Genital herpes

Genital herpes is one of the most common sexually transmitted infections (STIs). It can spread from one partner to another through vaginal, anal, or oral sexual contact. Genital herpes infections can be severe in people who have impaired immune systems, such as people with HIV.

Once you get genital herpes, the virus always stays in your body and can become active again. You might have just a few more outbreaks during your lifetime, or as many as 4 to 6 outbreaks a year. As time goes on, the outbreaks are usually further apart, heal faster, and don’t hurt as much.

If you are pregnant, take extra care to avoid getting infected because you could pass the infection to your baby during delivery. If you have an outbreak near your due date, you probably will need to have your baby by cesarean section.

If finding out that you have an STI makes you feel bad about yourself or about sex, counseling or a support group may help you feel better.

Genital herpes symptoms

Many women don’t have symptoms so you can pass it to your sex partners without knowing it. You are contagious until you have been treated.

Symptoms can include:

• Cold sores on the lips (usually caused by Type 1 herpes simplex virus)
• Itchy, painful blisters on the genitals (usually caused Type 2 herpes simplex virus)
• Flu-like symptoms such as fever, headache, and muscle aches
• An abnormal discharge or pain during urination

Symptoms usually show up 2 to 14 days after exposure.

Diagnosing genital herpes

Your doctor may take a sample from a sore for testing or give you a blood test.

Treating genital herpes

There is no cure for genital herpes but medicine can relieve pain and itching and help sores heal faster.  The sooner you start treatment after an outbreak, the better. This is especially true for outbreaks that come back again and again.

Taking medicine for herpes may lower the number of outbreaks you have, prevent it from getting worse, and reduce the risk that you will infect your partner.

Preventing genital herpes

The only sure way to keep from getting genital herpes—or any other STI—is to not have sex. If you do have sex, practice safer sex.

• Talk with your partner about STIs. Find out whether he or she is at risk for them. A person can be infected without knowing it.
• Don’t receive oral sex from partners who have cold sores.
• Remember, every time you have sex with a new partner, you’re being exposed to all the infections their partners may have.
• Use a latex or polyurethane condom every time you have sex to keep out the viruses and bacteria that cause STIs.
• Be responsible. Don’t have sex if you have symptoms or are being treated for an STI.
• Save sex for later. Delay sex with a new partner until both of you have been tested for STIs.