Genital herpes is a sexually transmitted infection (STI). This STI causes herpetic sores, which are painful blisters (fluid-filled bumps) that can break open and ooze fluid in the genital area. Genital herpes passed on through vaginal, anal and oral sex. Treatment from a sexual health clinic can help. Symptoms clear up on their own but can come back.
Two types of the herpes simplex virus (HSV) cause genital herpes:
The viruses enter the body through skin abrasions or mucous membranes. Mucous membranes are the thin layers of tissue that line the openings of your body. They can be found in your nose, mouth, and genitals.
Once the viruses are inside, they incorporate themselves into your cells. Viruses tend to multiply or adapt to their environments very easily, which makes treating them difficult.
HSV-1 or HSV-2 can be found in bodily fluids, including:
HSV II infection is more common in women and in people who have had more than five sexual partners. Most people with HSV II do not know they have it, because it does not always cause symptoms.
You can get genital herpes by having vaginal, anal, or oral sex with someone who has the infection. You can get herpes if you have contact with:
Most people with genital herpes have no symptoms or have very mild symptoms. Herpes sores usually appear or more blisters on or around the genitals, rectum or mouth. By blisters break and leave painful sores that may take a week or more to heal. Flu-like symptoms (e.g., fever, body aches, or swollen glands) and can include an unusual sore, a smelly genital discharge, burning when peeing, or bleeding between periods (if you have a menstrual cycle).
The appearance of blisters is known as an outbreak. On average, a first outbreak will appear 4 daysTrusted Source after contracting the virus, However, it can take as little as 2 days, or as much as 12 days or more, to appear.
General symptoms for those with a penis include blisters on the:
General symptoms for those with a vagina include blisters around or near the:
General symptoms for anyone include the following:
Babies who are born with genital herpes can develop very severe complications and experience:
However, if you do have symptoms of genital herpes, it’s important to see a doctor. They can make a diagnosis and discuss management strategies with you. Additionally, if you think you may have been exposed to genital herpes, or if you want a full STI exam and testing, you can schedule an appointment with your doctor. If you can’t make it to a doctor in person, you can also use an at-home test kit. However, an in-person test done by your doctor may be more accurate.
There’s no cure. Symptoms clear up by themselves, but the blisters can come back (an outbreak or recurrence).
Treatment the first time you have genital herpes
Treatment if the blisters come back
If you have genital herpes during pregnancy, there’s a risk your baby could develop a serious illness called neonatal herpes. This can be fatal, but most babies recover with antiviral treatment. The risk of your baby getting neonatal herpes is low if you have had genital herpes before. It’s higher if you get genital herpes for the first time in pregnancy.
You may be offered antiviral treatment:
Many women with genital herpes have a vaginal delivery. You may be offered a caesarean, depending on your circumstances.
If you have been diagnosed with genital herpes and you’re having an outbreak:
Genital herpes is caused by a virus called herpes simplex. Once you have the virus, it stays in your body. It will not spread in your body to cause blisters elsewhere. It stays in a nearby nerve and causes blisters in the same area.
The only way to completely avoid STDs is to not have vaginal, anal, or oral sex.
If you are sexually active, you can do the following things to lower your chances of getting genital herpes:
If your sex partner(s) has/have genital herpes, you can lower your risk of getting it if:
Genital herpes can cause painful genital sores and can be severe in people with suppressed immune systems.
If you touch your sores or fluids from the sores, you may transfer herpes to another body part like your eyes. Do not touch the sores or fluids to avoid spreading herpes to another part of your body. If you do touch the sores or fluids, quickly wash your hands thoroughly to help avoid spreading the infection.
If you are pregnant, there can be problems for you and your unborn fetus
If you have herpes, you should talk to your sex partner(s) about their risk. Using condoms may help lower this risk but it will not get rid of the risk completely. Having sores or other symptoms of herpes can increase your risk of spreading the disease. Even if you do not have any symptoms, you can still infect your sex partners.
You may have concerns about how genital herpes will impact your health, sex life, and relationships. While herpes is not curable, it is important to know that it is manageable with medicine. Daily suppressive therapy (i.e., daily use of antiviral medication) can lower your risk of spreading the virus to others. Talk to a healthcare provider about your concerns and treatment options.
A genital herpes diagnosis may affect how you will feel about current or future sexual relationships. Knowing how to talk to sexual partners about STDsexternal icon is important.
People often don’t have serious problems from herpes, but there’s a chance of them. Wash your hands often, especially during an outbreak. If you touch a blister and rub your eyes, the infection can spread to your eyes. If your eyes are red, swollen, hurt, or are sensitive to light, see your doctor. Treating it can help prevent serious vision problems.
Shingles, also called herpes zoster, is caused by the varicella zoster virus (VZV), which causes chickenpox earlier in life. The natural history of varicella zoster infection is similar to genital herpes infection in that VZV also becomes latent in the sensory nerve roots. Later in life the virus may exit, causing shingles.
Recurrences in shingles cause blister lesions in a single area of skin called a dermatome. Shingles is not a sexually transmitted infection and is independent from genital herpes.
Herpes infection can cause sores or breaks in the skin or lining of the mouth, vagina, and rectum. This provides a way for HIV to enter the body. Even without visible sores, herpes increases the number of immune cells in the lining of the genitals. HIV targets immune cells for entry into the body. Having both HIV and genital herpes increases the chance of spreading HIV to a HIV-negative partner during oral, vagina, or anal sex.
Genital Herpes – CDC Fact Sheet https://www.cdc.gov/std/herpes/stdfact-herpes.htm
Genital herpes https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/genital-herpes/
Genital Herpes https://www.healthline.com/health/std/genital-herpes
Genital Herpes Symptoms, Pictures, and Treatment
https://www.webmd.com/genital-herpes/ss/slideshow-genital-herpes
Genital Herpes
https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/herpes-hsv1-and-hsv2/genital-herpes
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