NORTH COAST WOMEN’S HEALTH
707-443-3557 Barbara
Marchi, N.P.
GENITAL HERPES
What is genital herpes?
Herpes is a sexually transmitted
disease (STD) caused by the herpes simplex viruses type 1 (HSV-1) and type 2
(HSV-2). Most individuals have no or
only minimal signs or symptoms from HSV-1 or HSV-2 infection. When signs do occur, they typically appear as
one or more blisters on or around the genitals or rectum. The blisters break, leaving tender ulcers
(sores) that may take two to four weeks to heal the first time they occur. Typically, another outbreak can appear weeks
or months after the first, but it almost always is less severe and shorter than
the first episode. Although the
infection can stay in the body indefinitely, the number of outbreaks tends to
go down over a period of years.
How is genital herpes spread?
HSV-1 and HSV-2 can be found and
released from the sores that the viruses cause, but they also are released
between episodes from skin that does not appear to be broken or to have a
sore. A person almost always gets HSV-2
infection during sexual contact with someone who has a genital HSV-2
infection. HSV-1 causes infections of
the mouth and lips, so-called “fever blisters.”
A person can get HSV-1 by coming into contact with
saliva of an infected person.
HSV-1 infection of the genitals almost always is caused by oral-genital
sexual contact with a person who has the oral HSV-1 infection.
How common is genital herpes?
Results of a recent, nationally
representative study show that genital herpes infection is common in the
HSV-2 infection is more common
in women (approximately one out of four women) than in men (almost one out of
five). This may be due to male-to-female
trasmission being more efficient than female-to-male transmission
Since the late 1970s, the number
of Americans with genital herpes infection has increased 30%. The largest increase is currently occurring
in young white teens. HSV-2 infection is
now five times more common in 12- to 19-year-old whites, and it is twice as
common in young adults ages 20 to 29 than it was 20 years ago.
Is genital herpes serious?
HSV-2 usually produces only mild
symptoms or signs or not symptoms at all.
However, HSV-2 can cause recurrent painful genital sores in many adults,
and HSV-2 infection can be severe in people with suppressed immune
systems. Regardless of severity of
symptoms, genital herpes frequently causes psychological distress in people who
know they are infected.
In addition, HSV-2 can cause
potentially fatal infections in infants if the mother is shedding virus at the
time of delivery. It is important that
women avoid contracting herpes during pregnancy because a first episode during
pregnancy causes a greater risk of transmission to the newborn. If a woman has active genital herpes at
delivery, a cesarian delivery is usually performed. Fortunately, infection of an infant from
women with HSV-2 infection is rare.
In the
What happens when someone is infected with genital herpes?
Most people infected with HSV-2
are not aware of their infection.
However, if signs and symptoms occur during the first episode, they can
be quite pronounced. The first episode
usually occurs within two weeks after the virus is transmitted, and the sores
typically heal within two to four weeks.
Other signs and symptoms during the primary episode may include a second
crop of sores, or flu-like symptoms, including fever and swollen glands. However, most individuals with HSV-2
infection may never have sores, or they may have very mild signs that they
don’t even notice or that they mistake for insect bites or a rash.
Most people diagnosed with a
first episode of genital herpes can expect to have several symptomatic
recurrences a year (typically
How is genital herpes diagnosed?
The signs and symptoms
associated with HSV-2 can vary greatly.
Health care providers can diagnose genital herpes by visual inspection
if the outbreak is typical, and by taking a sample from the sore(s). HSV infections can be difficult to diagnose
between outbreaks. Blood tests which
detect HSV-1 or HSV-2 infection may be helpful, although the results are not
always clear cut.
Is there a cure for herpes?
There is no treatment that can
cure herpes, but antiviral medications can shorten and prevent outbreaks during
the period of time the person takes the medication.
How can people protect themselves against infection?
The consistent and correct use
of latex condoms can help protect against infection. However, condoms do not provide complete
protection because the condom may not cover the herpes sore(s), and viral
shedding may nevertheless occur. If
either you or your partner have genital herpes, it is best to abstain from sex
when symptoms or signs are present, and to use latex condoms between outbreaks.
Fact sheet
information taken off the Centers for Disease Control web site www.cdc.gov.