What is genital herpes and how is it treated? Genital herpes is a sexually transmitted infection (STI) that arises from herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) or type 2 (HSV-2). It has effects on the skin and nervous system.
Medically reviewed by Mary Rani Cadiz, MD · Obstetrics and Gynecology
What is genital herpes and how is it treated? Genital herpes is a sexually transmitted infection (STI) that arises from herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) or type 2 (HSV-2). It has effects on the skin and nervous system.
It is passed mainly through sexual activity. This means that it is not transmitted through contact with toilet seats, chairs and similar objects an infected person might have has used. The virus has short survival outside the body, although it can survive a little longer in warm, damp areas. It quickly vanishes once it comes in contact with air.
Once a person is infected, the virus stays dormant in the body. Its effects show up again many times in a year.
In the Philippines, there were already 977 patients seen and treated for herpes in Philippine Dermatological Society institutions from 2011 to 2018.
A lot of genital herpes patients do not know they have the disease, because they do not show genital herpes symptoms. He adds that patients usually shed the HSV virus in the genital tract, such as vaginal discharges in women.
Sometimes, mild symptoms appear, 2 to 12 days after one gets the virus. These include:
At the first outbreak, genital herpes symptoms may include flu-like symptoms, like swollen lymph nodes in the groin. Your head and muscles may ache, and you may run a fever.
Herpes sores can be found on the:
Genital herpes in women may manifest as:
Genital herpes in men may manifest as:
Sores grow in the area of the body where the infection began. Infection can be spread by touching a sore, and rubbing or scratching another area of your body, including your eyes.
As in all sexually transmitted infections, you must
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If you contract genital herpes during pregnancy, be open with your doctor. Ask for screening tests.
Your physician may prescribe antiviral medicine for genital herpes towards the last part of your pregnancy. This aims to check an outbreak when you’re about to give birth. If the outbreak occurs while you’re in labor, your physician may recommend a cesarean section to protect your baby from the virus.
People get infected when:
Genital herpes can spread even in the absence of sores since the virus stays in the body.
Health care practitioners conduct tests on:
Infected persons must discuss recent, current, and future sex partners. Someone may not show gential herpes symptoms even months or years after infection.
Your risk of becoming infected with genital herpes rises if you:
Scientists have yet to find a cure for genital herpes. But health care professionals can prescribe medicine to:
Recurrence over time is common. But genital herpes symptoms differ from one person to the next. Signs and symptoms may recur over years. Some may have many outbreaks within a year. Others may have reduced attacks over time.
Symptoms of recurrence include:
Most often, recurrences are not as painful as the first outbreak, and sores usually generally heal faster.
Genital herpes is incurable, but preventable. Watching out for genital herpes symptoms can help people identify the disease, and manage and treat it as soon as it is diagnosed.
Learn more about Sexual Wellness, here.
Disclaimer
Hello Health Group does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.
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