Description

Genital herpes is a common sexually transmitted infection (STI). The herpes simplex virus (HSV) causes genital herpes. Genital herpes can often be spread by skin-to-skin contact during sexual activity.

Some people infected with the virus may have very mild symptoms or no symptoms. They can still spread the virus. Other people have pain, itching and sores around the genitals, anus, or mouth.

There is No cure for genital herpes. The symptoms tend to appear again after the first outbreak. The medicine can relieve the symptoms. It also reduces the risk of infecting others. Condoms can help prevent the spread of genital herpes infection.

Symptoms

Most people infected with HSV don't know they have it. They may not have symptoms or have very mild symptoms.

Symptoms begin approximately 2 to 12 days after exposure to the virus. They may include:

  • Pain or itching around the genitals
  • Small bumps or blisters around the genitals, anus, or mouth
  • Painful ulcers that form when the blisters rupture and oozing or bleeding
  • The scabs that form ulcers heal
  • Pain when urinating
  • The discharge from the urethra, the tube that releases urine from the body
  • Discharge from the vagina

During the first outbreak, you may often have symptoms similar to the flu, such as:

  • Fever
  • Headache
  • Pain in the body
  • Swollen lymph nodes in the groin

The differences in the symptom location

The ulcers appear in the infection enters the body. You can spread the infection by touching a sore and then rubbing or scratching another area of your body. That includes the fingers or the eyes.

Pain can develop in or on the:

  • The buttocks
  • Thighs
  • Straight
  • Year
  • Mouth
  • Urethra
  • Vulva
  • Vagina
  • Cervix
  • Penis
  • Scrotum

Repeat outbreaks

After the first outbreak of genital herpes, the symptoms tend to appear again. These are the so-called recurrent outbreaks or recurrent episodes.

How often recurrent outbreaks happen varies widely. In general, the majority of the outbreaks in the first year after infection. They can appear less frequently over time. Your symptoms in recurrent outbreaks usually don't last long and are not as severe as the first.

You may have warning signs of a couple of hours or days before new growth starts. These are called prodromal symptoms. They include:

  • Genital Pain
  • Tingling or shooting pain in the legs, hips, or buttocks

When to see a doctor

If you suspect that you have genital herpes or any other sexually transmitted infection , consult your health care provider.

Causes

Genital herpes is caused by two types of herpes simplex virus. These types include the herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) and herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1). People with HSV can transmit the virus even when you do not have visible symptoms.

HSV-2

HSV-2 is the most common cause of genital herpes. The virus may be present:

  • Over the blisters and ulcers or liquid ulcers
  • The wet or liquids from the mouth
  • The wet or fluids from the vagina or the rectum

The virus is transmitted from one person to another during sexual activity.

HSV-1

HSV-1 is a version of the virus that causes cold sores or fever blisters. People can be exposed to HSV-1 as children due to close skin-to-skin contact with someone infected.

A person with HSV-1 in the tissues of the mouth can transmit the virus to the genitals of one sex partner during oral sex. The freshly caught infection is an infection of genital herpes.

Recurrent outbreaks of genital herpes caused by HSV-1 are often less frequent outbreaks caused by HSV-2 .

Neither HSV-1 nor HSV-2 virus survives well at room temperature. So the virus is not likely to spread through surfaces, such as a faucet handle or a towel. But kissing or sharing a drinking glass or utensils can spread the virus.

Risk factors

A higher risk of contracting genital herpes is linked to:

  • The contact with the genitals through oral, vaginal or anal sex. To have sexual contact without the use of a barrier increases the risk of genital herpes. The barriers include condoms and condom-like protectors called dental dams used during oral sex. Women are at greater risk of contracting genital herpes. The virus can spread more easily from men to women than from women to men.
  • Having sex with multiple partners. The number of people you have sex is a risk factor. The contact with the genitals through sex or sexual activity puts them at higher risk. Most people with genital herpes do not know they have it.
  • Having a partner who has the disease, but it is not taking a medication to treat it. There is No cure for genital herpes, but there are medications that can help to limit the outbreak.
  • Certain groups within the population. Women, persons with a history of sexually transmitted diseases, older people, Black people in the united States, and men who have sex with men with a diagnosis of genital herpes in a higher than average rate. The people in the highest risk groups may choose to speak with a doctor about your personal risk.

Complications

The complications associated with genital herpes may include:

  • Other sexually transmitted infections. Having genital herpes increases the risk of giving or getting STIS, including HIV / AIDS .
  • The infection of the newborn. The baby can be infected with HSV during delivery. Less often, the virus is transmitted during pregnancy or by close contact after delivery. Newborns with HSV tend to have infections of internal organs, or the nervous system. Even with treatment, these infants have a high risk of development or physical problems and a risk of death.
  • Internal inflammatory disease. HSV infection can cause swelling and inflammation in the organs associated with sexual activity and urination. These include the ureter, rectum, vagina, cervix, and uterus.
  • Finger infection. An HSV infection can spread to a finger through a break in the skin, causing discoloration, swelling, and sores. The infections are called herpes whitlow.
  • Infection in the eyes. HSV infection of the eyes can cause pain, ulcers, blurred vision and blindness.
  • The swelling of the brain. Rarely, HSV infection leads to inflammation and swelling of the brain, also called encephalitis.
  • The infection of the internal organs. Rarely, HSV in the blood stream can cause infections of the internal organs.

Prevention

Prevention of genital herpes is the same as the prevention of other sexually transmitted infections.

  • Have a long-term sexual partner who has been tested for STI's, and that is not infected.
  • Use a condom or dental dam during sexual activity. These reduce the risk of disease, but do not prevent all skin-to-skin contact during sex.
  • Do not have sexual intercourse when a partner with genital herpes has symptoms.

Pregnancy precautions

If you are pregnant and you know you have genital herpes, tell your health care provider. If you think you might have genital herpes, ask your healthcare provider if you can be tested for it.

Your healthcare provider may recommend taking herpes antiviral medications late in pregnancy. This is to try to prevent an outbreak of the disease around the time of delivery. If you have an outbreak when you go into labor, your doctor may suggest a cesarean section. That is a surgery to remove the baby from the uterus. Reduces the risk of transmitting the virus to her baby.

Diagnosis

Your doctor can usually make a diagnosis of genital herpes based on a physical examination and a history of sexual activity.

To confirm a diagnosis, your doctor will probably take a sample of an asset pain. One or more tests of these samples are used to see if you have the herpes simplex virus (HSV) infection and show if the infection HSV-1 or HSV-2 .

Less often, a lab test of the blood can be used to confirm a diagnosis or rule out other infections.

Your doctor will probably recommend that you get tested for other STIS s. Your partner should also be tested for genital herpes and other STIS s.

Treatment

There is No cure for genital herpes. The treatment with prescription oral antiviral medication can be used for the following:

  • Help to heal the sores during a first outbreak
  • Decrease the frequency of recurrent outbreaks
  • To reduce the severity and duration of symptoms in recurrent outbreaks
  • Reduce the likelihood of transmitting the virus to a partner

Commonly prescribed medications used for genital herpes include:

  • Acyclovir (Zovirax)
  • Famciclovir
  • Valacyclovir (Valtrex)

Your health care provider will talk with you about the treatment that is right for you. The treatment depends on the severity of the disease, the type of HSV , sexual activity, and other medical factors. The dose may vary depending on if you currently have symptoms. The long-term use of antiviral medications are considered safe.

Coping and support

A diagnosis of genital herpes can cause embarrassment, shame, anger, and other strong emotions. You may be suspicious or resentful of your partner. Or you may be worried about rejection on the part of their current partner or future partner.

Healthy ways to cope with the fact of having genital herpes include the following:

  • Communicate with your partner. Be open and honest about their feelings. Trust your partner and to believe in what your partner tells you.
  • Educate yourself. Talk with your health care provider or a counselor. They can help you to learn how to live with the disease. It can also help you to reduce the chance of infecting others. Learn about your treatment options and how to manage outbreaks.
  • Join a support group. Find a support group in your area or online. Talk about your feelings, and learn from the experiences of others.

Preparing for your appointment

If you think you have genital herpes or other STIS , make an appointment to see your health care provider.

Be prepared to answer the following questions:

  • What are your symptoms? When do you start?
  • Do you have sores, or unusual discharge?
  • Do you have pain in the pelvis?
  • Do you have pain when you urinate?
  • Do you have a new sexual partner or multiple partners?
  • Have you ever been diagnosed with a sexually transmitted infection?
  • Generally, the use of condoms?
  • What medications or supplements that you take regularly?
Symptoms and treatment of Genital herpes