Do you know about these complications of HPV infection?

HPV virus is a virus with a very high infection rate all over the world. It is worth noting that the HPV infection rate is high not only in women but also in men. So what are the common diseases after men and women are infected with HPV?

The most common disease caused by HPV infection in women is genital warts (condyloma acuminatum), which are mainly caused by infection with HPV6 or HPV11. In addition, HPV16, 18, 31, 33, and 35 may also cause condyloma acuminatum. Condyloma acuminatum in women is common in the labia majora and minora, vaginal opening, cervix, and perianal area. It is divided into external genital warts, cervical warts, vaginal warts, urethral warts, and anal warts. At first, the patient will have some soft, sharp, light red papules, which will gradually increase in size and become wart-like protrusions and spread outward. They are white, red, or dirty gray [1].

High-risk, or carcinogenic, HPV subtypes are mainly types 16 and 18. When female patients are persistently infected with high-risk HPV, they are more likely to develop cervical cancer or cancers of the vulva, vagina, anus, or oropharynx [2, 3]. Studies have found that HPV infection is also closely related to female infertility, and persistent infection with high-risk HPV may lead to female infertility [4].

Genital warts are also a common disease in men infected with low-risk HPV. Genital warts in men often appear in the frenulum, coronal sulcus, foreskin, urethra, penis, around the anus, and scrotum[1]. Infection with high-risk HPV may also cause penile cancer, anal cancer, and oral cancer in men. The anus is an HPV-susceptible area, and anal warts in men are often accompanied by anal intraepithelial neoplasia, with a rate as high as 52%[5].

HPV infection may also reduce the quality of male semen and is one of the risk factors for male infertility. Studies have found that the infection rate of HPV is high in male infertility patients, and common virus subtypes include HPV45, HPV52, HPV18, HPV59, HPV16, etc. HPV virus can integrate into the sperm head or enter the sperm cell, affecting the normal morphology of sperm and the fertilization process, thereby reducing male fertility [6, 7].

In summary, HPV infection can cause various diseases and even cancer in men and women, so it is very important to do a good job of prevention. Preventing HPV infection is not just a woman's job, men should also pay attention to it. Currently, the most effective way to prevent HPV infection is vaccination, but due to the current shortage of vaccines in our country and related policy restrictions, it is not possible to popularize vaccines for men. In addition to vaccination, the use of condoms is also an effective way to reduce HPV infection. In addition, regular screening and timely treatment can also be carried out. In addition, both men and women should also pay attention to being vigilant in their sexual life, because HPV is mainly transmitted through sexual contact. More sexual partners and unclean sexual life will also increase the chance of HPV infection.

References:

[1] Zhang Xuejun. Dermatology and Venereology. Dermatology and Venereology, 2008

[2] Zhang Yang, Zhao Huarong. Relationship between HPV infection and oropharyngeal cancer. Modern Oncology, 2013, 21: 2137-2139

[3] Fan Shangrong, Guo Xuedong. 2015 US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of sexually transmitted diseases (continued) - Guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of human papillomavirus infection. Chinese Journal of General Practice, 2015, 3513-3515

[4] Zhou Lu, Huang Wei. Study on the relationship between infertility and cervical human papillomavirus infection. Journal of Practical Obstetrics and Gynecology, 2015, 31: 147-149

[5] Krzowska-Firych J, Lucas G, Lucas C, et al. An overview of human papillomavirus (hpv) as an etiological factor of the anal cancer. Journal of infection and public health, 2019, 12: 1-6

[6] Yang Yang, Li Ying, Liang Yu, et al. Effects of HPV infection on semen parameters in men. Chinese Journal of Birth and Genetics, 2016, 024: 113-114

[7] Yang Y, Jia CW, Ma YM, et al. Correlation between hpv sperm infection and male infertility. Asian journal of andrology, 2013, 15: 529