About Genital Herpes

Genital herpes is the most common sexually transmitted disease (STD), affecting approximately 50 million people in the United States alone. It is usually spread through sexual intercourse or oral sex, although skin-to-skin contact may also spread genital herpes.

Most cases of genital herpes are caused by HSV-2, but HSV-1 can also cause genital herpes through oral sex. The genital sores caused by HSV-2 and HSV-1 look exactly the same.

Genital herpes appears as small blisters on or around the genitals or buttocks. The sores may be painless, slightly tender, or painful. In men, the sores usually appear on the penis. In women, the sores usually appear on the outside of the vagina, but they can occur inside the vagina, where they may cause discomfort or vaginal discharge but cannot be seen except during a medical examination.

Outbreaks of genital herpes may be accompanied by fever, muscle aches, fatigue, pain, vaginal discharge, or painful urination. These symptoms are more common during the first outbreak, and the first episode is also typically the most painful.

As with oral herpes, most people with genital herpes feel a tingling or burning sensation at the site of infection before sores appear; this is due to inflammation of nerves leading to the infected area of skin.

Genital herpes is spreading at an alarming rate. Many infected individuals do not even realize that they have it. If you suspect that you may have genital herpes, see your doctor as soon as possible. Otherwise, you may unknowingly spread the disease to a loved one. Remember, you can transmit the virus even when no symptoms are present.

During an outbreak of genital herpes, you should avoid all sexual contact. Even the use of a condom may not prevent transmission of the virus, as the condom may not cover all of your active sores. During the latent phase of the virus, always use a condom to reduce the chance of transmission. Your doctor may also give you antiviral medications that can reduce the chance of transmission.

If left untreated, genital herpes may lead to complications such as liver damage and increased risk of cervical cancer. It can also be passed from mother to child during pregnancy, which increases the risk of blindness and brain damage for the newborn.