HPV – Condyloma

Condyloma is today’s most common sexually transmitted disease of viral origin.
It is a genital wart that is spread through sexual contact.
More than 80% of men and women who are sexually active are infected, but fortunately only one in ten have symptoms.
However, the disease is far from negligible, as certain types of the virus are responsible for more than 90% of cervical cancer and cancers of the male genital organs and anus.

If you have a noticeable, palpable lesion, you can see a gynaecologist, urologist or proctologist, depending on the area.
They will discuss the course of treatment and take a smear for typing.

The human papillomavirus can be present in the body for a very long time without symptoms or complaints, either on the mucous membranes or on the surface of the skin.
In such cases, the virus can only be detected by an HPV DNA test.
A dermatologist, gynaecologist or proctologist will then take a skin scraping sample from the skin surface and from this sample the virus will be typed.
So the test is not a blood sample and can only show whether or not the skin surface being tested is infected with a virus.
Detection of the virus, the presence of HPV, does not indicate disease, it only indicates infection, even in the absence of symptoms.
Later on, symptoms may appear: in milder cases “only” condyloma, warts on different parts of the body, such as the labia minora and majora, the vagina, the penis (hence the name genital wart) and around the anus or anus.
Pre-cancerous conditions or cancerous tumours in the vagina, cervix, vulva, vulva or rectum and oral cavity that do not initially cause complaints can be detected by screening.
Early stage lesions can also be treated oncologically.
HPV screening is therefore important not only to treat existing disease but also to prevent it.
To read more about the development, symptoms and treatment of human papillomavirus, click here.

Smaller, larger condylomas can be brushed with solutions containing cytostatic agents, burned under local anaesthesia with an electric device, frozen, or removed by laser.
Medicines to boost the immune system of the whole body can help to fight HPV.
Natural immunity can help the condyloma to disappear spontaneously, but this kind of immunity is not permanent, even the same virus can re-infect us.
In addition, a currently invisible wart may grow on top of the condyloma that has resolved.

Visible condylomas should be removed.
If there are also condylomas around the anus, you should see a doctor who can examine the rectum during a colonoscopy to check for warts.
If this is not done, the area will be continually reinfected from the rectum.
It is important to know that condyloma around the anus may not necessarily be caused by sexual intercourse.
It can occur with similar frequency in heterosexual men, as a few millimetres of wart on the penis finds more favourable conditions to multiply on the surface of scraped skin rubbed off by hard stools or toilet paper.
To spread several centimetres up the rectum, more serious trauma or sexual intercourse is required.
These condylomas can be removed under local anaesthesia by rectoscopy.
When the condylomas have been eradicated, even with repeated treatment every 2-3 weeks, and it is assumed that our immune system has helped in the recovery, we cannot consider ourselves completely cured.
Without vaccination, any type of HPV can re-infect us. At the ProctoMed Center, we receive and treat condyloma patients around the anus with complete discretion. Screening of patients’ asymptomatic partners is also recommended, as a small condyloma in the anus or on any of our genitals is not always palpable.
Condylomas are removed under local anaesthesia on an outpatient basis, and viral warts found in the anal canal during rectal ultrasound are also burned off with an electric instrument.
The patient feels no pain during the examination and surgery and is fit for work on the day of the procedure.
Patients are called back for a follow-up examination after 3 weeks.
Our patients are informed before the operation or after the condyloma has been removed about any further treatment that may be required, and if necessary, lifestyle advice is given. Contact us with confidence!