Genital Herpes(Herpes, Genital; Herpes Genitalis; Herpes Simplex, Genital)
by
Cynthia M. Johnson, MA DefinitionGenital herpes is a sexually transmitted infection (STI). It causes small, painful, fluid-filled blisters. These blisters break open and leave a sore. They can be found on the sex organs, buttocks, or thighs. They can also spread to other parts of the body, such as the mouth, face, or eyes.
CausesThe infection is caused by the herpes simplex virus. The virus can be spread with:
It is easy for the virus to spread when there are blisters. But it may still spread to others when blisters are not present. Risk FactorsThe strongest risk factor is having unprotected sex with an infected person. Other things that may raise the risk are:
SymptomsMost people do not have symptoms. People who do will have painful, itchy blisters around the genitals, rectum, or mouth. There may also be a burning feeling when urinating. The blisters break and leave sores that take about a week to heal. This is called an outbreak. The first outbreak may also result in flu-like symptoms, such as:
The outbreaks that follow are usually shorter and less severe. They may also decrease over time. DiagnosisThe doctor will ask about your symptoms and health history. A physical exam will be done. It will focus on any sores you may have. This may be enough to suspect the diagnosis. Tests may be done to look for signs of the virus. This can be done with:
TreatmentThere is no cure. The goal of treatment is to manage symptoms and reduce the number of outbreaks. This should be done right away to lower the risk of spreading the virus to others. Choices are:
A person's sex partner will also need to be tested for the virus. PreventionTo lower the risk of this problem:
RESOURCES:American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists http://www.acog.org International Herpes Alliance http://www.herpesalliance.org CANADIAN RESOURCES:Health Canada https://www.canada.ca Sex Information and Education Council of Canada http://www.sieccan.org References:Genital herpes. Healthy Women—National Women's Health Resource Center, Inc. website. Available at:
https://www.healthywomen.org/condition/genital-herpes/overview. Accessed October 15, 2020.
Genital herpes. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at:
https://www.dynamed.com/condition/genital-herpes
. Accessed October 15, 2020.
Herpes simplex: overview. American Academy of Dermatology website. Available at:
https://www.aad.org/public/diseases/a-z/herpes-simplex-overview. Accessed October 15, 2020. Workowski KA, Bolan GA, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Sexually transmitted diseases treatment guidelines, 2015. MMWR Recomm Rep. 2015 Jun 5;64(RR-03):1-137. Last reviewed September 2020 by
EBSCO Medical Review Board
Elliot M. Levine, MD, FACOG Last Updated: 10/15/2020 |
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