More Than Sores: The Symptoms Of Herpes 2
A large number of people find out that they have herpes when they notice sores on their genitals or rectum. The sores sometimes are just red open bumps, but most times they itch, burn, or are extremely painful. The severity of the discomfort can range from nearly nonexistent to severe.
Another set of symptoms that many people dont talk about are the emotional effects that herpes can have on you. Depression and anxiety have their own negative stigma so its no wonder that theyre not talked about. Herpes 2 has incorrectly become known as a virus that is contacted by very unhygienic or sexually active people. While its true that sexually active people are more likely to contract herpes, this is just a matter of statistics. Its just like saying people who run more often are more likely to experience leg cramps. But because of the false belief about herpes, many people beat themselves up when they learn that they have the virus. Its crucial to understand that many people have herpes and even more dont even know that they have it.
While the physical symptoms of herpes can be a clear indicator that the virus is present, there are many cases of herpes where its in the body but it doesnt present any symptoms. This makes it even easier for it to be transmitted, especially if the carrier doesnt know or have any reason to believe that they have HSV2.
Related :Why You Should Try a Natural Genital Herpes Cure Instead Of Medication
Do Condoms Help Prevent The Spread Of Genital Herpes
Yes. To prevent transmission of herpes, we recommend that condoms be used 100% of the time. Many patients will shed the virus and be contagious when they dont have symptoms. Studies have shown that asymptomatic shedding occurs between 1% and 3% of the time in patients with HSV II genital infections. Many new herpes infections occur from partners who are shedding the virus asymptomatically, so condoms are highly recommended.
Condoms may not be an attractive option for monogamous couples or for couples who desire to become pregnant. Couples may opt to have serological tests to determine if either partner has an asymptomatic infection. In close monogamous relationships, the risks of transmission can be weighed against other relationship issues, such as intimacy and pregnancy.
What Are The Complications Of Genital Herpes
Genital herpes may cause painful genital ulcers that can be severe and persistent in persons with suppressed immune systems, such as HIV-infected persons. 5 Both HSV-1 and HSV-2 can also cause rare but serious complications such as aseptic meningitis . 5 Development of extragenital lesions may occur during the course of infection. 5
There are also potential complications for a pregnant woman and her newborn child. See How does herpes infection affect a pregnant woman and her baby? below for information about this.
Read Also: What Medication For Genital Herpes
How To Get Rid Of Herpes Symptoms Naturally
By Joe Boland
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.
How Does Herpes Simplex Spread
Herpes spreads through close contact with a person who has the infection. The virus can be found in skin and saliva. If you have herpes simplex, you are most likely to pass the virus to another person when you have sores. But you can infect someone else even if you have no symptoms. Healthcare providers call this asymptomatic viral shedding.
People may get HSV-1 through
- Touching a persons skin near the mouth.
- Sharing food utensils, lip balm or razors.
- If you receive oral sex from someone who has a cold sore, it may spread a herpes infection to your genitals.
People may get HSV-2 through
- Oral sex with someone whos infected.
- Skin-to-skin contact without ejaculation.
- Touching open sores, including while breastfeeding.
- Childbirth by a mother or gestational parent who has an active infection.
You cant get genital herpes from objects like toilet seats. But you could pass genital herpes through shared sex toys.
Recommended Reading: How Do You Find Out If You Have Herpes
Types Of Antiviral Drugs
There are three oral antivirals recommended for the treatment of oral or genital herpes:
| Famvir, 250 mg | Twice daily |
Preventing genital herpes recurrence is important as it reduces the risk of HIV. According to the CDC, having an active genital herpes infection increases the risk of HIV by 200% to 300%.
Got Ulcers Get Tested
A person with genital ulcers should see his or her doctor. Its important to confirm whether or not it is herpes and if so, what type. Genital herpes outbreaks are treated with antiviral medications. These medications can help to reduce the number of days of discomfort and have few side effects. They are most effective when taken early in an outbreak. Some people take these drugs daily to prevent outbreaks.
Once someone has had a test that confirms either type of genital herpes, future partners can have a blood test which tells them if they already have been exposed to the same strain of virus. If the person tests negative, the partner with the infection would be advised to take antiviral therapy daily, in order to help prevent infecting his or her partner. Although daily antiviral therapy decreases the chances of spreading the virus, there is no guarantee, so its best to have a frank conversation with a new sexual partner.
You May Like: How To Prevent Herpes Transmission
Precautions To Minimize Risks Of Herpes
You are advised to only wear clothes that fit properly especially, avoid garments that have a tight fit. Wash your hands soon after touching a possibly infected surface. It is also not advised to engage in sexual acts when your partner has the signs and symptoms of herpes virus. However, if you happen to engage in sexual acts, ensure to wear protective aids â such as oral-dams, condoms, etc. Talk to your doctor if you experience pain during urination apply needful topical medicines or lotions to avert a likely spread of herpes virus.
You may also need to avoid stepping out directly under the sun this is because a direct exposure to hot weather conditions may enhance the infection levels. There is nothing to beat a bath taken in warm water. Last but not least, stay away from using soaps on areas where the signs are likely to show up.
In sum, herpes is a medical condition caused by herpes simplex virus. An infected person may spread it while sharing his / her personal belongings. The main signs and symptoms include appearance of blisters, inflammation as well as formation of pus. This is a fairly-long term health condition. Herpes simplex virus infects people in two possible forms namely, as type 1 and as type 2 . If you have oral sex with someone who is already infected, the risks of an infection are reasonably high.
You May Like: How Often Do Herpes Breakouts Occur
Tea Tree Oil And Herpes
Tea tree is a very popular bush in China, India and Japan. The discovery of the drink that gets ready from its leaves is attributed to the emperor Shen Nung in China and to the monk Bodhidharma in India, founder of the Zen Buddhism. Tea tree contains mineral salts of sodium, potassium and nickel.
It also contains fluorine, tannins, caffeine, theophylline and theobromine. The essential oil extracted from leaves of tea tree has antibacterial, antiseptic and antiviral properties. It can be used to fight herpes, applying a fine layer on the skin twice a day.
Recommended Reading: How To Hide Herpes On Lips
When Stress Triggers A Herpes Outbreak These Complementary Therapies May Calm It Down
A healthy lifestyle and the right supplements may offer relief from genital herpes.
A healthy lifestyle and the right supplements may offer relief from genital herpes.
Anna Ivanova/Alamy Alamy
A viral infection causes genital herpes, and there is no cure for it. But if you have genital herpes, you can use complementary approaches to reduce how often you have outbreaks. Some alternative therapies can also provide relief from discomfort and pain during outbreaks that do occur.
This kind of viral outbreak , and other viruses, like a cold, is usually related to stress and your immunity, says Lucy Gade, MD, MPH, the medical director at the Center for Wellness and Integrative Medicine at Northwell Health, in Oyster Bay, New York. As a result, an alternative medicine approach to herpes treatment involves making smart lifestyle choices to foster your general wellness. In doing so, you bolster your immune systems ability to fight the two viruses that cause herpes, herpes simplex virus 1 and herpes simplex virus 2 .
A healthy diet, appropriate sleep, finding ways to decrease stressors in your life These alone will make your herpes outbreaks less frequent, says Dr. Gade. Such healthy habits will also improve your overall well-being, lengthen your life, and boost your happiness.
But first, make sure you have an accurate diagnosis for whats causing your symptoms.
You May Like: Can Taking Acyclovir Prevent Herpes
Preventing The Spread Of Herpes
Even when you do not have sores, you can pass the virus to someone during sexual or other close contact. To protect others:
- Let any sexual partner know that you have herpes before having sex. Allow them to decide what to do.
- Use latex or polyurethane condoms, and avoid sex during symptomatic outbreaks.
- Do not kiss or have oral sex when you have a sore on the lips or inside the mouth.
- Do not share your towels, toothbrush, or lipstick. Make sure dishes and utensils you use are washed well with detergent before others use them.
- Wash your hands well with soap and water after touching a sore.
- Consider using daily antiviral medicine to limit viral shedding and reduce the risk of passing the virus to your partner.
- You may also want to consider getting your partner tested even if they have never had an outbreak. If you both have the herpes virus, there is no risk for transmission.
Read Also: Do I Need To Take Medication For Herpes
How Do You Get Herpes
There are two different herpes viruses: Herpes Simplex Virus type 1 and Herpes Simplex Virus type 2 .
While rare, a mother can pass genital herpes to the baby during vaginal childbirth.
Herpes is most easily transmitted when sores are open and wet, because fluid from herpes blisters easily spreads the virus. But herpes can also shed and be passed to others when there are no sores and the skin looks totally normal. Most people get herpes from someone who does not have any sores. When used consistently and correctly, condoms help protect against herpes and many other STDs.
A Safe Organic Supplement To Replace All Herpes Vaccines
The HerpaGreens supplement is considered safe for use and free from major side effects as it contains only organic ingredients. However, customers should consult their healthcare provider before taking this supplement if they are pregnant, nursing, or if they are taking any OTC or prescription medications for a health condition.
Statistics revealed by the World Health Organization show that more than 500 million people in the world suffer from an HSV-2 infection that persists for a lifetime and often triggers a flare-up in response to stress. Both forms of the herpes simplex virus, the HSV-2 and HSV-2 can cause a herpes infection in newborns and could lead to blindness and other serious infections in those with an impaired immune system. The risk of an HIV infection is also increased by an HSV infection and may contribute to Alzheimers disease and other forms of dementia.
Many people question why science has been unable to develop a herpes vaccine for so long when we have several for Covid-19 after just a few months. A recent study conducted by Dr. Houssein H. Ayoub, Assistant Professor of Mathematics, Statistics, and Physics at Qatar University, and Dr. Laith Jamal Abu Raddad, Professor of Population Health Sciences at Weill Cornell Medical College, Cornell University highlight the scale of HSV-2 burden in the U.S. and demonstrates the need for continuous surveillance and to develop prophylactic and therapeutic HSV-2 vaccines.
Tags:
Don’t Miss: Why Am I Having So Many Herpes Outbreaks
Episodic Topical Treatment For Recurrent Herpes Labialis
Topical treatment for herpes labialis is less effective than oral treatment. An RCT of treatment with topical penciclovir 1% cream showed healing was marginally faster in the penciclovir group compared with placebo .16 The participants were adults in otherwise good health who had at least three episodes of herpes labialis per year. They applied penciclovir cream or placebo within one hour of the first sign or symptom of a recurrence, and then every two hours while awake for four days. Resolution of symptoms occurred more rapidly in the penciclovir group regardless of whether the medication was applied in the early or late stage. Penciclovir cream applied every two hours while awake reduced median duration of pain from 4.1 to 3.5 days, sped up the healing of classic lesions from 5.5 to 4.8 days, and did not change median time of viral shedding .16
Docosanol cream is a saturated, 22-carbon, aliphatic alcohol with antiviral activity. It is available without prescription. One RCT of 743 patients with herpes labialis showed a faster healing time in patients treated with docosanol 10% cream compared with placebo cream , as well as reduced duration of pain symptoms .17 More than 90 percent of patients in both groups healed completely within 10 days.17 Treatment with docosanol cream, when applied five times per day and within 12 hours of episode onset, is safe and somewhat effective.
Genital Herpes And Pregnancy
It is important to avoid contracting herpes during pregnancy. A first episode during pregnancy can create a greater risk of transmission to a newborn.
Fortunately, it is rare for women with genital herpes to infect their babies. If you know that you have genital herpes before becoming pregnant, your physician will monitor your condition throughout your pregnancy. If you have an active outbreak at the time of delivery, a C-section may be recommended. Depending on individual diagnosis, though, the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists endorses suppressive therapy to reduce the frequency of C-section.
Don’t Miss: How Do You Date If You Have Herpes
Genital Herpes Is Spread By Skin
The virus can be spread when someone with HSV has an episode or an outbreak characterised by having a sore, blister, ulcer or skin split . It can also be spread between episodes, when there is no sore, blister, ulcer or skin split present called asymptomatic viral shedding.
During viral shedding the virus is on the skin surface and can be spread through genital skin-to-skin contact, or from the mouth or face to genital skin during contact.
Can I Get Genital Herpes More Than Once
There isnt a cure for HSV-2, the virus that causes genital herpes. Infections can come back . Recurring symptoms are usually milder than the first outbreak. Symptoms dont last as long with later outbreaks. Some people may only have one or two outbreaks during their lifetime. Others may have as many as four or five outbreaks a year.
After infection, the virus moves from skin cells to nerve cells. In the nerve cells, it becomes inactive . Certain things may reactivate the virus, such as:
- Illness or fever.
Read Also: What Can You Do To Prevent Herpes
How Is Herpes Simplex Diagnosed
Healthcare providers may diagnose herpes simplex based on how the sores look. Your provider may take a sample from the sore. Laboratory analysis of the sample can confirm or rule out the herpes virus.
If you dont have sores, your healthcare provider can use a blood test to check for HSV-1 and HSV-2 antibody, a marker showing youve been exposed to the virus. The blood test doesnt show an active infection . But it informs your provider whether youve been exposed to the herpes virus in the past. If this is your first infection, you may not test positive for herpes if there hasnt been enough time for your body to develop antibodies. The HSV-1and HSV-2 antibody test may be repeated in eight to 12 weeks.
Who Might Get Herpes Simplex
People of any age can contract herpes simplex. You are more likely to get the virus if you:
- Were assigned female at birth.
- Have had multiple sex partners.
- Started having sex at a young age.
- Have a history of any sexually transmitted infection .
- Have a weakened immune system.
- Dont use condoms for intercourse and dental dams for oral sex.
Who gets HSV-1, commonly known as oral herpes?
Anyone can get HSV-1. Most people contract HSV-1 during childhood. It spreads when an adult who has the virus has close contact with a child, such as when a family member kisses a child.
Who gets HSV-2, commonly known as genital herpes?
Genital herpes affects sexually active teens and adults of all genders and races. It can spread if you have multiple sexual partners and dont use condoms or dental dams.
People assigned female at birth are more at risk. Delicate vaginal tissue can tear, making it easier for the infection to get in. Black people who were AFAB are especially vulnerable, with an estimated 1 in 2 people AFAB between the ages of 14 and 49 infected with HSV-2.
Also Check: Do Condoms Protect Against Herpes