Genital herpes

Overview

A sexually transmitted infection (STI) that is frequently contracted is genital herpes. Herpes simplex virus (HSV) infection leads to genital herpes. Skin–to–skin contact during sexual activity is a common way for genital herpes to spread. 

Certain individuals who contract the virus might experience extremely mild symptoms or even remain asymptomatic. They are still capable of spreading the disease. Others have oral, vaginal, or anal pain, itching, and blisters.

Genital herpes has no known treatment. After the initial outbreak, symptoms frequently return. Taking medicine can reduce symptoms. Additionally, it reduces the chance of spreading infection. The spread of genital herpes can be halted with the use of condoms.

Symptoms

Most HSV carriers are unaware of their infection. They could have no symptoms at all or just very minor ones.

Within two to twelve days of viral exposure, symptoms appear. They may consist of:

• Itching or discomfort near the genitalia
• Painful sores develop when blisters break open and discharge or bleed.
• Tiny bumps or blisters near the mouth, genitalia, or anus
• Scabs that appear when the ulcers recover
• Vaginal discharge
• Urethral discharge
• Urination has become painful

You might frequently have flu–like symptoms during the initial outbreak, such as:

• Groin lymph node swelling
• Fever
• Body pain
• Headache

Symptoms in various location

Where the pathogen first enters the body, sores develop. By touching a sore and then rubbing or scratching another part of your body, you can transfer the illness. Your fingers and eyes are included in this.

Sores can appear on or in the mouth, penis, scrotum, vagina, cervix, vulva, urethra, anus, rectum, buttocks, or thighs.

Recurrent outbreaks

After genital herpes first flares up, symptoms frequently return. Recurrent outbreaks or recurrent episodes are what these are known as.

The frequency of repeated breakouts varies greatly. Most outbreaks often occur in the first year following infection. Over time, they might arise less frequently. Typically, your symptoms during subsequent outbreaks don’t stay as long or aren’t as bad as they were during the initial attack.

A few hours or days before a new outbreak begins, you might notice warning symptoms. The prodromal symptoms are those. They consist of:

• Pain in the genital organs
• Leg, hip, or buttock tingling or shooting pain

Consult your doctor if you think you may have genital herpes or another STI.

Causes

There are two distinct herpes simplex virus types that cause genital herpes. Herpes Simplex Virus type 2 (HSV–2) and Herpes Simplex Virus type 1 (HSV–1) are two examples of these varieties. Even if they don’t show any symptoms, people with HSV infections can still transmit the virus to others.

HSV-2

The most frequent cause of genital herpes is HSV–2. There may be the virus:

• On blisters, ulcers, or the fluid that comes from an ulcer
• The moist inner lining or fluid contents of the mouth
• The moist inner lining or fluid contents of the vagina or rectum

During sex, the virus spreads from one person to another.

HSV-1

The virus that causes cold sores or fever blisters is known as HSV–1. Children may expose to HSV–1 through close skin–to–skin contact with an infected person.

During oral sex, a person who has HSV–1 in their mouth tissues can spread the virus to their partner’s genitalia. Genital herpes is the newly acquired infection.

HSV–1–related genital herpes outbreaks tend to occur less frequently than HSV–2–related outbreaks.

HSV–1 and HSV–2 do not thrive at room temperature. So it’s unlikely that the virus will spread via surfaces like a towel or a faucet handle. However, sharing a drink or piece of silverware or kissing could spread the infection.

Risk factors

Incidences of genital herpes are associated with:

• Sexual contact that is oral, vaginal, or anal. Your risk of contracting genital herpes rises when you engage in sexual activity without a barrier. Barriers include condoms and dental dams, which are condom–like protection worn during oral intercourse. Genital herpes is more likely to affect women. Men can spread the virus more quickly to women than women can to men.
• Multiple sexual partners. The quantity of partners with whom you have sex is a significant risk factor. You have a larger risk if you have sex or engage in sexual activities. The majority of genital herpes patients are unaware of their condition.
• Having a partner with the condition who refuses to take medication to treat it. Although there is no treatment for genital herpes, medications can assist to reduce outbreaks.
• Specific groups of people. Genital herpes is more frequently diagnosed in women, those with a history of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), older people, Black Americans, and males who have sex with other men than in the general population. People in high–risk categories may decide to discuss their individual risk with a doctor.
• History of sexually transmitted disease in the past.
• Decreased immunity.