Genital Herpes
- In the United States, about 1 in every 6 people ages 14 to 49 have genital herpes.
- You can catch genital herpes by having vaginal, anal or oral sex with someone who has the disease.
- Oral sex can spread the herpes virus
- Although genital herpes is a lifelong infection, the number of outbreaks may decrease over time.
There are two types of HSV that can cause genital herpes:
HSV-1
…often causes oral herpes, which can result in cold sores or fever blisters on or around the mouth.
Most people with oral herpes get it during childhood or young adulthood from non-sexual contact with saliva.
Oral herpes caused by HSV-1 can spread from the mouth to the genitals through oral sex. This is why some HSV-1cases of genital herpes are becoming more common as a cause of genital herpes, especially in young women.
HSV-2
… is the most common cause of genital herpes is HSV-2.
At least 50 million people in the United States—about 1 in 6 adults—are infected with HSV. Genital herpes is more common in women than in men.
HSV-2 is spread through direct contact with herpes sores, usually during vaginal, oral, or anal sex. If a person encounters the virus on an infected person’s skin, he or she can become infected.
Many people with genital herpes have no symptoms or have very mild symptoms. Mild symptoms may go unnoticed or be mistaken for other skin conditions like a pimple or ingrown hair, because of this, most people do not know they have a herpes infection.
Transmission can occur from contact with an infected partner who does not have visible lesions and who may not know that he or she is infected. In the asymptomatic patient, HSV-2 also can be present on the skin even if there are no sores and shedding can occur in up to 10% of days.
I have cold sores in my mouth. Can I infect some one with herpes?
Genital herpes (types 1 or 2) can be transmitted by oral sex.
Cold sores are usually caused by HSV I. People who have HSV I are susceptible to becoming infected with HSV II, the common cause of genital herpes.
A person with herpes who is shedding the virus can be contagious even if they don’t have lesions or symptoms, which is why the population of patients with genital herpes caused by HSV I is thought to be increasing.
Symptoms
- Blisters on the mouth or lips
- Fever, headache or pain in the joints
- Trouble urinating
Herpes Outbreak
Herpes sores usually appear as one or more blisters on or around the genitals, rectum or mouth. This is known as having an “outbreak”.
The 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) also may occur during the first outbreak.
When a person has symptoms, they appear about 2 to 10 days after the virus enters the body.
People who experience an initial outbreak of herpes can have repeated outbreaks, especially if they have HSV-2. However, repeat outbreaks are usually shorter and less severe than the first outbreak. Although genital herpes is a lifelong infection, the number of outbreaks may decrease over time.
Recurrent genital herpes is most common in the first year after the initial infection and decreases as time goes on.
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:
- Being in a long-term mutually monogamous relationship with a partner who does not have herpes.
- Using condoms the right way every time you have sex.
- Be aware that not all herpes sores occur in areas that a condom can cover. Also, the skin can release the virus (shed) from areas that do not have a visible herpes sore. For these reasons, condoms may not fully protect you from getting herpes.
If your sex partner(s) has/have genital herpes…you can lower your risk of getting it if:
- Your partner takes an anti-herpes medicine every day. This is something your partner should discuss with his or her healthcare provider.
- You avoid having sex when your partner has herpes symptoms (i.e., during an “outbreak”).
Treatment
There is no cure for genital herpes, but it is a manageable condition.
Make an appointment to see one of our specialists at County Obstetrics & Gynecology to confirm the diagnosis and to start antiviral treatment right away.
Antiviral medication
- Antiviral medication treatment can accelerate recovery of an initial infection.
- Daily antiviral medication can decrease the number of recurrent out breaks.
- A daily anti-herpes medicine can make it less likely to pass the infection on to your sex partner(s).
- 90% of the time, daily antiviral medication taken by a infected partner called “suppressive therapy”, can prevent transmission of herpes virus of an infected person that has no symptoms to a uninfected person.
- This is an option for couples who are interested in having unprotected sex or who are planning to become pregnant.
- Suppressive therapy can address frequent outbreaks. Taking a small dose of anti-herpes medication every day can reduce the number of outbreaks by over 90%. You can take suppressive therapy for long periods of time, or gradually taper off.
To reduce pain during an outbreak:
- Sit in warm water in a portable bath or bathtub for about 20 minutes. Avoid bubble baths.
- Keep your genital area clean and dry, and avoid tight clothes.
- Take over-the-counter medications, such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen. Avoid aspirin.
If you are entering into a new relationship and are aware that you have herpes simplex infection, you owe it to your partner to notify them before having sex.
Since a diagnosis of genital herpes may affect perceptions about existing or future sexual relationships, it is important for patients to understand how to talk to sexual partners about STDs.
County Obstetrics & Gynecology
STL Leaders in Women’s Healthcare
Board Certified Physician:
Dr. Lawrence V. Boveri
Dr. Stephen A. Boveri
Our Location
1859 Bowles Avenue
Suite 103
Fenton, MO 63026
Our Hours:
Monday: 8:00 – 5:00
Tuesday: 12:00 – 6:00
Wednesday: 12:00 – 6:00
Thursday: 8:00 – 3:00
Friday: 8:00 – 12:00