What Is Genital Herpes?

The herpes simplex virus causes genital herpes, which is a common sexually transmitted infection. The virus is carried primarily through sexual contact and can remain dormant in your body after the initial infection and can be reawakened multiple times a year. Pain, itching, and lesions in the vaginal area are all symptoms of genital herpes, however, it is possible that you won’t show any symptoms of genital herpes. Even if you don’t have any visible sores, you can still be contagious if you’re infected.

Teenagers and adults of all genders and races are affected by genital herpes. If you have numerous sexual partners and don’t use condoms, it can spread. Women are more vulnerable to genital herpes. Delicate vaginal tissue can tear, allowing an infection to enter more easily. Women of color are particularly vulnerable. HSV-2, the virus that causes genital herpes, is infected in one out of every two African-American women between the ages of 14 and 49. Although there is no cure for genital herpes, drugs can help to alleviate symptoms and minimize the risk of spreading the virus to others. Condoms can also help to prevent the spread of genital herpes.

Types of Herpes Virus

Herpes is a family of viruses that can be spread from person to person. Blisters and sores are the results of all of these viruses. Herpes simplex viruses are latent, which means they can remain dormant in the body without generating symptoms. The virus enters the nerve roots after the initial infection and spreads to the sensory nerve ganglia, which are the junctions where nerves from different areas of the body meet. The ganglia in the vaginal area are located next to the spinal cord in the lower back. The ganglia for orofacial herpes (cold sores) reside behind the cheekbone. Herpes viruses include the following:

• Type 1 HSV-1, or oral herpes: This can cause cold sores to appear on the lips, gums, tongue, and inside the mouth. In certain people, it can lead to genital herpes. This virus can spread through kissing, sharing toothbrushes, lipstick, or other dining utensils, because the virus is mainly spread by saliva.
• HSV-2: This causes genital herpes as well.
• Herpes zoster: Chickenpox and shingles are all a result of Herpes zoster.

Symptoms of Genital Herpes

When people are first infected with the herpes virus, they often have no symptoms. If symptoms arise, they normally take two to twelve days to appear, following contact. Symptoms may not appear for months, or even years, after a person has been exposed to the virus. The herpes virus remains in your body once you’ve contracted it. It can go dormant for a long time, but it can revive in the same region where it was first infected. Sores and blisters may recur if the infection reactivates known as the ‘recurrent episode’ of genital herpes. The first genital herpes bout can last anywhere from two to four weeks. Repeated episodes are rarely as severe or as long as the first, and you may never experience another. Some the symptoms include:

• Itching or pain: Until the infection is cleared, you may suffer pain and tenderness in your vaginal area.
• Small red lumps or white blisters on the skin: These can emerge anywhere from a few days to a few weeks after you’ve been infected.
• Ulcers: When blisters rupture and ooze or bleed, they can form. Urination might be painful if you have ulcers.
• Scabs: As ulcers heal, the skin will crust over and develop scabs.
• Pain in the vaginal canal, the head of the penis, or the back passage (rectum)
  discharge from the uterus
• Having difficulty peeing or not being able to pee
• Fever
• Symptoms of the flu, backache, headache, and a temperature
• Lymph glands in the groin, armpits, and neck swell slightly

Complications of Genital Herpes

In people with weakened immune systems, such as HIV-positive people, genital herpes can produce painful genital ulcers that can last for months. Both HSV-1 and HSV-2 can cause aseptic meningitis, a rare but severe complication. During the course of infection, extragenital lesions (e.g., buttocks, groin, thigh, finger, or eye) may develop.

• Infections that are Sexually Transmitted: If you have genital sores, you’re more likely to spread or get other sexually transmitted infections, such as AIDS.
• Infection in a Newborn: Viruses can infect babies born to infected moms during the childbirth process. The newborn may suffer brain damage, blindness, or death as a result of this.
• Meningitis: HSV infection can cause inflammation of the membranes and cerebrospinal fluid around your brain and spinal cord in rare cases.
• Inflammation of the Rectal Cavity (proctitis): Inflammation of the rectum lining can result from genital herpes, especially in males who have sex with other men.
• Bladder Issues: Inflammation around the tube that transports urine from your bladder to the outside world might occur in some circumstances as a result of genital herpes blisters (urethra). For several days, the swelling can shut the urethra, necessitating the placement of a catheter to drain your bladder

How to Treat Genital Herpes

Genital herpes has no known cure. Prescription antiviral drugs like Acyclovir (Zovirax) and Valacyclovir (Valtrex) can help with:

• Healing of sores during the outbreak
• Reducing recurrence frequency
• Reducing the risk of spreading the herpes virus to others
• Reducing the severity and duration of symptoms in recurring outbreaks

Coping Strategies for People Living with Genital Herpes

Discovering that you have genital herpes can leave you feeling embarrassed, ashamed, and angry, among other feelings. If you believe your spouse infected you, you may be skeptical or angry with him or her. You can be afraid of being rejected by your current or future companions. What you’re experiencing is perfectly normal. Here are some good coping strategies for genital herpes:

Communicate with your Spouse

Be open and honest with yourself about how you’re feeling. Trust your companion and pay attention to what he or she says. Don’t place blame on anyone. Because genital herpes can remain dormant in your body for years, determining when you were infected can be challenging.

Make an Effort to Educate yourself

Consult your doctor or a counselor to learn how to cope with your illness and reduce your risk of infecting others. Discover your treatment options and how to deal with breakouts.

Become a Member of a Support Group

Find a local or online support group where you may talk about your thoughts and learn from others’ experiences.

How to Prevent Genital Herpes

Because herpes virus shedding can occur in locations not covered by a condom, proper and consistent use of latex condoms can minimize, but not eliminate, the risk of transmitting or contracting genital herpes. The best strategies to avoid transmission of STDs, including genital herpes, are to avoid sexual contact or to be in a long-term mutually monogamous relationship with a partner who has been tested for STDs and is known to be uninfected. When herpes lesions or other viral symptoms are present, people with herpes should avoid sexual activity with their partners. It’s vital to remember that even if a person is symptom-free, he or she can still infect sex partners. Infected persons’ sex partners should be informed that they may become infected and should use condoms to limit the risk of infection. Sex partners might have HSV testing done to see if they are infected.

Now that you Know…

Every time you have sexual contact with someone, you should practice safer sex and use condoms or another barrier device. This will help prevent cases of genital herpes and the spread of other STIs. There is now no cure for genital herpes, but experts are working on one in the future. In the meanwhile, the condition can be controlled with medicine. Until something sparks an outbreak, the disease remains latent within your body. When you’re anxious, unwell, or sleepy, you’re more likely to have an outbreak.
Your doctor can assist you in developing a treatment strategy to help you manage your outbreaks.