If there is a need to get tested for HPV, then there is nothing to worry about. Most of the procedures are completely painless and some are tolerable by every patient. Consider the most common questions about test delivery.
What is HPV?
Human papillomavirus is a microorganism that contains the cellular structure of DNA. When introduced into the human body, HPV DNA causes a mutation, which leads to irreversible processes. Most of the population are already carriers of the virus, but few people realize it, as the virus does not spread in any way.
Once the body fails, the immune system weakens and growths appear in the body. For all skin formations except moles and acne, it is HPV that affects. If the tumors are not treated in time, then malignancy occurs and a harmless wart can turn into cervical cancer in women and urethral cancer in men.
Why is the human papillomavirus dangerous?
When papules, warts or genital warts appear on the body, an ordinary person can hardly distinguish between them, mistaken for something that is not capable of causing harm.
It's not that simple - a small papilloma can grow to a size that will cause a lot of discomfort - from aesthetic discomfort to the growth of cancerous tumors. More than 130 strains of human papillomavirus are known and each of them manifests in different ways.
The most common of these are types 16 and 18, which cause cancer of the mucous membranes, cervix, vagina, penis and other similar diseases. Since at first a person is unaware of the presence of the virus in the body, HPV develops gradually and after 5-10 years a person sees changes in his body in the form of growths.
Papilloma analysis can be done in any clinic. After 40 years, more than half of the lesions become malignant. Early diagnosis gives a person a chance for painless old age, which will not be overshadowed by cancer.
Why get tested for human papillomavirus?
To protect yourself from oncogenic diseases, you need to identify a potential threat to life and health in a timely manner. With an extensive list of causes for its spread, HPV is transmitted from person to person through close contact - hugs, kisses, sex, using common hygiene products.
The virus takes root under the skin and destroys the healthy structure of DNA, mutating throughout the body. When immunity fails, HPV appears on the skin in the form of warts, papules and similar rashes. Only an examination can detect the virus at an early stage and prevent it from spreading further.
When is an HPV test scheduled?
When the first signs of the disease appear on the body, the doctor can see them even with a visual examination. An HPV test is prescribed to find out where the virus came from in the body, to determine the type and then to eliminate it.
Even if we take into account that not every infected person is capable of becoming cancerous, no one wants to be tempted by fate, which means that it is necessary to have tests. If a woman is planning to become pregnant, she should be tested for HPV, as the virus will easily penetrate the baby. The father, too, should not be indifferent, because he may be a carrier of the papilloma virus.
Characteristics of the analysis for HPV
It is believed that detecting HPV before the age of 30 is not informative, as the disease goes far beyond the human eye. After the age of 30, the first tests are prescribed that can detect the papilloma virus even in the early stages.
The less time that has elapsed since the time of infection, the more effective the subsequent treatment will be. It is necessary to determine the time when normal cells begin to grow into cancerous. The methods of diagnosing human papillomavirus depend on several factors:
- Identification of the virus and the very fact of its presence in the body
- Learn the variety
- Assess the damage caused during the period when the person did not seek medical help
- Set high quality and effective treatment
I remember:the virus will never completely leave the host, as it already interacts with the body's DNA cells. HPV will remain calm until the immune system is weakened.
What kind of test must be done to detect HPV?
- Colposcopic examination. HPV tests in women are performed with this method. It is designed to detect genital warts. Women are advised to detect genital warts located in the area of the cervix.
- Cytology. A smear containing epithelial cells is obtained, then the samples taken are examined under a microscope. If the cells change, then there is a risk of developing HPV. There is a risk of a false result.
- Histology. It is an addition to cytology in order to rule out an error. A small piece of the affected tissue is taken and the doctor evaluates the difficulty of the site under a microscope. With the help of histological examination, it is possible to determine the nature of the formation.
- PCR diagnostics. The truest way with 98% accuracy. A swab, urine, blood or amniotic fluid is taken
If at least one test reveals the presence of a virus, then the patient will be sent for additional analysis to ensure the accuracy of the result. If the result was found to be false positive, then contaminated test material or violation of generally accepted sampling technique may be the cause.
Sometimes patients prepare incorrectly for the analysis or choose the wrong time for the procedure - these factors can also cause false results.
Test rules
In addition to relying on the treating physician, the patient himself must follow the analysis process and know the basic procedures. The doctor is a specialist, but the health belongs to the patient.
How is biomaterial obtained?
The strokes are done with a soft brush, which looks like a brush. In free clinics, a Volkmann spoon is sometimes used - it is a small spoon on a long stem. Such a brush is gently inserted into the channel, then removed by rotating. The brush is placed in a sterile bottle and sent for further research.
How to prepare for the procedure for women
2 days before the procedure, you can not have sex, use antibacterial soap, shower, use tampons. If the smear was taken from the cervix, then after the procedure for 3 weeks, you can not have sex, do sports, overheat, swim in public places and take drugs that affect blood thinning.
How to prepare for the procedure for men
Sexual intercourse is excluded, shower for 2 days without detergents. Do not urinate before the procedure.
General preparation for the process
It is necessary to inform the doctor about all the medicines that have been taken by a person in the last 2 months.
How is an HPV blood test done?
Used for PCR diagnosis. From a finger, sometimes from a vein, depending on the type of analysis that the person will do. A slight tingling sensation from the injection is the maximum discomfort from the procedure. If the vessels in the elbow area are narrow, then the blood draw will be difficult, but your doctor will tell you how to properly expand the vein.
The procedure is performed on an empty stomach, you can not even drink water. It is recommended to take a chocolate with you. 3 days before the blood donation, it is necessary to exclude from the diet all foods that cause an allergic reaction.
How is urine controlled?
It is best to take care of the sterile jar yourself. You can buy it at the pharmacy. Collect morning urine in a jar on an empty stomach. Then take it for examination, preferably immediately, the maximum period is 4 hours or the result will be invalid. The method is not as accurate as taking blood, but if blood donation is not possible, you should use this method.
How long does it take to get tested for HPV in women and men?
If a colposcopic examination was performed, then the result is issued immediately. With a cytological examination, the results will be ready only after a week. The histology is done for 3 days, then you can get the test result in your hands. With PCR diagnosis, you can get the results immediately or wait up to 2 days.
When and how often should you get tested for HPV?
Until the age of 30, only those who have clear signs of growth in their body are examined. Usually at this age, HPV is dormant and does not spread throughout the body.
From 30 to 60 years old, it is necessary to go for an examination every 3 years. The level of immunity drops, so the signs of human papillomavirus should be detected in time.
After 60 years, there are usually no tests. If no virus was detected during the last two tests, then you do not need to worry. If there have been manifestations, then you should start treatment until the last 2 results are negative.
Costs and prices for delivering the HPV test
In the presence of acute illness or after the onset of a cancerous tumor, most examinations are free. They can be prescribed by the treating oncologist.
For a complete picture of the development of the virus, 2 methods are usually used to eliminate the possibility of false information.
Decoding the results
Decryption should only be done by the treating physician. Patient intervention will do no good. To understand what the results are, you need to pay attention to the following words:
- reference values - HPV is absent.
- positive result - an oncogenic strain of HPV was detected.
- The result is negative - no cancer manifestations were found, but there is a possibility of finding other types of HPV.
If the patient decides to get involved in health and find out about the presence of human papillomavirus in his body, then he should resort to the above methods. Early diagnosis has saved millions of people and helped them find a calm, healthy life. Only after a thorough examination is it possible to prescribe quality treatment.
Sometimes the patient is sent for examinations without external signs of the disease and the procedure shows that HPV is present in the body. In this case, the treatment will not last long. This is why doctors recommend that you seek help in a timely manner.