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| What you should know about genital herpes |
Genital herpes is a fairly common sexually transmitted disease (STD). For example, in the United States alone, one in 6 people between the ages of 14 and 49 suffers from genital herpes infection. The figures are similar in other countries. If you want to know more about what this STD is about and you want to learn how you can prevent it, don't stop reading.We want you to have a healthy sex life.
Genital herpes is a very contagious sexually transmitted disease (STD) that affects men and women, but it is believed to be more common in women and the risk of contracting it is high among young people . It is transmitted when the skin is in very close contact with infected skin, something that occurs during sexual intercourse. It is a disease that tends to cause a lot of emotional tension, but it does not mean that having it prevents you from having sexual and emotional relationships. You will only have to be more cautious when having sex.
Genital herpes is associated with the lesions and blisters it causes on the genitals, lips and anus. These lesions or blisters appear in the area where the virus entered your body. Genital herpes can be transmitted through contact with these lesions, but it can also be spread even when no lesions are seen.
There are two types of herpes virus
- Type 1 herpes (HSV-1): It usually causes lesions and blisters in the mouth and lips (sometimes called fires) and is known as oral herpes. While it can cause genital herpes, in most cases it is not.
- Type 2 herpes (HSV-2): It is the genital herpes virus and the person who contracts it develops lesions and blisters in the genital area, rectum or in the surrounding area, but always below the waistline. This virus is responsible for 90% of cases of genital herpes.
How is herpes spread?
During sexual intercourse, the herpes virus can enter your body through a cut in your skin while you have vaginal, anal or oral intercourse. The virus can enter through the membranes of the vagina, the penis, the urinary tract, the anus or the cervix (that is, the cervix).
Once the virus enters your body, what it does is attack the cells that are healthy. The immune system activates and develops lesions, blisters and inflammation (swelling) as a defence against the herpes virus.
Genital herpes does not only affect the genitals. If, for example, your sexual partner has a fire or a mouth injury and they are practising oral sex, the virus can be transmitted to your genitals, and vice versa. It is also common to become infected by simply touching a blister and then passing your hand or scratching some other part of the body, such as your eyes (for that reason you have to be careful).
Many people wonder if herpes can be spread in public toilets or other public places (hot tubs, swimming pools). The answer is no. The herpes virus dies outside the human body after a few hours, so the probability is very low or zero for someone to get infected in a public place. Or at least, so far there is no scientific evidence of this. However, if it can be transmitted through the shared use of toothbrushes, or through kisses in affected areas.
Remember that the virus can be spread even if there are no blisters present.
Once the virus enters the body it can cause symptoms. However, on some occasions, genital herpes does not give symptoms, or these are very mild, which is why many people do not know that they suffer from this STD. Usually they may have only one outbreak (the first one is usually the most acute and painful) and never have any other again for the rest of their life, or have several, years later. The virus will remain dormant forever in the body until some factor such as stress, low defences, if they contract HIV or menstruation in women, can trigger another outbreak.
The symptoms of genital herpes, when present, are as follows:
- Pain, burning and / or itching in the area between 2 and 10 days after being exposed to the virus through sex.
- Blisters, ulcers or red pimples / bumps in the genital area or near the genital area (buttocks, inner thigh). In women they appear in the vulva, vagina, anus, buttocks or cervix (cervix). In men: in the penis, scrotum, buttocks, anus, thighs or inside the urethra.
- When the first outbreak occurs you may feel flu-like symptoms: headache, fever, body aches, swollen glands in the groin.
How is the spread of genital herpes prevented?
In an ideal world, the best way to prevent the transmission of genital herpes and other STDs is, of course, to refrain from sexual intercourse (unless it is in a monogamous relationship with a partner who is not infected and who is with you exclusively ).
Otherwise, the best way to prevent the spread of herpes is to use the condom or condom correctly and consistently . This, however, does not guarantee that 100% is prevented since there may be areas with sores that are not covered by the condom (and remember that there may be infection even when there are no injuries). It is definitely recommended to refrain from having sex during an outbreak to avoid direct contact with the open lesion.
Another way to prevent the spread of genital herpes is to avoid having too many sexual partners. Also, there is a blood test that you and your partner can do to find out if you are infected with the herpes virus and if so, to be able to take the necessary precautions. Later I talk about a suppression therapy if any of them are infected who can ask the doctor.
If you have genital herpes and have had no symptoms, you should inform your partner of your condition . Thus they can take the necessary measures: safe sex with condoms.
Is there a treatment for genital herpes?
Genital herpes has no cure. It is a virus that will always be in your body even if it does not manifest external symptoms. However, there are antiviral medications that help prevent the onset and also help reduce the duration of outbreaks . In the United States, these medications are: acyclovir (Zovirax), famciclovir (Famvir) and valacyclovir (Valtrex). In other countries brand names may be different. Your doctor can prescribe them to reduce the number and intensity of outbreaks, to help lesions heal faster and minimise the chances of transmission to other people.
It may be that your doctor tells you to take medications during the outbreak or that you recommend taking them at a lower dose, even if you have no symptoms, due to the appearance of several outbreaks a year or to reduce the risk of infecting your partner. This is called suppression therapy.
Pregnant women and people infected with HIV should take more precautions in relation to genital herpes. Talk to your doctor if you suspect you have this STD. Starting treatment as soon as possible will prevent you from infecting other people and that you can take the necessary measures so that, as far as possible, you can lead a healthier sex life.
Just don't forget that prevention is the key to avoid getting genital herpes.
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