Recurrent genital herpes is most common in the first year after the initial infection and decreases as time goes on. In many cases, anti-herpes medicine can help patients. When a person experiences a prodrome and suspects a recurrence is going to happen, they begin taking anti-herpes medications that lessen symptoms and shorten the time of the outbreak.
Herpes can be spread when an infected person has lesions — blisters and open sores — on their body or when you do not have any symptoms. Taking antiviral medicine can help you reduce the risk of spreading genital herpes to your sexual partners. You can also:. Many new herpes infections occur from partners who are shedding the virus asymptomatically, so condoms are highly recommended.
Condoms may not be an attractive option for monogamous couples or for couples who desire to become pregnant. Couples may opt to have serological tests to determine if either partner has an asymptomatic infection. In close monogamous relationships, the risks of transmission can be weighed against other relationship issues, such as intimacy and pregnancy. Genital herpes cannot be transmitted to another part of your body such as your arm, leg or hand after the first infection occurs.
The immune system produces antibodies that protect other parts of your body from infection. However, there are cases where a person has multiple site infections from the same virus.
This is usually acquired at the time of the first infection. For example, if someone has never had herpes but then has oral and genital sex with an infected partner, they can acquire the infection at both sites. Yes: Genital herpes types I or II can be transmitted by oral sex. Cold sores are usually caused by HSV I. If you have blisters in your genital region, your physician can order a test to determine if you have genital herpes.
Your physician may take a sample of cells from the fluid inside the blister or order a blood test. Not necessarily. Although lesions can be caused by something other than herpes, false negative herpes tests can occur if the samples are not taken appropriately, if there is a long transport time between the clinic and the laboratory, or if cultures were taken late in the course of the lesions.
Lesions that occur early in the course of a herpes outbreak are much more likely to have positive cultures than cultures taken after the lesions crust over. Your physician can prescribe different medications to help reduce your symptoms and speed up the healing of an outbreak.
These medicines work best when you start them soon after an outbreak occurs. Let your physician know if you are worried about your genital herpes. He or she can recommend a support group to help you cope with the virus. This is an option for couples who are interested in having unprotected sex or who are planning to become pregnant.
If you are entering into a new relationship and are aware that you have herpes simplex infection, you owe it to your partner to notify them before having sex.
One or two? What to do if you think you have herpes Click here to book an appointment at Innovative Express Care. Photo Source: Gabriel Herrera. Share this:. After the initial infection, they will lie dormant in your system until something triggers them to reactivate. HSV-1 lies dormant in nerve cells near the base of the neck, and when outbreaks occur, will most often appear on the face or neck.
HSV-2, meanwhile, lies dormant in nerve cells near the base of the spine, and when outbreaks occur usually appears around the buttocks and genitals. An HSV-1 or HSV-2 outbreak can be triggered by a range of things — from over-exposure to the sun, another illness, HIV, having sex or even a strong emotional state such as grief.
The virus will then replicate and travel along the nerve pathways to the skin and carriers will experience an outbreak. And in either case, the Human Simplex Virus is a highly manageable condition. With an efficient herpes treatment , outbreaks can be easily and quickly brought under control. That said, despite genital herpes carrying more social stigma and outbreaks happening more often, HSV-1 is potentially more dangerous.
On the other hand, HSV-2 has less risk of serious complications, although pregnant women with genital herpes should talk to their gynaecologist. There is a small chance of transmitting the disease to the child — a dangerous infection for newborns known as neonatal herpes. No, unless they are having an outbreak, it is not possible to tell for sure whether someone has herpes just by looking. Once you get herpes, you will have it for life unless a cure is discovered in future.
However, as noted above, this is a highly manageable condition. There are many treatments for herpes which reduce the pain and make sure your outbreaks clear up fast so you get on with living your life. Genital herpes is a very common kind of sexually transmitted infection - there are around…. Health Centre Your guide to a healthier lifestyle.
Article by Dr Clare Morrison. There are some situations where herpes blood tests can be useful, says the CDC:. With HSV-1, recurrent outbreaks are much less likely, and if they do occur are likely to be much more widely spaced. In contrast, an infection with HSV-2 that produces symptoms often leads to outbreaks about four to five times each year. Also a person with HSV-2 is more contagious during symptom-free periods.
Remember, though, while a herpes blood test can help determine if you have herpes infection, the test cannot tell you who gave you the infection. By subscribing you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
References Wald A, Link K. Journal of Infectious Diseases. January 1, Influence of Site of Infection and Viral Type. New England Journal of Medicine. June 4, Sources Herpes Simplex Virus.
0コメント