What is Genital Herpes?
BDS (Bachelor of Dental Surgery), 10 years of experience
What is the meaning of Genital Herpes?
Genital herpes is a type of sexually transmitted infection (STI) that causes blisters and ulcers. Herpes is caused by a virus called the herpes simplex virus (HSV), which spreads through direct skin-to-skin contact. Genital herpes can spread through oral, anal, or vaginal sex.
Herpes can affect many parts of the body, but it most commonly affects the genitals, anus, and mouth. Although the ulcers and blisters begin to heal within 2 to 3 weeks, the virus that causes them has no known cure, and hence, there is a risk of recurrence of infection.
Let us tell you in detail about the causes, symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment of genital herpes in today’s article.
- What are the causes of Genital Herpes?
- Who is at a higher risk of contracting Genital Herpes?
- What are the symptoms of Genital Herpes?
- How do you diagnose Genital Herpes?
- What are the treatments for Genital Herpes?
- How can you prevent Genital Herpes?
- What are the complications of Genital Herpes?
- FAQs About Genital Herpes
What are the causes of Genital Herpes?
Herpes simplex virus-1 (HSV-1) and herpes simplex virus-2 (HSV-2) are the two kinds of viruses that cause genital herpes.
- HSV-1 mainly causes oral herpes and is responsible for cold sores and fever, blisters around the mouth and on the face. It can be spread via kissing or sharing objects such as toothbrushes and utensils.
- HSV-2 primarily leads to genital herpes and is responsible for genital herpes outbreaks. An individual can only contract herpes type 2 infection due to sexual contact with someone who has had a genital HSV-2 infection.
- Herpes zoster virus can cause shingles and chickenpox.
- The herpes virus enters the body through thin layers of tissue that line the openings of the body called the mucous membrane. This virus can be seen in a person’s nose, mouth, and genitals. After the entry of the viruses into the body, they enter into the cells of the body. These viruses multiply and adapt to their environments very easily, making their treatment difficult.
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HSV-1 or HSV-2 is found in bodily fluids, including:
- semen
- vaginal discharge
- saliva
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Who is at a higher risk of contracting Genital Herpes?
- HSV-2 infection is more common in women (almost 1 out of 5 women) than in men (approximately 1 out of 9). This may be because male-to-female transmission is relatively easier than female-to-male transmission
- It is also more common in the African-American population. It is estimated that every 1 in 2 African-American women between the ages of 14 to 49 is infected with HSV-2.
- It is also commonly seen in individuals who have multiple sex partners. Each additional partner increases the risk of contraction of the virus.
- Homosexual individuals engaging in anal and oral sex are also at an increased risk of this infection.
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What are the symptoms of Genital Herpes?
The appearance of blisters on the skin is the most common sign of herpes infection. It can take 3 to 30 days for the symptoms to appear after coming in contact with the virus.
Common symptoms of genital herpes in women and men include blisters in the following regions of the body.
Females:
- vagina
- buttocks
- anus
- cervix
Males:
- penis
- scrotum
- buttocks
- anus
The other general symptoms of genital herpes in females and males are:
- The infected genital area often feels itchy before the blisters appear
- Painful blisters in the genital region that may break open
- Fluid oozing out of blisters or sores
- A crust may develop over the sores within a week
- Swollen lymph nodes
- Fever
- Fatigue
- Body ache
- Headache
- Chills
- Genital irritation
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How do you diagnose Genital Herpes?
The following tests are employed to diagnose genital herpes:
- Blood tests – The blood samples are taken and tested for the presence of HSV antibodies to detect any previous infection of herpes.
- Viral culture test – In this test, a small piece of skin tissue or herpes blisters are scraped and is sent to the lab for testing and examination.
- Polymerase chain reaction test (PCR test) – In this test procedure, DNA is copied by taking samples from the patient’s blood, wound, or spinal fluid. It is done to establish the presence and identify the type of virus.
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What are the treatments for Genital Herpes?
There is no specific treatment for genital herpes. Treatment can reduce the outbreaks of genital herpes, but cannot cure it completely.
Treatment mainly consists of:
1. Medicines
- Antiviral drugs help in quicker healing of the sores and in reducing the pain associated with these sores. The medications that are commonly used to treat genital herpes symptoms are acyclovir (Zovirax), famciclovir (Famvir), and valacyclovir (Valtrex).
- As soon as one notices the initial signs of herpes infection, such as itching and tingling sensation medications can be started to reduce the symptoms.
- These medications also reduce the chance of the spread of the virus to the partner.
- People having frequent outbreaks of genital herpes are also prescribed medications by the doctor to reduce the chances of the outbreaks happening in the future.
- Severe cases of herpes can be treated using an intravenous (IV) drug called acyclovir.
2. Homecare
- The affected genital area should always be kept clean and dry.
- A mild soap or cleanser should be used when bathing in warm water.
- One should wear comfortable loose cotton clothes to avoid any irritation to the affected area.
During the treatment of genital herpes, the patient should take the following measures:
- Avoid touching the blisters frequently.
- Wash your hands properly.
- Keep the affected area clean and dry.
- Sexual contact should be avoided until the infection is cured.
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How can you prevent Genital Herpes?
The following steps can reduce the risk of developing and/or passing on herpes:
- Using barrier methods of protection like condoms when having sexual intercourse prevents genital herpes.
- One should avoid sex if any symptoms of herpes are seen.
- Kissing and oral sex should be avoided when there is a visible cold sore around the region of the mouth.
- Wash your hands thoroughly, especially if they have come in contact with the affected area.
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What are the complications of Genital Herpes?
Complications associated with genital herpes are as follows:
- Occurrence of other sexually transmitted infections (STIs): The presence of genital sores increases your risk of contracting other sexually transmitted infections like HIV and AIDS.
- Newborn infection: Babies born to infected mothers can be exposed to the virus at the time of birth. This may result in blindness, brain damage, or death of the newborn.
- Bladder problems: In some cases, the sores associated with genital herpes can cause inflammation and swell around the urethra (a tube that expels urine from your bladder). The swelling can close the urethra for several days hence, requiring the insertion of a catheter to drain the bladder.
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- Meningitis: In rare instances, herpes infection leads to inflammation of the membranes and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) surrounding your brain and spinal cord causing a condition called meningitis.
- Rectal inflammation (proctitis): Genital herpes can lead to the inflammation of the lining of the rectum, particularly in individuals who engage in anal sex.
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FAQs About Genital Herpes
How long can herpes go undetected?
After contracting HSV, there is an incubation period (the time it takes from contracting the virus until the first symptom appears) before herpes is detected. The incubation period for HSV-1 and HSV-2 is around 2 to 12 days. For most people, the symptoms begin to appear in about 3 to 6 days.
Do herpes outbreaks always occur in the same area?
People who get recurrent episodes of herpes will generally find their outbreaks to be in the same area and they will know when it’s coming because they’ve had it before.
What conditions can mimic herpes?
Noninfectious conditions that can mimic genital herpes include Reiter syndrome, contact dermatitis, Crohn’s disease, Behçet syndrome, trauma, erythema multiforme, and lichen planus.
When is herpes most contagious?
Herpes is considered to be the most contagious about 3 days before the start of an outbreak; this time frame usually coincides with an itching/burning sensation or pain in the area where the outbreak will occur.
We hope that we could answer all your questions regarding Genital Herpes through this article.
If you need more information about Genital Herpes and its treatment, you can contact an Infectious Diseases Doctor.
We only aim to give you information through this article and do not recommend any medication, treatment in any way. Only a qualified doctor can give you good advice and the correct treatment plan.
