the throat, the base of the tongue, and the tonsils. It affects around 3,920 men a year, and about 70 percent of cases are due to HPV.

Compared with men who have sex with women only, men who have sex with men are 17 times more likely to develop HPV-related anal cancer. Men who have a weakened immune system due to HIV or other reasons have a higher chance of developing HPV-related anal cancer. Men with HIV tend to have more severe genital warts that are harder to treat.

Symptoms of HPV and HPV-related cancer

There is currently routine screening to diagnose HPV in men. However, a doctor might be able to diagnose HPV infection by examining any warts that have appeared. If a man is considered high risk, a doctor may also swab the anal region for HPV.

A constant sore throat and cough can be a sign of throat cancer.

The warts can be small or large, flat or raised, or cauliflower-shaped and appear as a bump or group of bumps in the area surrounding the penis, anus, or genitals. The warts usually do not hurt but can be unsightly. An HPV infection is not cancer, but the infection can cause changes in the body that may lead to cancer. Cancer may not be diagnosed for years after a person is infected with HPV because the infection develops very slowly. Some of the symptoms of HPV-related cancers to look out for are: Anal cancer:

Bleeding, discharge, pain, or itching of the anus

Swelling in the anal or groin area

Changes to bowel habits or the shape of stools

Penile cancer:

Tissue changes on the penis such as color, skin thickening, or tissue buildup

Painful or painless sores or growths on the penis that might bleed

Cancer of the back of the throat:

Constant sore throat or ear pain

Persistent coughing

Trouble breathing or swallowing

Weight loss

Voice changes or hoarseness

Lumps or growths in the neck

There is no way to tell who will have a temporary HPV infection and who will go on to develop cancer.

Treatment for HPV

There are no treatments for HPV, but there are treatments for the conditions caused by the infection. A doctor can treat genital warts with prescription medication. They can also be surgically removed or frozen or burned off, depending on the size, location, and shape. Getting rid of the warts may not prevent the infection from being passed on to a sexual partner. If genital warts are not treated, they are unlikely to turn into cancer. They will go away, grow, multiply, or stay the same. Anal, penile, or throat cancers are usually treated with a combination of surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy.

Which men should get the HPV vaccine?

Getting vaccinated and using condoms correctly when having sex can lower the risk of getting HPV. Condoms cannot provide full protection against HPV because HPV infects some areas that are not covered by a condom. Though there is no treatment for HPV, there are three effective HPV vaccines available to prevent HPV. All three vaccines prevent infection with HPV types 16 and 18, which are the two types most linked to cancer. One of the vaccines also prevents infection with HPV types 6 and 11, which are most linked to genital warts. The three-dose HPV vaccine series is routinely recommended for boys age 11-12 years. Some groups of men are also advised to have the vaccine if they did not have the full three doses in childhood. These include:

Any males through age 21 years

Men through age 26 years who have sex with men

Men with a weakened immune system or HIV through age 26 years

Since HPV vaccination commenced in the U.S., the number of women affected by the four main HPV types has dropped from 11.5 percent to 4.3 percent among females aged 14 to 19 years and from 18.5 percent to 12.1 percent among females aged 20 to 24 years. The HPV vaccine is safe and effective. No serious side effects have been reported from the vaccine. The HPV vaccine does not prevent other sexually transmitted infections or treat people who have existing HPV infections or HPV-related diseases.

Living with HPV

Viruses are difficult to treat. The body gets rid of viruses by developing immunity to them, which may take months or even years. A person could potentially have HPV for many years before it is diagnosed or causes any health issues. There is no way to find out which person in the relationship gave the infection to the other person. If a person has genital warts, they should avoid sex until the warts are removed or have gone away. However, it is currently unknown how long after genital warts have disappeared that a person can spread HPV infection. Wearing a barrier contraceptive, such as a condom can help prevent spread. Although HPV is common and most sexually active adults will have HPV at some point in their lifetime, the health problems that are caused by HPV and HPV-related cancers are overall less common.

from HPV in Men: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment

[howpeopledo]

HPV in Men: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment

Human papillomavirus is the most common sexually transmitted infection. It can lead to cancer. Most information about human papillomavirus (HPV) focuses on women because certain types of the virus can cause cervical cancer. However, HPV can also cause health problems in men.

What is HPV?

HPV poses a risk for men as well as women.

HPV is a group of over 100 viruses. The viruses affect the skin and moist membranes that line the body. Although most men who get HPV do not show any symptoms, they may go on to develop growths or warts. These may appear on the:

Penis

Testicles

Anus

Groin and thighs

Back of the throat

Different types of HPV affect different areas of the body. HPV types 6 and 11 cause more than 90 percent of genital warts in men and women. HPV types 16 and 18 cause most HPV-related cancers.

How can men get HPV?

Men can get HPV in the same way as women, through direct, intimate contact, including sexual contact. HPV can be spread from one person to another through oral, anal, or vaginal sex, or intimate skin-to-skin contact. If a person has HPV, the virus can be spread, even when there have never been visible symptoms. The chance of contracting HPV is increased by:

Having multiple sexual partners

Age, occurring more in adolescence or young adulthood

Weakened immune system due to organ transplant, HIV, or other conditions that weaken the immune system

Being uncircumcised

Damaged skin

It is important to consult a doctor if warts of any kind appear on the genitals, or if there are warts that cause discomfort or pain.

Complications of HPV in men

HPV normally goes away by itself within 2 years. In fact, 90 percent of HPV infections will go away with the help of the body’s natural immune system without causing any harm.

Some types of HPV can cause cancer.

However, while some types of HPV can cause genital warts, other types can cause cancers. Around 38,793 HPV-related cancers occur in the United States each year. Around 23,000 of those cases are among women and about 15,793 among men. In men, HPV is thought to be responsible for:

Over 90 percent of cases of anal cancer, which affect 1,500 men each year, come from HPV.

HPV is responsible for over 60 percent of penile cancers, and it affects around 400 men each year.

Oropharyngeal cancer, which occurs in the back of the throat, the base of the tongue, and the tonsils. It affects around 3,920 men a year, and about 70 percent of cases are due to HPV.

Compared with men who have sex with women only, men who have sex with men are 17 times more likely to develop HPV-related anal cancer. Men who have a weakened immune system due to HIV or other reasons have a higher chance of developing HPV-related anal cancer. Men with HIV tend to have more severe genital warts that are harder to treat.

Symptoms of HPV and HPV-related cancer

There is currently routine screening to diagnose HPV in men. However, a doctor might be able to diagnose HPV infection by examining any warts that have appeared. If a man is considered high risk, a doctor may also swab the anal region for HPV.

A constant sore throat and cough can be a sign of throat cancer.

The warts can be small or large, flat or raised, or cauliflower-shaped and appear as a bump or group of bumps in the area surrounding the penis, anus, or genitals. The warts usually do not hurt but can be unsightly. An HPV infection is not cancer, but the infection can cause changes in the body that may lead to cancer. Cancer may not be diagnosed for years after a person is infected with HPV because the infection develops very slowly. Some of the symptoms of HPV-related cancers to look out for are: Anal cancer:

Bleeding, discharge, pain, or itching of the anus

Swelling in the anal or groin area

Changes to bowel habits or the shape of stools

Penile cancer:

Tissue changes on the penis such as color, skin thickening, or tissue buildup

Painful or painless sores or growths on the penis that might bleed

Cancer of the back of the throat:

Constant sore throat or ear pain

Persistent coughing

Trouble breathing or swallowing

Weight loss

Voice changes or hoarseness

Lumps or growths in the neck

There is no way to tell who will have a temporary HPV infection and who will go on to develop cancer.

Treatment for HPV

There are no treatments for HPV, but there are treatments for the conditions caused by the infection. A doctor can treat genital warts with prescription medication. They can also be surgically removed or frozen or burned off, depending on the size, location, and shape. Getting rid of the warts may not prevent the infection from being passed on to a sexual partner. If genital warts are not treated, they are unlikely to turn into cancer. They will go away, grow, multiply, or stay the same. Anal, penile, or throat cancers are usually treated with a combination of surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy.

Which men should get the HPV vaccine?

Getting vaccinated and using condoms correctly when having sex can lower the risk of getting HPV. Condoms cannot provide full protection against HPV because HPV infects some areas that are not covered by a condom. Though there is no treatment for HPV, there are three effective HPV vaccines available to prevent HPV. All three vaccines prevent infection with HPV types 16 and 18, which are the two types most linked to cancer. One of the vaccines also prevents infection with HPV types 6 and 11, which are most linked to genital warts. The three-dose HPV vaccine series is routinely recommended for boys age 11-12 years. Some groups of men are also advised to have the vaccine if they did not have the full three doses in childhood. These include:

Any males through age 21 years

Men through age 26 years who have sex with men

Men with a weakened immune system or HIV through age 26 years

Since HPV vaccination commenced in the U.S., the number of women affected by the four main HPV types has dropped from 11.5 percent to 4.3 percent among females aged 14 to 19 years and from 18.5 percent to 12.1 percent among females aged 20 to 24 years. The HPV vaccine is safe and effective. No serious side effects have been reported from the vaccine. The HPV vaccine does not prevent other sexually transmitted infections or treat people who have existing HPV infections or HPV-related diseases.

Living with HPV

Viruses are difficult to treat. The body gets rid of viruses by developing immunity to them, which may take months or even years. A person could potentially have HPV for many years before it is diagnosed or causes any health issues. There is no way to find out which person in the relationship gave the infection to the other person. If a person has genital warts, they should avoid sex until the warts are removed or have gone away. However, it is currently unknown how long after genital warts have disappeared that a person can spread HPV infection. Wearing a barrier contraceptive, such as a condom can help prevent spread. Although HPV is common and most sexually active adults will have HPV at some point in their lifetime, the health problems that are caused by HPV and HPV-related cancers are overall less common.

The post HPV in Men: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment appeared first on How People Do.

from HPV in Men: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment