Transmission of genital herpes
Genital herpes, caused by the herpes simplex type 1 and type 2 viruses, is a very common sexually transmitted disease (STD). Any person who is sexually active is at risk of getting herpes. In fact, most people with the virus are asymptomatic. Nevertheless, even without symptoms, the disease can still be spread between sexual partners.
Herpes is spread when someone has vaginal, anal, or oral sex with another person who has the disease. Generally, contact with the fluid in the sores can cause the infection. However, an individual can still get herpes from someone who is infected, even if the person does not have a visible sore [1]. This is because the virus can be released through the skin.
Signs and symptoms of genital herpes
Symptoms of herpes can be nonexistent or very mild. Sometimes this means that symptoms are mistaken for something else. Because of this, many people do not know they have herpes. When symptoms do occur, they usually show as sores that look like blisters on or around the genitals, rectum, or mouth. After the blisters break, they leave painful sores that can take weeks to heal.
A person with herpes can have genital ulcers and develop lesions in other areas such as buttocks, groin, fingers, or eye. Herpes can also cause some rare but serious complications. They include:
- Blindness
- Encephalitis (inflammation of the brain)
- Aseptic meningitis (inflammation of the brain linings)
Ways to prevent herpes transmission
Avoiding vaginal, anal, or oral sex or being in an exclusive monogamous relationship with someone who has tested negative are the only ways to truly prevent getting herpes [2]. Use of condoms with every sexual encounter can help protect a person, but the virus can be present in areas of contact that are not covered by condoms.
Treatment for herpes
There is no cure for herpes [1]. Treatment with prescription antiviral medications may:
- Help sores heal sooner during an initial outbreak
- Lessen the severity and duration of symptoms in recurrent outbreaks
- Reduce the frequency of recurrence
- Minimise the chance of transmitting the herpes virus to another
Antiviral medications used for genital herpes include:
- Acyclovir (Zovirax)
- Valacyclovir (Valtrex)
Research is being done on a vaccine but currently, nothing is available.
References:
1. STD Facts - Genital Herpes. Published 2019. Accessed December 20, 2019.
2. hhs.gov. Genital Herpes. HHS.gov. Published April 2, 2019. Accessed December 20, 2019.
