Symptoms, Diagnosis, and Prevention of Genital Herpes

Types of Herpes Simplex Virus

There are two different types of HSV: HSV1 and HSV2, which account for Oral Herpes and Genital Herpes, respectively. Infections of HSV1 commonly produce cold sores or blisters around the area of the mouth; however, HSV2 is usually associated with herpes in the genital region. Still, it should be underlined that both the above types can cause oral and genital herpes.

Prevalence of Genital Herpes

The question is, how common is genital herpes? According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than one in six people, aged 14 to 49 years, have genital herpes in the United States, making the infection among the most common sexually transmitted infections. However, it is also alarming to know that 80 percent of people are still unaware of their infection. Approximately 776,000 new cases in the U.S are annually reported.

According to the World Health Organization, HSV-1 is estimated to infect nearly 67% of the global population under age 50, and many of those infected are unconcerned about their infections. Surprisingly, the Herpes Simplex Virus seems to affect women more than men. HSV1 or HSV2 is more likely to be transmitted from men to women compared to vice-versa.

How Is Genital Herpes Transmitted?

The modes of transmission of genital herpes are primarily from direct person-to-person contact. The risks include oral, anal, or vaginal sex with anyone who has genital herpes and the act of kissing someone with cold sores since this can spread labial herpes. Infections are often more likely to transmit to female partners from male sex partners and are even more potent when no symptoms are visible.

The virus can gain entry through microscopic abrasions in the skin and mucous membrane during any type of sexual exposure to an infected person. Although contact with a cold sore on the lips and the saliva of an infected person can lead to infection, herpes cannot spread, as many people believe it does, through bed sheets, swimming pools, towels, soaps, or any other touchable inanimate objects.

Risk Factors Associated with Genital Herpes

Following are some of the factors, which can increase the risk of getting genital herpes:

• Sharing a kiss with a person infected with the virus
• Practicing sex without any protection
• Exposure to cold sores and ulcers
• Weakened immune system
• Presence of an underlying medical condition that ultimately results in immunodeficiency
• Smoking, excessive utilization of alcohol, and abuse of drugs

Identifying the Symptoms of Genital Herpes

Genital herpes is a sexually transmitted infection by the herpes simplex virus, normally presenting similar symptoms in men and women. It usually presents symptoms of redness around genitals, itching, or tingling sensation, small blisters that convert into painful genital sores, painful urination on the infected genital sores, back pain, inflammation of anus and rectum, flu-like symptoms, and a scab formation over healing ulcers.

However, not all the symptoms are specific to herpes in the genital regions, and such symptoms can also be produced by other medical ailments such as infections of the bladder or yeast infection. Hence, the right diagnosis to such symptoms is testing for the Herpes Virus.

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Places of Occurrence of Genital Herpes Sores

Sores can occur in both men and women around the mouth, buttocks, anus, and thighs. Sores can also appear on a woman's cervix and externally on the genitals and vaginal area. On men, sores can show up very distinctly on or around the scrotum or penis.

Incubation Period and Outbreaks of Genital Herpes

The incubation period of genital herpes averages four days with symptoms showing up between two to twelve days post-exposure. The virus always remains latent in an inactive state in tissue associated with nerves near the initial site of infection, and from time to time, it can reactivate on the skin, leading to recurrence of the disease. Recurrences are often less painful and of shorter duration compared to the initially outbreak.

Recurrence of Genital Herpes Outbreaks

Recurrence of genital herpes or cold sores may be due to immune deficiency or a breakdown in immune function. Stress and different emotional conditions, along with other medication, may also provoke an outbreak of herpes virus that had previously lain dormant. However, once you are diagnosed with the herpes virus, it is essential that you tell your sexual partner because prevention is always superior to cure.

Who Treats Genital Herpes?

Care Providers are usually primary health care providers, pediatricians among adolescents, internal medicine and family medicine specialist in adults. Women usually consult their gynecologists. In special cases, an infection disease specialist and urologist may be sought.

Genital Herpes Vaccines

However, despite successful creations in animal models, human trials are still lacking. Thus, we have to wait for effective herpes vaccines to be developed for use in humans.

Diagnosis of Genital Herpes

Genital herpes is tested for by the following methods: Herpes-2 Home Test Kit, Direct Fluorescent Antibody test, Enzyme-linked virus-inducible system, and DNA polymerase chain reaction. The type of test to be given may be based upon your personal preference and the nature of your symptoms.

How to Get Tested for Genital Herpes?

Testing is necessary to confirm a herpes infection. Testing can be at a local clinic, hospital, or at home using the home test kit known as the Herpes home test kit, which provides privacy and time-saving. The best advice, if you think that you are suffering from genital herpes, is to consult your doctor and to get tested.