Genital Herpes Treatments

Genital Herpes Topics

Genital Herpes – What You Can Expect And How To Protect Yourself?

There are two different types of genital herpes – HSV 1 and 2. HSV 1 is normally cold sores forming in the mouth. HSV 2 is genital herpes. There are many things that you can learn to protect yourself from genital herpes.

Genital herpes are very common and very easy to transmit. However, in having herpes, it doesn't mean your dating life is over. There are medications to help suppress outbreaks.

The features of genital herpes include pain, itching and sores in your genital area.

The cause of genital herpes is a strain of herpes simplex virus (HSV), which enters your body through small breaks in your skin or mucous membranes. Sexual contact is the primary way that the virus spreads.

What you can expect?

• You can expect to have several outbreaks (usually four or five) a year. Over time you can expect to have fewer outbreaks.

While symptoms can manifest 4-5 days after exposure, they may not appear for weeks, months or years later. These may include flu-like symptoms, fever, fatigue, aches and pains as well as tingling, itching and small blisters in the genital area. The appearance of blisters is called an outbreak but only 20% of those infected have outbreaks, meaning 80% of those infected can pass on the disease without even realizing they are contagious

• You have a higher chance of getting an HIV infection if you have unprotected sex with a partner living with HIV.

• Knowing that you have genital herpes may make you feel worried or sad. Talk with a doctor about your concerns.

There are suggestions on how to tell the person you are dating that you were infected with herpes. Only you can decide whether to tell a partner that you have herpes. It is a moral decision. The more people who discuss herpes out in the open, the more herpes is talked about will make the subject of herpes a less fearful topic. Sharing your experience with others is crucial, as is sharing it with your partner.

What to expect in the future?

The virus lives in the nerve root so it can recur. Recurrences can be as frequent as once a month, but are unpredictable. If it recurs it is in the same area. Abstain from sex when you have open sores since you're more contagious then. It's not comfortable to have friction against the open lesions, so it's not hard to remember. The problem with some people is that they don't get sores, and shed virus all the time without any symptoms. These sufferers may consider taking suppressive ongoing treatment to stop shedding.

The most important thing is being aware of the facts.