Genital Herpes is a type of sexually transmitted disease that causes genital sores and pain. It is a virus, and unfortunately, there is no cure for it, but it may become inactive (dormant) in the body for periods of time.
This virus affects both men and women and is spread by skin-to-skin contact, usually during sexual activity like vaginal, anal, and oral sex. Some people may not have signs and symptoms present but still may be carriers of the virus. Genital herpes is contagious, and it is recommended to see a healthcare professional if you suspect you may have this virus.
Signs and symptoms of genital herpes may be obvious, or there may be no signs and symptoms. Often the first outbreak of appearance of the virus is the worst, but symptoms may vary in severity with each outbreak. When the virus is active in the body, the following are some signs and symptoms:
Genital herpes is caused by a herpes simplex virus. When this virus is active in your body, it is contagious and is spread through skin-to-skin contact with an infected person. It can be spread by unprotected intercourse, oral sex, touching open sores, or from a mother to a baby if there is an active infection. It is only spread through skin-to-skin contact and not through objects like toilet seats, the virus has a short life span away from the skin. It you have genital herpes, it is recommended not to use shared sex toys.
There are several practices to help reduce the risk of genital herpes.
To diagnose genital herpes, a healthcare provider may simply look at the sores. If a sore is present, the healthcare provider may take a sample of the sore for analysis. Blood work may indicate if there are antibodies of the virus present. If antibodies are present, this indicates that you may have been exposed to the virus in the past, even if it is not currently active or present.
There is a treatment for genital herpes to help reduce the severity of symptoms, but there is no cure for this virus. Antiviral ointment or cream may be prescribed to help relieve symptoms faster, but it is important to start this therapy soon after the outbreak starts for it to be most effective. A healthcare provider may also recommend a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) to help symptoms such as pain.
Pain from the sores may also be managed by applying an ice pack to the affected area for only a few minutes. You should never apply ice directly to the skin but wrap the ice pack in a barrier such as a cloth. To prevent infection, it is important to keep the area of the sores clean by using plain water or salt water to clean the area, and you should always wash your hands with soap and water after touching the sores.