What Is Herpes? What Is Genital Herpes?

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Main Category: Sexual Health / STDs
Also Included In: Infectious Diseases / Bacteria / Viruses
Article Date: 28 May 2009 - 5:00 PDT

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Genital herpes is a sexually transmitted infected caused by HSV (herpes simplex virus). This virus affects the genitals, the cervix, as well as the skin in other parts of the body. There are two types of herpes simplex viruses: a) HSVp1, or Herpes Type 1, and b) HSV-2, or Herpes Type 2.

Herpes is a chronic condition. Chronic, in medicine, means long-term. However, many people never have symptoms even though they are carrying the virus. Many people with HSV have recurring genital herpes. When a person is initially infected the recurrences, if they do occur, tend to happen more frequently. Over time the remission periods get longer and longer. Each occurrence tends to become less severe with time.

HSV is highly contagious

The herpes simples virus (HSV) is easily human transmissible. It is passed from one person to another by close, direct contact. The most common mode of transmission is through vaginal, anal or oral sex. When somebody becomes infected with HSV, it will generally remain dormant.

Most people who are infected with HSV do not know it because their symptoms are so slight - many people have no discernible symptoms.

What are the symptoms for genital herpes?

For those who do experience symptoms, they are generally present as blisters on the genitals, and sores around the mouth.

Most people do not have apparent symptoms for many months, or even years after becoming infected. Those who do have symptoms during the initial period will usually notice them about 4 to 7 days after being infected.

Primary infection symptoms

Primary infection is a term used for an outbreak of genital herpes that is evident when a person is first infected. Primary infection symptoms, if they are experienced, are usually more severe than subsequent recurrences. Symptoms can last up to 20 days and may include:

• Blisters and ulceration on the cervix
• Vaginal discharge
• Pain when urinating
• A temperature (fever)
• Malaise (feeling unwell)
• Cold sores around the mouth
• Red blisters - these are generally painful and they soon burst and leave ulcers on the external genital area, thighs, buttocks and rectum

In most cases the ulcers will heal and the patient will not have any lasting scars.

Recurrent infection symptoms

These symptoms tend to be less severe and do not last as long, because the patient's body has built up some immunity to the virus. In most cases symptoms will not last for more than 10 days.

• Burning/tingling around genitals before blisters appear
• Women may have blisters and ulceration on the cervix
• Cold sores around the mouth
• Red blisters - these are generally painful and the soon burst and leave ulcers on the external genital area, thighs, buttocks and rectum

Eventually recurrences happen less often and are much less severe. Patients with HSV-1 will have fewer recurrences and less severe symptoms than people infected with HSV-2.

What causes genital herpes?

When HSV is present on the surface of the skin of an infected person it can easily pass on to another person through the moist skin which lines the mouth, anus and genitals. The virus may also pass onto another person through other areas of human skin, as well as the eyes.

A human cannot become infected by touching an object, such as a working surface, washbasin, or a towel which has been touched by an infected person.

The following can be ways of becoming infected:

• Having unprotected vaginal or anal sex
• Having oral sex with a person who gets cold sores
• Sharing sex toys
• Having genital contact with an infected person

HSV leaves the skin just before a blister appears. The virus is most likely to be passed on just before the blister appears, when it is visible, and until the blister is completely healed. HSV can still pass onto another person when there are no signs of an outbreak (but it is less likely).

If a mother with genital herpes has sores while giving birth it is possible that the infection is passed on to the baby (see section on pregnancy below).

How is genital herpes diagnosed?

Anybody who has genital herpes symptoms should see his/her GP (general practitioner) or go to a sexual health clinic or a genito-urinary medicine (GUM) clinic. Anything discussed or discovered is completely confidential. An initial diagnosis of genital herpes should ideally be made by a GUM specialist - however, if you cannot see one go to your GP. A GP may refer the patient to a specialist. Before doing so, he/she will ask the patient some questions regarding possible signs and symptoms and carry out an examination.

Herpes is much easier to diagnose when the infection is still present.

A health care professional will take a swab sample of fluid from the infected area - this may require gently breaking the blister. The sample will be sent to a laboratory. If the result comes back negative it does not necessarily mean the person does not have genital herpes. Confirmation is more likely if the patient has subsequent recurrences.

Blood tests can also be used to find out if a person is infected. However, blood tests may miss very recent infections.

Diagnosing recurrent infections of genital herpes

Anybody who has a recurrent bout of genital herpes should see his/her doctor. The doctor will ask about the symptoms, and previous bouts. He/she will also try to find out whether this outbreak, or previous ones, might have been triggered by something, such as illness, or stress. The doctor will examine the genital area in order to determine the severity of the infection.

What are the treatments for genital herpes?

Self-help

• Pain - paracetamol (Tylenol, acetaminophen) or ibuprofen can be bought without a prescription.


• Some people find that bathing in lightly salted water helps relieve symptoms.


• Ice packs can help. Make sure the ice is wrapped in something - do not apply ice directly to the skin.


• Apply Vaseline (or some kind of petroleum jelly) to the affected area.


• If urinating is painful apply some cream or lotion to the urethra, for example, lidocaine. Some people find that if they urinate while sitting in warm water it is less painful.


• Do not wear tight clothing around the affected area.


• Wash your hands thoroughly, especially if you have touched an affected area.


• Refrain from sexual activity until symptoms have gone.

Medication

There is no drug that can get rid of the virus. The doctor may prescribe an antiviral, such as acyclovir. Acyclovir is usually taken five times a day. It prevents the virus from multiplying. A course of acyclovir lasts five days if the patient still has new blisters and ulcers forming in the genital area when treatment started. Antiviral tablets will help the outbreak clear up faster - they will also help reduce the severity of symptoms. Antivirals are generally given the first time a patient has symptoms.

As recurrent outbreaks are milder, treatment is not usually necessary.

Episodic treatment and suppressive treatment

• Episodic treatment - this is generally for patients who have less than six recurrences in one year. A five-day course of antivirals is prescribed each time symptoms appear.


• Suppressive treatment - if a patient has more than six recurrences in a year, or if symptoms are very severe, antiviral treatment may last longer. The aim here is to prevent further recurrences. Some patients may have to take acyclovir twice daily for several months. Although suppressive treatment significantly reduces the risk of passing HSV to a partner, there is still a risk.

Genital herpes during pregnancy

If a mother became infected before she got pregnant the risk of infecting her baby is very low. This is because her antibodies will be passed on to the baby. The longer the mother had the infection before becoming pregnant, the better her immunity will be, and that will be passed on to the baby. Those antibodies protect the baby during the birth and for many months afterwards.

For a woman who became infected during the first 13 weeks (first trimester) of her pregnancy, the risk of infecting the baby is slightly higher. If infection happens later on during the pregnancy, the risk continues to increase. Most women who became infected during their pregnancy are advised to take aciclovir (antiviral medication) during their pregnancy.

The risk of passing the infection on to the baby is considerably higher if the mother became infected during the late stage of pregnancy. The risk of infection for the baby is during, or just before the birth. Doctors will often advise the mother to have a cesarean section delivery. The mother will also be taking antiviral medication. A mother who has recurrent infections of genital herpes during the third trimester of her pregnancy may need to have a cesarean section if she has blisters and ulcers in her genital area around the date of the birth. Most doctors will not advise a cesarean section delivery if there are no sores and the mother has been infected since before she got pregnant, as the risk of passing the infection on to the baby is very small.

Prevention

To reduce the risk of developing or passing on genital herpes:

• Use condoms when having sex
• Do not have sex while symptoms are present (genital, anal, or skin-to-skin)
• Do not kiss when there is a cold sore around the mouth
• Do not have many sexual partners

Some people find that stress, being tired, illness, friction against the skin, or sunbathing may trigger recurrences of symptoms. Avoiding such triggers, if they can be identified, may help reduce the number of recurrences.

See our Sexual Health News Section

Written by Christian Nordqvist


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