Urologist Gu Fangyu said that HPV is transmitted through direct contact between intimate skin and mucous membranes, including non-penetrative intimate contact; infection does not occur only through sexual intercourse.
Did you dye cauliflower while soaking in a sauna? Gu Fangyu, the general director of Gujia Medical and a urologist, said: He once treated a 65-year-old male foreign business executive who lived a simple life and had no risky sexual behavior. On a business trip, I went to Southeast Asia for entertainment and golf. After soaking in the local sauna, I sat directly on a chair without a towel. Half a year later, a row of growths appeared on the patient's lower body from the anus to the perineum. After a medical examination, it was determined that he was infected with condyloma acuminata, commonly known as "cauliflower".
Gu Fangyu said that at first, the patient only had a small protrusion in his private parts, but he did not take it seriously and did not seek medical treatment immediately. Unexpectedly, as time went by, the lesions spread longer and larger, so he rushed to see a doctor. Laser surgery was later arranged to completely burn off the cauliflower, and he was advised to receive the HPV vaccine.
Gu Fangyu pointed out that many people in clinical practice have misconceptions about HPV, believing that only penetrative sex can cause infection. In fact, HPV is mainly transmitted through direct contact between intimate skin and mucous membranes, including non-intrusive intimate contact. In a humid and closed environment, the virus may also briefly attach to the surface of objects. If hands are not cleaned before touching private parts, indirect transmission is theoretically possible. However, this type of route is relatively rare and requires specific conditions.
Therefore, the public must still be careful when using items in public places that may touch private parts; HPV vaccination can help prevent it. Although it cannot cure existing cauliflower lesions, it can prevent uninfected types, improve protection against other types, and reduce the risk of future reinfection and recurrence.
Gu Fangyu explained that the current domestic HPV vaccine instructions indicate that the recommended age range for vaccination is 9 to 45 years old. This is mainly because the age range of the subjects in the original clinical trial was set in this range. Therefore, the recommended age range for vaccination is based on the medical principle of "the amount of evidence will tell." But this does not mean that you should never be beaten if you are over 45 years old. Medically speaking, vaccination for those over 45 years of age is considered "off-label use." As long as the benefits outweigh the risks according to the physician's assessment, mature age groups can still obtain protection from the vaccine. Since each person's past exposure history and future risks are different, the protective benefits will vary from person to person. It is recommended to discuss with a doctor before deciding whether to vaccinate.
As for which groups require special assessment before treatment? Gu Fangyu said that there are almost no special restrictions on vaccination for men, but if they have a history of severe vaccine allergy or are suffering from an acute serious illness, they should first evaluate with a doctor. If women are receiving chemotherapy or immunosuppressive treatment, they should discuss the timing of vaccination with their doctor; vaccination can be done in some cases, but the immune response may be weak and individual evaluation is required. If you suffer from some autoimmune diseases or have had serious adverse reactions to vaccines in the past, you should discuss it with your doctor in detail first.
Gu Fangyu urges that if there are unknown protrusions or abnormalities in the private parts, do not ignore it because you are shy, refuse to seek medical treatment, or think that you do not have risky sexual behavior. Through early diagnosis, active treatment, improved personal hygiene habits and HPV vaccination, the most comprehensive protection can be obtained to avoid recurrence of the virus.
