Frequently Asked Questionsexpand All
People with HSV-2 infection have an increased risk of getting human immunodeficiency virus if they have sex with an HIV-infected partner. Taking suppressive therapy does not decrease this risk.
If a woman is pregnant and infected with HSV, it can be passed to the fetus during birth while passing through the womans infected birth canal. This is most likely to occur if a woman first becomes infected with HSV during pregnancy and in a woman who has her first outbreak late in pregnancy. But it also can occur during a recurrent outbreak in a woman who was infected before pregnancy, although the risk is much lower.
If you have sores or warning signs of an outbreak at the time of delivery, you may need to have a cesarean delivery to reduce chance of infection. The decision depends on many factors, including where the sores are on your body and whether the fetus would come into contact with them during delivery.
Yes, in most cases. The herpes virus cannot be passed to a baby through breast milk. However, the baby could get infected by touching a sore on your body. Make sure any sores that the baby could come into contact with are covered when you hold your baby or while breastfeeding. Wash your hands with soap and water before and after feeding your baby. If you have sores on your breast, you should not breastfeed your baby from that breast.
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Its Probably: A Fungal Infection
If youve ever picked up athletes foot from your gyms locker room, youve seen this fungus beforeand, yeah, it can show up on your butt, too.
It thrives in hot, humid environments, so working out in the summer increases your risk, says Dr. Zeichner. He recommends treating the rash ASAP with an athletes foot cream, so it doesnt spread apply it twice a day for one to two weeks and see your doctor if it doesnt go away.
How Does Genital Herpes Occur
Genital herpes virus spreads through sexual contact. This occurs even if the person carrying the virus does not have symptoms or show signs of infection.
Once the virus enters through the skin, it travels along nerve paths. The first outbreak of genital herpes may appear as early as two days after you have contracted the virus, or even after 30 days.
The virus may also become dormant in the nerves and remain inactive there indefinitely.
In some patients, the virus may become active from time to time. Active viruses travel back along the nerve path to the surface of the skin, where some viruses are shed. When viruses are shed, in some cases there usually is an outbreak of symptoms such as the appearance of sores and blisters, while in others the condition may remain undetected.In either case, since the virus is active it easily passes from one partner to another during sexual contact. A condom may also not be able to protect the uninfected partner, since the virus may be on a part of the skin which is uncovered.
The herpes simplex virus cannot survive outside the body, therefore, its nearly impossible to contract the infection through contact with toilets, towels or other objects used by an infected person.
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How Does Genital Herpes Affect A Pregnant Woman And Her Baby
Neonatal herpes is one of the most serious complications of genital herpes.5,16 Healthcare providers should ask all pregnant women if they have a history of genital herpes.11 Herpes infection can be passed from mother to child during pregnancy or childbirth, or babies may be infected shortly after birth, resulting in a potentially fatal neonatal herpes infection. 17 Infants born to women who acquire genital herpes close to the time of delivery and are shedding virus at delivery are at a much higher risk for developing neonatal herpes, compared with women who have recurrent genital herpes . 16,18-20 Thus, it is important that women avoid contracting herpes during pregnancy. Women should be counseled to abstain from intercourse during the third trimester with partners known to have or suspected of having genital herpes. 5,11
How Does Genital Herpes Affect Pregnancy
Genital herpes doesnt affect fertility or your ability to conceive. Pregnant women with a diagnosis of herpes genitalis are recommended to start a daily antiviral at 36 weeks of pregnancy to prevent outbreaks during time of delivery. If you have an active infection at the time of childbirth, you can pass the herpes virus to your baby. Neonatal herpes puts a baby at risk for blindness, brain damage, skin infections and death. Your healthcare provider will perform a cesarean section to lower this risk.
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What About Chlamydia The Most Common Std
Chlamydia is caused by bacteria, whereas herpes is caused by a virus. This is why chlamydia is easily treated and cured with antibiotics. However, many people have chlamydia and dont know it because they don’t have any symptoms. That’s why people who are at higher risk of chlamydia, including sexually active young women and men who have sex with other men, are advised to get a test for chlamydia every year.
If you don’t treat chlamydia, it can increase the chances of both men and women getting or giving HIV and AIDS, according to Medline Plus. Untreated chlamydia can also cause serious pelvic inflammatory disease in women, which can lead to infertility, and in men it can spread to the testicles and the tube that carries sperm, causing inflammation.
Screening for chlamydia is usually done by taking a urine sample or a swab from your genitals. Results of these tests are usually found quickly. Different testing methods are used for infections of the rectum and throat, and these take more time.
While the only way to completely avoid getting chlamydia or herpes is to not have sex, you can reduce your chances of getting both by being in a long-term, mutually monogamous relationship with a partner who is not infected with an STD and by using latex condoms every time you have sex.
I Had Lesions When I Was Evaluated But My Culture Was Negative Does This Mean That I Dont Have Herpes
Not necessarily. Although lesions can be caused by something other than herpes, false negative herpes tests can occur if the samples are not taken appropriately, if there is a long transport time between the clinic and the laboratory, or if cultures were taken late in the course of the lesions. Lesions that occur early in the course of a herpes outbreak are much more likely to have positive cultures than cultures taken after the lesions crust over.
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How To Cope After Diagnosis
Many posters were occupied with the issue of passing on the infection. Yolandayw points out that you can minimise the risk of transmission by postponing sex until all the sores have healed. She also mentioned that condoms should be used. They wont completely prevent transmission but they will help.
Ending on a positive note, many posters emphasised that there was light at the end of the tunnel. Learning of the diagnosis may feel stressful at first, but its a manageable condition and certainly nothing to be ashamed of. Lucy03934 has had genital herpes for 25 years. Shes been married for 18 years and has two sons living proof that there is life after herpes.
How Do You Know For Sure
If the nature, location, and other characteristics of your sores are not enough for you to draw a confident conclusion, medical testing is the only way to have a definitive answer. This can mean any one of the following tests:
- Laboratory testing : A swab of the fluid sample from the blister is obtained within 48 hours of the appearance of the first symptoms to test for the viral culture.
- Blood Test : Conducted a couple of weeks after the initial symptoms, this searches for any antibodies produced against HSV-1 or HSV-2.
- Polymerase Chain Reaction : The most expensive of all, it looks for HSVs genetic material
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Intertrigo Rash Between Buttock Cheeks
This is a rash described as an inflammatory condition affecting areas of the skin folds. It is common throughout the life. Areas likely to be affected include the armpits, under the breasts, genitals and abdomen. It can also occur where the skin folds rub together and trap moisture. Kids suffer intertrigo as diaper rash. Inner thigh, groins and between buttock cheeks are other areas likely to be affected.
Heat, moisture, lack of air circulation and friction between skin folds are the causes of intertrigo rash. Be sure to visit our doctor if the symptoms get worse. Topical steroids are recommended to reduce inflammation. Antifungal or antibiotic creams or ointment may be used if the area is infected.
Rash On Buttock Symptoms
Mild rash will not give visible symptoms, however, if the symptoms are present, then they will vary depending on the underlying cause. It is also possible for different people to exhibit different symptoms depending on how strong their immune system is. Immune system is the body defense system against infection caused by bacteria and virus.
The following are some of the symptoms experienced by people with rash on buttock.
- The buttock crack may become dry, scaly and cracked
- Buttock and genital area become reddish
- The rash may be itchy and painful
- Blood blister may appear on the buttock crack
- Pus filled bumps may be seen around the buttock
Depending on the cause of the rash and how strong the immune system is, some people may develop cold like symptoms such as cough, joint paints, sore throats, running nose and headaches. You need to seek immediate medical attention when your body start developing the following symptoms
- Difficulties in breathing
- Joint and muscles pain
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How To Get Rid Of Herpes Symptoms Naturally
Herpes is one of the most common sexually transmitted diseases , prompting many to wonder how to get rid of herpes naturally.
The herpes virus can live dormant inside a persons immune system for a lifetime, periodically causing blisters that burst and turn into open cold sores or ulcers before healing. When left alone, herpes cold sores usually last about 1014 days and are uncomfortable for a variety of reasons causing redness, pain, burning and often embarrassment.
Many people wonder if there is a natural cure for herpes or are looking for ways on how to get rid of herpes for good. While technically the virus that causes herpes is not curable, there are many natural herpes remedies that can put herpes into remission. In fact, many people with herpes dont experience any symptoms at all, especially long term, once they learn to manage triggers of outbreaks. So while theres no guide for how to get rid of herpes naturally, there is a method for how to get rid of herpes symptoms the natural way and keep breakouts at bay.
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Fungal And Yeast Rash On Buttocks
Fungal infection of the groin area also known as jock itch is the other possible cause of rash on buttock. This is caused when the fundus on the surface grow due to the wet and dirty enabling environment. As the fundus enter the supratidal layer of the skin, it cause the skin to develop rash, sores, red and flaky patches that are itchy and painful.
With fungal and yeast infection, you do not need to be hospitalized. Your doctor will prescribe drying agents and anti-fungal creams and lotion. For severe symptoms, oral medication may be used.
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Risk For Genital Herpes
According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention , about 1 in 6 Americans ages 14 to 49 years have genital herpes. While HSV-2 remains the main cause of genital herpes, HSV-1 has significantly increased as a cause, most likely because of oral-genital sex. Except for people in monogamous relationships with uninfected partners, everyone who is sexually active is at risk for genital herpes.
Risk factors for genital herpes include:
- History of an STD
- First sexual intercourse at an early age
- High number of sexual partners
- Low socioeconomic status
Women are more susceptible to HSV-2 infection because herpes is more easily transmitted from men to women than from women to men. About 1 in 5 women, compared to 1 in 9 men, have genital herpes. African-American women are at particularly high risk.
People with compromised immune systems, such as those who have HIV, are at very high risk for genital herpes. These people are also at risk for more severe complications from herpes. Drugs that suppress the immune system, and organ transplantation, can also weaken the immune system and increase the risk for contracting genital herpes.
Simple Treatments For The Relief Of Discomfort
- Wear loose underclothes, preferably cotton , to help minimise discomfort and allow healing.
- Use plain water or saline solution with cotton wool to clean and soothe the area. To make a saline solution, use 1 teaspoon of salt in 600ml of water or a handful of salt in a shallow bath.
- Dont use scented soaps, bubble bath, etc in the area, as these may irritate it.
- Using a hairdryer on its lowest setting to dry the area may be more comfortable than using a towel.
- Pain relief medication such as paracetamol and ibuprofen may ease the pain. Check with your pharmacist or other health professional whether taking these is suitable for you.
- Ice wrapped in a face cloth or flannel and placed over the sores for 510 minutes may be soothing. Dont apply ice directly to the sores as this can cause ice burn.
- If you find peeing painful, try applying Vaseline® to the area or sitting in a warm bath before urinating or using a pump bottle full of water and spraying water on yourself while peeing.
- You can also try applying a pain relief cream such as lignocaine cream to the painful area. This is applied 5 minutes before peeing and should be used for a maximum of 12 days.
- Drink plenty of fluids as this dilutes your pee and may help reduce stinging.
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Treatment Of An Initial Outbreak
The first outbreak of genital herpes is usually much worse than recurrent outbreaks. Symptoms tend to be more severe and to last longer. Your provider will prescribe one of the three antiviral medications, which you will take for 7 to 10 days. If your symptoms persist, treatment may be extended. An acyclovir ointment may also be prescribed for topical treatment of initial genital herpes.
Symptoms Of Herpes Simplex Virus
Genital herpes might show minimal signs or form small blisters which break open and lead to small ulcers. They normally go away in 2 weeks to 1 month. Shooting or tingling pains might appear before these blisters happen.
Herpes might cycle between periods of active illness that is followed by menstruations with no signs.
The first herpes episode is frequently more serious and might be associated with headaches, fever, swollen lymph nodes as well as pains in the muscles. In time, most episodes of active illness reduce in severity or frequency.
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Treatment The First Time You Have Genital Herpes
You may be prescribed:
- antiviral medicine to stop the symptoms getting worse you need to start taking this within 5 days of the symptoms appearing
- cream for the pain
If you have had symptoms for more than 5 days before you go to a sexual health clinic, you can still get tested to find out the cause.
Red Bumps On Buttocks Std
Could the red bumps that appear on your buttocks be a sign or symptoms of an underlying sexually transmitted disease? When sexually active, you will not fail to notice different kind of infection in or around your genitals. A common infection if the urinary tract infection whose symptoms will include difficulties in passing out urine, severe pain while urinating and small amounts of urine in short urination duration.
So yes, we just cannot rule out STD as a possible cause of bumps that appear on the buttock. According to the American Sexual Health Association, the classic symptoms associated with a sexually transmitted condition like genital herpes is the appearance of sores, vesicles ulcers. These are lesions or eruptions of the skin. This infection could at times be accompanied with bumps that spread around the genital area and buttocks.
Genital herpes is caused by herpes simples virus type 1 or 2. One of this virus predominantly causes the symptoms to show around the genitals whereas the other cause oral herpes. On buttocks, he bumps may resemble a white pimple on skin. The bumps which could be boils or blisters will crust over to form scabs.
The appearance of these bumps on buttock or around the genital area is not a clear indication that one has HIV or any other STD. however, many other sexually transmitted infection could result in this kind of bumps on your buttock or around the genital area, and this could include infections such as herpes, syphilis or gonorrhea.
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