Human papillomavirus during pregnancy - how to escape?

2023 Author: Alfred Shackley | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-05-21 13:14

There are a great many viral diseases in the world. Some of them are rare, others are widely known and affect millions of people year after year. Viral diseases are especially dangerous during pregnancy - after all, then not only the mother, but also her unborn child may suffer. One of the most common viruses is the human papillomavirus.

HPV

Almost 90% of the world's inhabitants have the human papillomavirus. Some people may not even know that they are its carrier - the immune system effectively fights the manifestations of the disease, so it is in a "dormant" state.

When the immune system is weakened, the human papillomavirus is activated and can manifest itself in the form of numerous symptoms.

Human-to-human transmission of the virus occurs only through direct contact:

• Through wounds in the skin;
• By blood transfusion, if the presence of HPV has not been confirmed or appropriate tests have not been performed;
• Sexually through the mucous membranes;
• From mother to child, if during childbirth the virus was in an active stage.

Main manifestations and symptoms

Most often, the human papillomavirus manifests itself in pregnant women in the form of genital warts. They can be located on any part of the skin, but, as a rule, they are localized in areas with high humidity - on the genitals or in the armpits. In this case, genital warts can affect both the outer layers of the skin and intravaginal mucous membranes.

Condylomas are a growth of skin on a small pedicle that expands towards the apex. They can be from a few millimeters to several centimeters in height. The danger of genital warts is the risk of cancer.

Another type of manifestation of the virus is directly papillomas. These warts are growths that appear all over the body, resembling condylomas in shape and size. The main difference is that when papillomas occur, there is no risk of developing cancerous tumors. In addition, warts can appear and disappear spontaneously, depending on changes in the state of the body's immune system.

The third type of HPV manifestation is flat condyloma of the cervix. This is the most dangerous type of warts, since in many cases it is flat warts that turn into a cancerous tumor. Flat warts occur in those women who carry HPV for a long period of time. Such warts can accompany the rash of genital warts or be the only sign of virus activation.

HPV and pregnancy

An exacerbation of the human papillomavirus in a pregnant woman is closely related to the pregnancy itself - it is during this period that the body gives up its entire supply of nutrients to the unborn baby. As a result, the body's immune system suffers greatly, and it can no longer stop HPV. However, you should not worry too much - the virus does not have a direct negative effect on the fetus.

However, there is a risk of infection of the baby during childbirth - if the baby takes his first breath a little earlier, then HPV will enter his respiratory tract. When a baby is born with good immunity, his body can successfully fight the virus. Otherwise, such infection can lead to the appearance of warts on the mucous membrane of the throat, which can lead to suffocation. Therefore, if the baby becomes infected during childbirth, then the mother must definitely pay increased attention to his health up to the age of 5 years.

However, such an infection can occur only if the warts in a pregnant woman are poured out on the genitals, there are many of them and they are large in size. As a rule, in such a situation, doctors recommend a cesarean section to protect the child from possible problems. If there are few warts, or they are in other places, then there is no danger for the baby, and the woman can give birth on her own.

Diagnostics

First of all, HPV can be diagnosed by a simple therapist or dermatologist under the conditions of a standard clinical examination. To confirm the diagnosis, a pregnant woman may be assigned an additional visit to the gynecologist for colposcopy - a detailed examination of the state of the mucous membranes of the vagina.

Additionally, a scraping can be taken from the surface of the cervix and sent for analysis - in order to identify or confirm the presence of HPV.

Sometimes a biopsy is required to clarify the diagnosis, but, as a rule, pregnant women are not subjected to such a procedure.

Treatment

At this stage in the development of medicine, there is no way to completely eradicate the human papillomavirus from the body, therefore, treatment is aimed at eliminating the manifestations of the disease.

1. Removal of warts. For this, various methods can be used - exposure to liquid nitrogen, destruction of neoplasms under the influence of high temperatures, laser surgery, etc. During pregnancy, these methods are used, since they are the safest for both the mother and her unborn child. At the same time, special care is taken - operations are not carried out at a small gestational age, so as not to provoke a miscarriage, with a long period, so as not to cause premature birth, and also pay special attention to the danger of secondary infection and possible bleeding;
2. Removal with chemical acids. This method is the safest during pregnancy, but it is very expensive, so not everyone agrees to carry out such a procedure;
3. Medication. This includes taking various drugs such as Kondilin, Podofidin, etc. All these funds have a destructive effect on the fetus, therefore, their treatment during pregnancy is strictly prohibited. Moreover, if a woman is of childbearing age, then at the time of taking these drugs, it is recommended to significantly strengthen contraception or completely abandon sexual activity;
4. Immunoglobulins. These are means aimed at maintaining immunity, which forces the body to fight HPV on its own. These include "Viferon", "Kipferon" and other drugs. Taking them in early pregnancy is not recommended, but in the third trimester they can already be used;
5. Antiviral drugs. The selection of such funds is carried out with great care, since their intake during pregnancy has not been studied enough, and many do not have any effect on the human papillomavirus at all. Pregnant women are prescribed "Epigen" or "Betadine". However, the reception of such funds is carried out under the constant supervision of the attending physician.

In many cases, during pregnancy, exacerbations of the human papillomavirus can pass spontaneously, therefore, the decision on the appointment of treatment should be made by the attending physician, based on each individual case.

Prophylaxis

Every pregnant woman should remember that it is possible to avoid an exacerbation of the human papillomavirus, like other diseases. To do this, you must follow several important rules:

• consume the entire necessary complex of vitamins and minerals in an increased amount, since now a woman feeds not only herself, but also her baby;
• dress for the weather to avoid hypothermia and overheating;
• take long walks in the fresh air;
• do not overwork and take the necessary amount of time to sleep.

Only this behavior will help maintain health during pregnancy. Health to you and your baby!