Is There A Cure Or Treatment For Genital Herpes
There is no cure for genital herpes. However, daily use of antiviral medicines can prevent or shorten outbreaks. Antiviral medicines also can reduce the chance of spreading it to others.
Though several clinical trials have tested vaccines against genital herpes, there is no vaccine currently available to prevent infection. One vaccine trial showed efficacy among women whose partners had HSV-2, but only among women not infected with HSV-1. Efficacy was not observed among men whose partners had HSV-2. Another trial testing the same vaccine showed some protection from genital HSV-1 infection, but none from HSV-2.
What Can I Do For The Pain
To help with the pain of shingles, your doctor might have you take an over-the-counter pain medicine. This could include acetaminophen or ibuprofen .
Applying a medicated anti-itch lotion to the blisters might reduce the pain and itching. Placing cool compresses soaked in water mixed with white vinegar on the blisters and sores might also help.
If shingles causes severe pain, your doctor might prescribe a stronger pain medicine.
How To Read Your Results
Your HSV test results will likely be reported as negative or positive :
- Negative. The herpes virus was not found. However, you may still have an HSV infection if your results were negative. It may mean the sample didnt have enough virus to be detected. If you still have symptoms of herpes, you may need to order another test.
- Positive. HSV was found in your sample. It may mean you have an active infection or contracted the virus in the past .
If your test results are positive for HSV, talk with a doctor about your next steps.
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What Are The Causes Of Genital Herpes
Genital herpes is spread by skin-to-skin contact with someone who has the HSV virus, usually during genital or oral sex. It can also be spread through kissing, foreplay or non-penetrative sex.
- HSV1 commonly causes cold sores on the lips or face.
- HSV2 causes most genital herpes.
The HSV virus is most easily spread when there are blisters or sores, but it can still be passed even if a person has no current blisters or sores or other symptoms.
You cannot get genital herpes from things like hugging, swimming pools or toilet seats.
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What Is Valtrex Used For
The Food and Drug Administration approved Valtrex for the following indications:
- Genital herpes, usually caused by herpes simplex virus 2
- Prevention of transmission of HSV
- Suppression of HSV
- Suppression of HSV for people who are immunosuppressed due to human immunodeficiency virus
- Shingles, which is caused by reactivation of varicella zoster and produces a painful rash
The dosing of Valtrex differs for children and adults and is based on weight for the treatment of chicken pox. Valtrex is used short term for the treatment of chicken pox, shingles, and cold sores.
It can also be used for the short-term treatment of genital herpes or long term to suppress the virus and prevent transmission to a partner. However, it is important to remember that Valtrex will not cure your herpes infection completely.
Verywell / Dennis Madamba
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How Long Does It Take For The Medication To Work
All antiviral herpes medications begin to work quickly, which is why they should be taken as close as possible to the first emergence of symptoms.
This will give the medications the best chance to reduce the severity of the outbreak, and to speed up the resolution of an outbreak .
When taken within the first three days of an initial genital herpes outbreak, antiviral medications can shorten the lifespan of the outbreak by two to four days.
During later occurrences, these medications can shorten the lifespan of these outbreaks by 1-2 days.
Many people with HSV-2 do not experience regular genital herpes outbreaks.
But for people who do experience several episodes per year, preventative treatment can make a big difference.
In clinical studies, many patients who begin daily preventative treatment, go on to experience zero genital herpes outbreaks over the course of the following year.
Preventative antivirals can even help those patients who experience especially frequent and painful outbreaks of genital herpes.
In one study of this population, for instance, preventative antivirals were shown to reduce the average number of yearly outbreaks from 11 to 2.
Its important to remember, though, that none of these medications can completely cure herpes or eliminate the HSV virus from the body.
While preventative medicines, especially, can make it less likely that youll pass on the infection to sexual partners, it cannot completely eliminate this risk.
How To Avoid Passing On Genital Herpes
There are several steps you can take to reduce the chances of passing genital herpes on to your sexual partner, including:
- always using condoms when you have sex
- taking suppressive antiviral medicines and
- avoiding sex whenever you have symptoms.
However, while these steps will help reduce the chance of spreading the infection, there is still a chance that you could pass on the genital herpes virus through sexual contact.
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What Are Common Side Effects Of Shingles Medication
Gastrointestinal side effects are common across shingles medications. These include nausea, diarrhea, upset stomach, and vomiting. Its important to stay hydrated while taking medications that cause these side effects, as dehydration could be more dangerous than the virus itself.
This is not a full list of side effects. Ask a healthcare professional, such as your physician or pharmacist, for more details regarding the possible side effects of your particular medication.
Genital Herpes Treatment Over The Counter At Cvs
Consider buying the CVS brand if youre looking for a genital herpes treatment over the cabinet. Among these treatments are Abreva and Reovit. These are both topical creams with penciclovir as the active ingredient. Both medications work by inhibiting the replication of the herpes virus.
Famciclovir is absorbed well by the body and remains there for longer, allowing it to work more effectively. Antivirals are recommended for genital herpes treatment and can be purchased over the counter or by prescription. Antivirals are used for first-time outbreaks and can be used for recurrent outbreaks as well. Some over-the-counter creams are available with an Abreva-like formula, and your health insurance even covers some.
If youre looking for a genital herpes treatment over the shelf, youll have a wide selection at CVS. However, its a good idea to talk to your OB/GYN before taking any medications. Some of these products have a side effect known as a rash, accompanied by an unpleasant odor. However, many people find that taking these medications helps them stop the herpes outbreaks before they become serious.
FemiClear Hsv2 genital herpes treatment for women can be used to reduce the burning, itching, and pain caused by a herpes outbreak. It kills 99.9% of the virus and can be used during an outbreak. If youre looking for a genital herpes treatment over the counter at CVS, check out FemiClear.
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What Tests Do Health Care Professionals Use To Diagnose Oral Herpes
Diagnosis of herpes is easily made based on the visual appearance of the lesions, and the best approach is to see a doctor at the first sign of a blister.
If there is concern that the rash may not be herpes, a swab of blister fluid may be collected for viral culture or polymerase chain reaction test. This is most useful in the first 48 hours before the blister has crusted over. If lesions resolve, then cultures are of no help, because theres nothing left to culture. Culture results take a minimum of 3-5 days.
PCR testing detects herpes DNA, but it is not as readily available as culture and is a very expensive test to do for simple cold sores.
Blood tests for herpes antibodies are not usually needed, since finding antibodies to herpes just means that the body has been exposed to this virus at some point in the past. It does not determine if the current lesion is due to herpes. They can be done, though, if the diagnosis is unclear or there is a specific reason to know for certain.
Counselling For Genital Herpes
If you have just found out that you have genital herpes, it is likely you will have a lot of questions. A diagnosis of genital herpes often comes as a shock.
For many people who have genital herpes, the physical symptoms are outweighed by the emotional stress relating to the diagnosis. There are many misconceptions about genital herpes, including the belief that it is associated with promiscuity.
Seeing a counsellor may be a good idea to discuss any concerns you may have. Counselling offers a way of dealing with your concerns.For more information see the NZ Herpes Foundation or talk with one of their trained counsellors on 0508 11 12 13 free call 0508 11 12 13 or 09 433 6526 .
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Order Herpes Medication On Your Terms
Need a prescription for herpes medication? We make it easy to buy valacyclovir online so you can treat genital herpes at home, safely and privately. It still isn’t possible to get prescription medication for herpes without a doctor or order Valtrex without a prescription. But with wisp, you can message a doctor to get prescription medication for herpes whether you have insurance or not. We also ship the best over the counter herpes meds to help manage the frequency and severity of genital outbreaks.
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What Are The Side Effects Of Valtrex
This is not a complete list of side effects, and others may occur. A medical professional can advise you on side effects. If you experience other effects, contact your pharmacist or a medical professional. You may report side effects to the FDA at www.fda.gov/medwatch or 800-FDA-1088.
Valtrex can cause several side effects, most of which are not dangerous. However, some serious side effects can occur.
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Can You Buy Std Medication Over The Counter
Over-the-Counter Medicines While most viral STD treatments are only accessible by prescription, the following over-the-counter medications are occasionally recommended: Herpes: Abreva , an over-the-counter antiviral ointment, can assist to decrease the length of an epidemic. Zovirax is also an antiviral drug that can be used to treat herpes infections. It must be administered daily to be effective.
Chlamydia: ABACLAVASE is an antibiotic used to treat chlamydial infection. It should not be taken orally but rather given intramuscularly or intravenously. It should be administered once a day for five days.
Gonorrhea: Bactrim, ciprofloxacin , enoxaparin , levofloxacin , moxifloxacin , norfloxacin , ofloxacin , pristiq , tetracycline , and valganciclovir
Syphilis: Penicillin is the standard treatment for syphilis. However, because of concerns about resistance developing with penicillin alone, some doctors will also prescribe doxycycline .
What Happens If You Dont Get Herpes Treatment
The good news about herpes is that its not deadly or even very dangerous. It might be annoying, but herpes doesnt get worse over time or cause serious health problems like other STDs can.
If you dont get treated for herpes, you might keep having regular outbreaks, or they could only happen rarely. Some people naturally stop getting outbreaks after a while.
There are a few reasons people may decide not to get treatment. They might not have that many outbreaks, or their outbreaks dont really bother them. Or maybe theyre not having sex, so theyre not that worried about having herpes right now. Whatever your situation is, getting treatment for herpes is your choice.
Having herpes can make it easier to get HIV, because the sores give HIV an open pathway into your body. So always use condoms to help prevent the spread of both herpes and HIV.
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How To Treat A Cold Sore With Home Remedies
While prescription and OTC cold sore medication can promote healing and relieve pain, home remedies may also improve your symptoms and possibly reduce the frequency of outbreaks.
These remedies wont fight the virus, but they can help you feel better until a cold sore heals.
To self-treat a cold sore:
- Opt for cool foods that you apply to your mouth area. For example, suck on ice chips or a popsicle to reduce pain in or around the lips.
- Apply a cold or warm compress to painful areas. This can help ease inflammation.
- Avoid trigger foods that may irritate a cold sore. These can include hot beverages, citrus fruits, spicy food, and salty foods.
- Turn to your medicine cabinet. Apply a skin protectant, such as petroleum jelly, to a cold sore and the skin around the sore.
- Wear lip balm with SPF 30 or higher. This protects your lips until a cold sore heals. Applying balm year-round can also help stop recurrent cold sores.
- Tend to your dental health. Use an antiseptic mouthwash when brushing your teeth to relieve pain.
- Drink water. Keep your body hydrated by drinking plenty of fluids.
A few alternative therapies might also promote healing and relieve cold sore symptoms, although more research is needed to confirm the effectiveness of these remedies.
For example, applying synthetic beeswax to a cold sore might shorten the duration of an outbreak and get rid of the blister sooner.
How To Treat Cold Sores
There are many that you can do at home to soothe the sting of a cold sore, such as:
Ice. You can numb the pain if you apply a cold compress to the sore. Donât put ice directly on your skin — that could damage it.
Pain relievers. When a cold sore really stings, you may get some relief from an over-the-counter painkiller like acetaminophen.
Over-the-counter creams. There are products available at the drugstore that can help reduce the pain of a cold sore or help keep the skin soft while it heals.
Prescription drugs. Because cold sores are caused by a virus, doctors may suggest an antiviral medication to help you heal more quickly. The antiviral drugs used to treat cold sores include acyclovir , valacyclovir , famciclovir , and penciclovir .
Sunscreen. Getting a sunburn may trigger a cold sore. Using sunscreen when youâre out in the sun may prevent it.
Aloe vera gel. The same gel used for sunburn may help a cold sore to heal. Lab research has shown the gel may help fight viruses, including herpes simplex.
Lysine. This supplement may be used sometimes to treat cold sores. It comes in a cream or in capsule form.
Propolis. This is a resin-like material made by bees from the buds of poplar and cone-bearing trees. It may be used like an ointment to treat cold sores.
Lemon balm. Some research has shown that lemon balm extract can help cold sores get better, too.
Tea tree oil. Some research has shown that this strong-smelling oil helps a cold sore heal more quickly.
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When To See A Medical Provider
Patients should get in contact with their doctors as soon as possible if they suspect they are experiencing an initial outbreak of genital herpes, or are experiencing especially severe and frequent cold sore outbreaks.
In these cases, the sooner your doctor can test you for herpes and prescribe you medication, the better.
Following an initial diagnosis, you should work with your doctor to make sure that you have the right antiviral medications on hand to treat later outbreaks as soon as they happen.
Your doctor can also help set you up with a preventative course of antiviral treatment.
Once on medication, you should talk to your doctor if you are experiencing any serious side effects.
Its especially important to consult your doctor about initial or recurrent genital herpes outbreaks if you are pregnant, or trying to become pregnant.
In these cases, doctors use special medication and treatment strategies to not only support their pregnant patients, but also to safeguard the health of the babies.
Herpes Simplex Eye Infections
Herpes simplex eye infections are a potentially serious type of eye infection.
Theyre caused by a virus called herpes simplex usually the herpes simplex virus type 1 , which also causes cold sores.
Its important to get medical help if you think you may have the infection, as your vision could be at risk if its not treated.
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How Is Genital Herpes Diagnosed
The best way to find out if you have genital herpes is to have a sexual health check-up. This may involve a physical examination and a swab from the affected area to test for HSV. To confirm genital herpes the lab needs to find herpes simplex virus types 1 or 2 on a swab.
Diagnosis is easier if early ulcers or blisters are present.
Because it is possible to have another STI at the same time, a full sexual health check-up should be done.
Sexual contacts should be informed of the diagnosis and it may be advisable for them to have a sexual health check-up.