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What is
Genital Herpes?
Genital herpes is a sexually transmitted disease that affects the genital area, including the
genitals, buttocks, thighs, and anus. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates
that about one in six people aged 14 to 49 in the US has genital herpes.
If you think that you have been exposed to it already, here’s what you need to know about it:
Types of Genital Herpes and What Can Cause It
Genital herpes is caused by the herpes simplex virus (HSV).
HSV-1: Causes sores around the mouth, lips, nose, and rectum
HSV-2: -Causes sores on or around the genitals, including around the
anus
There are two types of genital herpes: primary and recurrent. Primary genital herpes is when you get infected with HSV-1 or HSV-2 and have no immunity to the virus. In contrast, recurrent genital herpes is when you have had genital HSV infections in the past and have acquired a reduced ability to fight infection with the virus. The most common way to contract genital herpes is through direct exposure to an infected person's saliva, semen, or vaginal fluid. But you can also get infected with genital herpes by coming into contact with mucous membranes such as the lips or tongue of someone with active genital herpes lesions (lesions on the skin that are filled with fluid) and touching these lesions without washing your hands thoroughly. You can even get infected by sharing toothbrushes or eating utensils contaminated by saliva from someone with active lesions in their mouth. It’s also important to remember that genital herpes can be passed from a mother to her baby during birth or breastfeeding. So, if you have oral herpes, like cold sores, it can spread to your genitals from kissing someone who has oral herpes. If you have been diagnosed with genital herpes, it’s important to contact a virtual doctor for genital herpes today and start the required treatment.
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The Common Symptoms of
Genital Herpes
Get tested. This is especially important if your partner has chlamydia
Herpes does not always cause symptoms when it first infects someone; however, most people with herpes have very mild symptoms that go away within two weeks to three months after infection. If you have symptoms of genital herpes, they usually start one to four days after exposure and last one to seven days in most cases. Genital herpes may cause symptoms that are similar to those experienced with other STIs, such as genital warts and genital soreness. However, HSV can also cause sores that are painful or itchy. A skin rash may develop at regular intervals or in clusters and can be accompanied by fever, itching, and pain in the area around where you have an outbreak. If you have a single break in your skin caused by HSV, it will usually clear up within a few days without leaving any marks or scars behind. However, if you have multiple breaks in one area from repeated infections, this could lead to more serious complications such as ulceration (blistering) of your skin, which could result in scarring if not treated properly. Other symptoms can also include pain during sexual intercourse and burning after urination. They usually appear as one or more blisters on or around your genitals, anus, buttock, or thigh. The blisters can be painful and may rupture into open sores. You may also notice small fluid-filled bumps inside the blister(s). These are called vesicles and are not dangerous; they will go away within 2 to 7 days. Similarly, it’s common to experience soreness, tingling, or burning feelings around your genitals along with fever, chills, and muscle and joint aches. Swollen glands in your neck or armpits, headache/migraine, fatigue/loss of energy, and depression are some common symptoms of genital herpes. If you have symptoms of genital herpes, see your online doctor for genital herpes as soon as possible for a test of your blood for antibodies against HHV-6. The tests can identify past infections and provide information about how common this condition is in different populations based on their frequency.
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Treatment Options for
Genital Herpes
It's estimated that over 50 million people worldwide are infected with genital herpes. Rates of
transmission are higher among those who have multiple sexual partners or in populations that
practice high-risk behaviors, including anal sex and sexual intercourse while intoxicated.
Without treatment, the virus can remain dormant in the body and spread its infection to others
since it’s transmitted through skin-to-skin contact and can cause painful lesions (sores) on
your upper body and lower legs.
The good news is that there are several genital herpes treatment options online hat can help
combat this painful condition. Let’s take a look at them:
Oral antiviral medications
The most common form of treatment is an antiviral medication taken orally. There are two types of oral antivirals: first-line and second-line. First-line oral antiviral medications work by preventing the virus from attaching to cells in your body so it cannot multiply and cause damage. Second-line oral antiviral medications work by killing viruses already inside cells that have multiplied, causing more damage to the cell than if they had not multiplied in the first place.
Suppressive therapy.
Suppressive therapy involves taking daily doses of a suppressive antiviral medication for six to twelve months. This will prevent symptoms and reduce the risk of spreading the virus to others in your household or community.
Supplements and vitamins
Vitamins B6 and B12 may help lessen the severity of genital herpes infections. In addition, supplements containing zinc may help reduce outbreaks and increase healing time.
Lifestyle changes
You can improve your overall health by losing weight, quitting smoking and limiting alcohol consumption, so the virus has less opportunity to spread through sex or by touching infected areas. You can also keep your body healthy with regular checkups and screenings for other diseases such as cancer or diabetes.
Infection-control measures
A virtual doctor for genital herpes may recommend taking certain infection-control measures to avoid spreading the virus during an outbreak or even when you have no symptoms at all. This can include avoiding close contact with people with active herpes lesions (such as sexual intercourse, kissing, or sharing food utensils) and using condoms when engaging in sexual activity with new partners.
