Genital Herpes (HSV-2)

Genital herpes is a sexually transmitted disease caused by herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) and herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2). HSV-1 may cause no symptoms in most people, but it can cause oral (mouth) herpes. It causes cold sores on or around the lips. Most people with oral herpes acquired the virus in childhood or young adulthood through non-sexual contact with saliva. Oral herpes caused by HSV-1 can be transmitted from the mouth to the genitals through oral sex. For this reason, some cases of genital herpes are caused by HSV-1. Genital herpes is a common disease. Of every 100 people aged 14 - 49, 15-20 have genital herpes.

 

How Is Genital Herpes Transmitted?

You can contract a genital herpes infection by having vaginal, anal or oral sex with someone who has the disease. You can become infected through direct contact with a herpes sore, or through contact with the saliva and sexual secretions of your partner who has genital herpes. You can also contract genital herpes if your partner, who has no visible sore or does not know they are infected, performs oral sex on you.

 

How Is Genital Herpes Not Transmitted?

1. From toilet seats
2. From bed linen
3. From swimming pools
4. Through cutlery
5. It is not transmitted by touching objects such as soap or towels.

 

The only way to prevent sexually transmitted diseases is not to have vaginal, anal or oral sex. Since this is not possible in adult life, to reduce your chance of contracting genital herpes,

Be in a long-term, mutually monogamous relationship with a partner who has been tested and is not infected with a sexually transmitted disease

Use a condom at every sexual intercourse. Be aware that not all herpes sores occur in areas covered by a latex condom. Also, the herpes virus can be shed from areas of skin with no visible herpes sore. For these reasons, condoms may not completely protect you from contracting herpes.

If you have a relationship with a person known to have genital herpes, do not have sex unless your partner is taking an anti-herpes medication every day.

Do not have vaginal, anal or oral sex when your partner has herpes symptoms (that is, when your partner is having an outbreak).

 

I Am Pregnant and Have Genital Herpes. What Should I Do?

If you are pregnant and have genital herpes, it is very important for you to attend prenatal care visits. Tell your doctor whether you have ever had symptoms or have ever been diagnosed with genital herpes. Also tell your doctor whether you have ever had a relationship with someone who has genital herpes. Some studies suggest that genital herpes infection can cause miscarriage and can make it more likely for you to give birth to your baby very early.

Herpes infection can be passed to the baby before birth, but more commonly it is passed to your baby during delivery. This can cause neonatal herpes, a potentially fatal infection in your baby. It is important that you avoid contracting herpes during pregnancy. If you are pregnant and have genital herpes, you may be advised to take an anti-herpes medication towards the end of your pregnancy. This medication may reduce your risk of having genital herpes signs and/or symptoms at the time of delivery. During delivery, your doctor should examine you carefully for herpes sores.

If you have herpes symptoms at the time of delivery, the birth is performed by caesarean section.

 

What Are the Symptoms of Genital Herpes?

Most people who have genital herpes have no symptoms or have very mild symptoms. You may not notice mild symptoms, or you may mistake them for another skin condition such as a pimple or an ingrown hair. For this reason, most people who have herpes do not know it.

Herpes sores usually appear as one or more blisters on or around the genitals, rectum or mouth. The blisters break and leave painful sores that take a week or more to heal. These symptoms are sometimes referred to as "having an outbreak". When a person has an outbreak for the first time, they may also have flu-like symptoms such as fever, body aches or swollen glands.

People who have had a herpes outbreak, especially if infected with HSV-2, may have recurrent outbreaks. Recurrent outbreaks are usually shorter and less severe than the first outbreak.

Although the infection stays in the body for the rest of life, the number of outbreaks may decrease over time.

If you notice any of these symptoms, or if your partner has a sexually transmitted disease or symptoms of a sexually transmitted disease, you should be examined by your doctor. Sexually transmitted diseases can cause symptoms such as unusual pain, foul-smelling genital discharge, burning when urinating, or bleeding between periods.

 

How Is Genital Herpes Diagnosed?

Your doctor can diagnose genital herpes simply by looking at your symptoms. Doctors may also take a sample from the sore(s) and test it. Under certain conditions, a blood test may also be done to look for herpes antibodies. Have an honest and open conversation with your doctor and ask whether you should be tested for herpes or other sexually transmitted diseases. You can look at the STD PCR test performed in our laboratory. Herpes PCR gives the most accurate result on a swab from an active sore or blister; when there is no sore, a negative result does not rule out herpes.

A herpes blood test can help determine whether you have a herpes infection, but it cannot tell you who you got the infection from or how long you have been infected.

There is no treatment that completely eliminates herpes. However, there are medications that can prevent outbreaks or shorten their duration. These anti-herpes medications make it less likely that you will pass the infection to your partner.

Genital herpes can cause painful genital sores and can be severe in people with suppressed immune systems.

If you touch your sores or the fluids coming from the sores, you can spread the herpes virus to another part of your body, such as your eyes. To prevent the herpes virus from spreading to another part of your body, do not touch the sores or the fluids coming from them. If you do touch the sores or the fluids coming from them, wash your hands properly right away to help prevent your infection from spreading.