If you need to get tested for HPV, then there is nothing to worry about. Most of the procedures are absolutely painless, while some are quite tolerable by any patient. Consider the most common questions about delivering tests.
What is HPV?
Human papillomavirus is a microorganism that contains the cellular structure of DNA. When injected into the human body, HPV DNA causes a mutation that causes irreversible processes. Most of the population is already infected with the virus, but few people realize it because the virus is not detected in any way.
As soon as the body fails, the immune system weakens and growth occurs in the body. For all skin formations except moles and acne, it is HPV that is affected. If the tumors are not treated in time, then malignant tumors appear and harmless warts can turn into cervical cancer in women and men with urethral cancer.
Why is the human papilloma virus dangerous?
When papillomas, genital warts or warts appear on the body, usually a person can hardly distinguish them from each other, they are mistaken in that they do no harm.
It's not so simple - a small papilloma can grow to such an extent that it will cause a lot of inconvenience - from aesthetic discomfort to the development of cancerous tumors. More than 130 strains of human papillomavirus are known, and each is manifested differently.
The most common of these are types 16 and 18, which provoke cancer of the mucous membranes, cervix, vagina, penis and other similar diseases. Since initially a person is unaware of the presence of the virus in the body, HPV develops gradually and after 5-10 years the person sees changes in the form of growth in his body.
Papilloma analysis can be done at any clinic. After 40 years, more than half of the lesions become malignant. Timely diagnosis gives a person a chance for painless aging that is not overshadowed by cancer.
Why is there a human papillomavirus test?
To protect yourself from oncogenic diseases, you need to identify a potential threat to your life and health in a timely manner. With an extensive list of the causes of its spread, HPV is transmitted from person to person through close contact - hugs, kisses, sexual intercourse, using common hygiene products.
The virus takes root under the skin and destroys the structure of healthy DNA, mutating throughout the body. When immunity is weakened, HPV appears on the skin in the form of warts, papillomas and similar rashes. Only an examination can detect the virus at an early stage and block its further spread.
When is the HPV test scheduled?
When the first signs of the disease appear on the body, the doctor can see them even during a visual examination. An HPV test is prescribed to find out where the virus came from in the body, determine the type, and then eliminate it.
Even considering that not all infected people can become cancer patients, no one wants to be tempted by fate, which means that tests are necessary. If a woman is planning to become pregnant, she should be tested for HPV because the virus can easily enter the baby. The man should not be indifferent either, as he may be a carrier of the papillomavirus.
Characteristics of passing the HPV test
It is believed that the detection of HPV is not informative until the age of 30, because the disease takes place beyond the human eye. After 30 years, the first tests are prescribed that can detect papillomavirus even at the earliest stage.
The less time elapsed from the moment of infection, the more effective the further treatment will be. It is necessary to identify the moment when normal cells begin to form cancer cells. Methods of diagnosing human papillomavirus depend on several factors:
- Identify the virus and the fact of its presence in the body
- Get to know the variety
- Assess the damage caused during the period when the person did not seek medical help
- Prescribe high quality and effective treatment
remember:The virus never leaves the host completely because it already interacts with the body's DNA cells. HPV will be quiet until the immune defenses are weakened.
What tests should be done to detect HPV?
- Colposcopic examination. This method is used to perform HPV tests in women. It is designed to detect genital warts. For women, it is prescribed to detect genital warts in the cervical region.
- Cytology. A smear containing epithelial cells is taken, then the samples taken are examined under a microscope. If the cells are altered, then there is a risk of developing HPV. There is a risk of a false result.
- Histology. This is the addition of cytology to rule out error. A small portion of the affected tissue is taken and the doctor assesses the difficulty of positioning with a microscope. With the help of histological examination it is possible to determine the nature of the formation.
- PCR diagnostics. The most true way with 98% accuracy. Obtained smear, urine, blood or amniotic fluid
If at least one test detects the presence of the virus, then the patient is sent for further analysis to ensure the accuracy of the result. If the result is found to be false positive, then the cause may be a contaminated test material or a violation of generally accepted sampling techniques.
Sometimes patients mistakenly prepare for the test or choose the wrong time for the procedure - these factors can also lead to false results.
Testing rules
In addition to the dependence on the attending physician, the patient himself should follow the analysis process and know the basic processes. The doctor is a specialist, but health belongs to the patient.
How is biomass collected?
The pieces are taken with a soft brush that looks like a brush. In free clinics a volcanic spoon is sometimes used - it is a small spoon on a long stem. Such a brush is gently inserted into the canal, then removed with rotational movements. The brush is placed in a sterile flask and sent for further examination.
How to prepare women for the procedure
2 days before the procedure, you can not have sex, use soap with antibacterial effect, drink, use tampons. If the smear is removed from the cervix, then within 3 weeks after the procedure, you can not have sex, sports, heating, swimming in public places and taking medications that affect blood thinning.
How to prepare men for the procedure
Exclude sexual intercourse, take a shower for 2 days without detergent. Do not urinate before the procedure.
General preparation of the procedure
It is important to inform your doctor about all the medications that a person has taken in the last 2 months.
How is an HPV blood test done?
Used for PCR diagnostics. From the finger, sometimes from the vein, depending on what kind of analysis the person will receive. The slight tingling sensation from the injection is the maximum discomfort from the procedure. If the vessels in the elbow are narrow, then the process of taking blood will be complicated, but the 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 advisable to take a bar of chocolate with you. 3 days before blood donation it is necessary to exclude from the diet all foods that cause an allergic reaction.
How is urine tested?
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 time is 4 hours or the result will be incorrect. The method is not as accurate as taking blood, but if blood donation is not possible, you will need to use this method.
How long does it take to test for HPV in women and men?
If a colposcopic examination is performed, then the result will be issued immediately. On cytological examination, the results will be ready only after a week. Histology is done in 3 days, then you can get the test result on your hands. With a PCR diagnosis, you can get immediate results or wait up to 2 days.
When and how often should you get tested for HPV?
Under the age of 30 is considered only those who have obvious signs of growth on the body. Usually at this age, HPV is dormant and does not spread throughout the body.
From 30 to 60 years, it is necessary to take the exam every 3 years. Immunity levels fall, so signs of human papillomavirus must be detected in a timely manner.
After 60 years, examinations are usually not conducted. If the virus has not been detected in the last two tests, then you should not worry. If there were manifestations, then you will need to engage in treatment until the last 2 results are negative.
Cost and price for delivering HPV tests
In the presence of acute illness or once a cancerous tumor is over, most examinations are free. They can be scheduled by the attending oncologist.
For a complete picture of the development of the virus, 2 methods are usually used to eliminate the likelihood of false information.
Decrypt the results
Decryption should only be done by the attending physician. Patient intervention will yield nothing good. To understand what the consequences are, you should pay attention to the following words:
- References - HPV does not exist;
- Positive result - detected oncogenic HPV strain;
- The result is negative - no signs of cancer have been found, but there is a possibility of finding other types of HPV.
If the patient decides to take health and become aware of the presence of human papillomavirus in his body, then you should resort to the above methods. Timely diagnosis has saved millions of people and helped them find a quiet, healthy life. Only after thoroughly passing the tests is it possible to schedule a quality treatment.
Sometimes the patient is sent for tests without any external signs of disease and the procedure shows that there is HPV in the body. In this case the treatment will not take long. It is for this reason that doctors advise you to seek help in a timely manner.