Friday, March 22, 2024

How Does Genital Herpes Spread

Simple Treatments For The Relief Of Discomfort

Herpes Spreads, Even Without Symptoms
  • 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.
  • Don’t 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. Don’t 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.

Frequently Asked Questions About Herpes Infections

Q. Does Herpes Infections have very serious complications?

Serious complications rarely occur in healthy people with herpes simplex. However, serious complications occur most often in newborns and people who have had a long-term illness or have a weak immune system. If you are suffering from cancer, HIV AIDS, or have had an organ transplant, seek medical help as soon as you notice any signs or symptoms of herpes infection.

Is there a link between HIV AIDS and Herpes infections?

There is known to be a direct link between HIV infection and herpes infection. Those people with a herpes infection are more likely to get HIV infection if proper sexual hygiene and conduct are not maintained. Also, those people who are already suffering from HIV can get a more severe and painful case of herpes infection.

Does herpes infections hurt?

The first time a person gets herpes infections, the sores are very painful. The blisters break and leave painful ulcers that heal in 2-4 weeks time.

Can people with herpes infections live a normal life?

Yes, people with herpes infections can live a normal healthy life and have relationships. One must follow steps to prevent recurrence or spread of herpes infections to the partner.

Does herpes infection reduce life span?

We hope we have answered all your questions about Herpes infections and How do Herpes Infections Spread, through this article.

How To Tell Your Partner About The Herpes

Most people feel that their love lives are over once they discover they have herpes. Well, that is not the truth. Herpes patients have romantic relationships with one another or with persons without the STI.

Having conversations about STDs is not fun, but it is essential to tell your partner if you are infected. That way, you might prevent the condition from spreading.

Here are practical tips that might help to talk about it:

  • Remain calm: Having the STI is a health condition and does not mean you are promiscuous. Therefore, go into the conversation with a positive and relaxed attitude. You can start the conversation by asking your partner if they have even had or been tested before.
  • Know the facts: Be sure to read all the facts. It will help you let your sexual partner know there are methods to manage the condition and prevent transmission.
  • Timing: Choose a time when you will not be interrupted or distracted and in a private place. If you are anxious, you can first talk through your friend or practice speaking in front of a mirror. It helps you know what you are confident in saying.
  • If you think your partner might injure you, you can tell them using a phone call, text message, or email.

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How Do You Get Genital Herpes

Genital herpes is a sexually transmitted infection that causes blisters or sores on the skin on or around the genitals. Genital herpes is caused by the herpes simplex virus type 1 and type 2. Once you have been infected with herpes simplex virus, it stays in your body forever.

You cant catch genital herpes by sharing cups, towels or from toilet seats. You can still share a bed, kiss or cuddle your partner and not risk infecting them with herpes.

Read Also: How To Heal Genital Herpes Sores

Herpes May Be More Common Than You Think

Genital Herpes On The Penis Photograph by Dr P. Marazzi/science Photo ...

The World Health Organization estimates that globally, 3.7 billion people younger than 50 have oral herpes and 417 million people aged 15-49 have genital herpes.

Dr. Maya Benitez says there has always been a stigma surrounding sexually transmitted diseases, especially herpes.

Stigma aside, it’s stressful to be diagnosed with something with no cure and no direct definitive treatment. And anxiety and stress can trigger outbreaks, says Dr. Benitez.

“It is important for people to learn about the disease and understand it, so that if diagnosed, people will know how to live with it,” she says.

“The likelihood of contracting herpes from toilet seats, bedding, or swimming pools, or from sharing objects such as silverware, soap, or towels is low, but it is possible”

Recommended Reading: How Do I Not Spread Herpes To My Partner

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.

Can Herpes Be Prevented Or Avoided

The best way to prevent getting herpes is to not have sex with anyone who has the virus. It can be spread even when the person who has it isnt showing any symptoms. If your partner has herpes, there is no way of knowing for sure that you wont get it.

If you are infected, there is no time that is completely safe to have sex and not spread herpes. If you have herpes, you must tell your sex partner. You should avoid having sex if you have any sores. Herpes can spread from one person to another very easily when sores are present.

You should use condoms every time you have sex. They can help reduce the risk of spreading herpes. But its still possible to spread or get herpes if youre using a condom.

Read Also: Can You Have Unprotected Sex Without Transmitting Herpes

Who Response To Herpes

As well as increasing awareness about HSV infection and its symptoms, improved access to antiviral medications and heightened HIV prevention efforts for those with genital HSV symptoms are needed globally.

In addition, development of better treatment and prevention interventions is needed, particularly HSV vaccines. WHO and partners are working to accelerate research to develop new strategies for prevention and control of genital and neonatal HSV-1 and HSV-2 infections. Such research includes the development of HSV vaccines and topical microbicides. Several candidate vaccines and microbicides are currently being studied.

Is There Any Resistance To Genital Herpes Medication

How Contagious is Herpes?

Resistance to drugs that treat genital herpes even after 20 years of use is very rare. Herpes medications may not work as well in patients who are very immunosuppressed and have been treated with these drugs for a long time. Each individuals response to treatment may vary. In some cases, patients may need more drugs to suppress their viral outbreaks than others.

Read Also: What Medicine Prevents The Spread Of Herpes

How Is Genital Herpes Managed Or Treated

If you have mild symptoms or infrequent outbreaks, you might not need or want treatment. During an outbreak, these steps can ease symptoms:

  • Apply an ice pack to your genitals. Wrap the ice pack in a washcloth or apply it over your underwear.
  • Keep genitals dry. Wear cotton or other nonsynthetic underpants and avoid tight-fitting clothes. Moist sores take longer to heal.
  • Soak in a warm bath.
  • Take nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs to relieve pain.
  • Wear loose-fitting clothing.

Antiviral medications can prevent outbreaks. They can also lessen symptoms and help symptoms go away faster. You take this medicine as a pill, intravenous injection or skin cream. When taken daily, antivirals can prevent an outbreak. They lower the chances of spreading the virus to other people.

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My Partner Doesnt Have Genital Herpes So How Can I Have Caught It

Your partner could be one of the two out of three people with herpes simplex who have it so mildly they do not realise. So they could have sex when the virus is active. Mild symptoms can appear as a pimple, a little cut or an itchy bit of skin and yet these are very infectious. When people with these mild symptoms learn to recognise them, then they can avoid sex at these times. Another possibility is that your partner does not have herpes simplex and you caught it from a previous partner. It is possible to have a first outbreak many years after first catchin it.

Read Also: Dr Sebi How To Cure Herpes

Can Herpes Be Spread Without Symptoms

Most people get herpes from someone who doesnt have any sores. Sometimes those who know they are infected spread the virus between outbreaks when no signs or symptoms are present. This is called asymptomatic transmission. It may live in your body for years without causing any symptoms, so its really hard to know for sure when and how you got it. Thats why so many people have herpes its a pretty sneaky infection.

Because the virus dies quickly outside the body, you cant get herpes from hugging, holding hands, coughing, sneezing, or sitting on toilet seats.

You Can Get Herpes From Oral Sex

Genital Herpes On The Penis Photograph by Dr P. Marazzi/science Photo ...

When someone has a cold sore on their mouth or simply an oral infection with no sores present, and is the giver of oral sex to someone else, the virus can be spread from the mouth to the genitals. The receiver of the oral sex might then get genital herpes type 1. The virus type doesnt change ,but the cold sore virus will simply live, and possibly recur, in the area of the genitals.

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How To Diagnose Herpes Infections

Diagnosis of herpes infections is done by following methods-

  • Physical examination- Here the doctor does a thorough physical examination, checks the mouth, lips and genital areas for sores. Doctors may ask questions about the symptoms and a detailed medical history, to identify the cause and type of viral infection.
  • HSV testing- Also known as herpes culture test, here the doctor takes a swab sample of the fluid from the blister or sores present in the oral cavity or genitals and sends it for lab tests. This is to identify the virus causing the infections.
  • Blood tests- This is done to find the presence of antibodies . This helps to identify the infections in patients who dont have any sores or blisters.

Can Herpes Be Passed To Baby

If a woman with genital herpes has virus present in the birth canal during delivery, herpes simplex virus can be spread to an infant, causing neonatal herpes, a serious and sometimes fatal condition. Neonatal herpes can cause an overwhelming infection resulting in lasting damage to the central nervous system, mental retardation, or death.

Women who acquire genital herpes before they become pregnant have a very low risk of transmitting the virus to their babies. This is because their immune systems make antibodies that are temporarily passed to the baby through the placenta.

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Testing For Genital Herpes

If you think you may have genital herpes you should make an appointment with your GP or local sexual health services.

If there are symptoms present such as blisters, sores and ulcers, your doctor or nurse may be able to make a diagnosis straight away.

If you have visible blisters, your doctor or nurse may take a swab for testing, to check if this is herpes and what type. This swab can also test for another STI which causes blisters called syphilis.

The genital herpes swab tests are very reliable, though if the ulcer is too dry then it may be less likely to find a positive result.

How Do You Get Herpes

Herpes (oral & genital) – causes, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, pathology

The skin on your genitals, mouth, and eyes can be infected easily. Other areas of skin may get infected if theres a way for the herpes virus to get in, like through a cut, burn, rash, or other sores. You dont have to have sex to get herpes. Sometimes herpes can be passed in non-sexual ways, like if a parent with a cold sore gives you a peck on the lips. Most people with oral herpes got it when they were kids. A mother can pass genital herpes to a baby during vaginal childbirth, but thats pretty rare.

You can spread herpes to other parts of your body if you touch a herpes sore and then touch your mouth, genitals, or eyes without washing your hands first. You can also pass herpes to someone else this way.

Herpes is most contagious when sores are open and wet, because fluid from herpes blisters easily spreads the virus. But herpes can also shed and get passed to others when there are no sores and your skin looks totally normal.

Most people get herpes from someone who doesnt have any sores. It may live in your body for years without causing any symptoms, so its really hard to know for sure when and how you got it. Thats why so many people have herpes its a pretty sneaky infection.

Because the virus dies quickly outside the body, you cant get herpes from hugging, holding hands, coughing, sneezing, or sitting on toilet seats.

Read Also: How To Get Rid Of Herpes

Whats The Outlook For Someone With Either Condition

You can easily treat genital pimples at home. But if they dont go away in a week or more, see your doctor in case another condition is causing your pimples to appear.

Herpes cant be cured, but it can be successfully managed with prescription antibiotics and OTC pain relievers. Researchers are working to find a cure or vaccine.

Pimples can appear suddenly for a number of reasons, so its hard to fully prevent them. Keeping the area clean with a gentle cleanser is usually sufficient.

You can take quick, easy action each time you have sex to prevent yourself from getting herpes.

Also Check: Can You Date Someone With Herpes And Not Get It

Did I Get Herpes From My Current Partner

It is often difficult to identify the person who infected you with genital herpes. Because its possible to have the genital herpes virus but never experience any symptoms, some people are not aware they are infected, and can unknowingly transmit the herpes virus to a partner.

A current episode of herpes may not be from a current relationship. People who experience herpes for the first time may think that they have acquired their herpes from their current partner. However, a current episode may have been passed on by a sexual contact in the recent or distant past.

If you always use a condom or a dental dam during sexual contact, you significantly reduce your risk of catching or passing on genital herpes. However, a slight risk remains because the area of infected skin may not always be covered by the condom or dental dam.

Read Also: How Can Herpes Be Detected

Myth #: Herpes Is A Really Big Deal

This one is my favorite, having watched a number of friends be traumatized by diagnoses, only to later realize that ultimately, herpes is not that big of a deal.

For starters, Dr. Dweck tells me that one-third of the sexually-active population has been exposed to herpes. Hawkins offers more specific, but equally staggering, numbers as well she says that one-half of the population has oral herpes and one-sixth of the population aged 14 to 49 has genital herpes.

Whatâs more, my OB/GYN points out that the virus is more so inconvenient than it is nefarious, meaning that while outbreaks, especially your first, can be painful, theyâre not doing you any health harm overall. And if you do have significant recurrent outbreaks, thereâs a medication for that.

For all of these reasons, pros tend to agree that the outsized stigma around herpes is unwarranted and often, itâs the worst part of being infected. In reality, thereâs no reason herpes should make someone feel like a social pariah or that it should remain such a closeted, shameful condition.

âThe fact that so many people are living with this and having the same experiences but we dont talk about it, its really a shame because we could definitely support each other in ways were currently not doing,â says Hawkins. âHerpes is, of course, not something people would want, but its not as big of a deal as people make it out to be.â

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