What Questions Should I Ask My Doctor
You may want to ask your healthcare provider:
- What is the best treatment for me?
- What happens if I dont treat a cold sore?
- What are the side effects of antiviral medications?
- How can I reduce the risk of future outbreaks?
- Whats the best way to prevent getting another STI?
- How can I protect my partner from getting genital herpes?
- Should I lookout for signs of complications?
What Are The Symptoms Of Genital Herpes
The majority of people infected with the genital herpes will experience very mild symptoms, if any at all. Many wont even realise they have the condition. If symptoms do present it can be months or sometimes even years before they develop. However, most people who suffer symptoms will usually experience them between four to seven days after having been exposed to HSV. The symptoms are usually more severe during your first bout of genital herpes.
The symptoms of genital herpes can include:
- Painful red blisters. These blisters can burst to leave open sores around the genitals and surrounding area.
- Pain when passing urine.
- A high temperature or fever with associated aches and pains and a general feelings of being unwell.
These symptoms can last up to twenty days with the sores eventually scabbing over and healing. After the initial breakout has cleared up, the HSV virus will remain dormant in the body. This virus can reactivate periodically, causing future outbreaks. The symptoms of a recurrent outbreak of genital herpes will typically include:
- Tingling, burning or itching sensation around the genitals. This sensation will prelude the appearance of blisters.
- Painful red blisters that are prone to bursting, leaving open sores around the genitals, rectum, thighs and buttocks.
- For women, ulcers and blisters can appear in the lower part of the womb .
What Happens At A Sexual Health Clinic
The doctor or nurse at the sexual health clinic will:
- ask about your symptoms and your sexual partners
- use a small cotton bud to take some fluid from 1 of your blisters or sores for testing
The test cannot:
- be done if you do not have visible blisters or sores
- tell you how long you have had herpes or who you got it from
Symptoms might not appear for weeks or even years after you’re infected with the herpes virus.
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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
Factors You Need To Consider When Buying Ointment For Genital Herpes From Online Stores
Are you on the hunt for ointment for genital herpes? Well, purchasing online needs some contemplation. To help your cover all the important questions, we have prepared a list.
Just go through the question list. Feel free to do your own research while purchasing the ointment for genital herpes. Below are some examples you might deem right to ask:
- Is the ointment for genital herpes really worth the money?
- What specific advantages does it offer?
- Does the ointment for genital herpes youre picking have any innovative features?
- What are some of the best features of the ointment for genital herpes?
- Does your ointment for genital herpes come with a warranty?
- Does it have any con that might prove to be detrimental in the long run?
- Where will you find enough information about ointment for genital herpes?
- Where can you find some of the best ointment for genital herpess?
Probably, you have come up with way more questions than there are on the list. Do not deprive your curious mind of the answers. Research, research, and research, until you locate the answers to the factors.
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How To Treat Deep Cuts
Around 90 percent of women tear in some way during vaginal delivery, according to the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists. If you have a vaginal cut or tear that results from childbirth, your midwife or doctor should give you detailed instructions for how to care for the area.
If a tear has reopened or a new tear has occurred, its important that you seek immediate medical attention. Delaying care may result in long-term complications.
During the healing process, you may find it helpful to:
- Rinse the area with sterilized water. Use a small bottle with a narrow plastic tip to do this. Your doctor may advise you to rinse after every time you use the bathroom or after every cleaning.
- Wear a pad for the first several days to help draw any blood away from the cut and keep the area clean.
- Take OTC pain relievers such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen to help ease your pain.
If youve experienced a sexual assault, you shouldnt try to treat the wound on your own. Your doctor or healthcare provider can assess your symptoms and help you care for any lacerations or bruises that have occurred. They may also prescribe pain killers or other medication to help you treat your symptoms.
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.
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Recurrent Episodes Of Genital Herpes
Recurrences are usually less painful and shorter in duration than the first episode of genital herpes. Over time, episodes usually become less frequent and may eventually stop altogether. Infections caused by HSV1 are less likely to recur in the genital area than infections caused by HSV2.
Recurrences may be triggered by:
- no apparent reason noted.
Where Does The Herpes Virus Live In The Body
The herpes simplex viruses are latent, meaning they can live in the body without causing symptoms. After the initial infection, the virus gets into the nerve roots and spreads to the sensory nerve ganglia, the junctions where nerves from different parts of the body come together. For the genital area, the ganglia are adjacent to the spinal cord in the lower back. For orofacial herpes , the ganglia are located behind the cheek bone.
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Causes Of Genital Herpes
There are two types of HSV:
Genital herpes is caused by both type 1 and type 2 HSV.
In some cases it is also possible to become infected by coming into contact with other parts of the body that can be affected by HSV, such as the eyes and skin. For example, you can catch genital herpes if you have oral sex with someone who has a cold sore. A cold sore is a blister-like lesion around the mouth that is also caused by HSV.
Genital herpes cannot usually be passed on through objects, such as towels, cutlery or cups because the virus dies very quickly when away from your skin. However, you may become infected by sharing sex toys with someone who has the virus.
Genital herpes is particularly easy to catch when an infected person has blisters or sores. However, it can be caught at any time, even when someone has no symptoms at all.
Once you have been infected with HSV, it can be reactivated every so often to cause a new episode of genital herpes. This is known as recurrence.
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Herpes Treatment During Pregnancy
Talk to your doctor if you are pregnant and have genital herpes, or your partner has genital herpes, as it is possible for the baby to be infected with the herpes virus during pregnancy or birth.
Your doctor may recommend you take antiviral treatment before the baby is due, or may recommend delivering the baby via Caesarean section.
How Is Genital Herpes Diagnosed
You should always have the primary infection of genital herpes diagnosed by a healthcare professional. If you develop any symptoms of genital herpes it is important to seek medical attention as soon as possible. This is because the infection is much easier to diagnose when its still active. If the HSV has reverted to a dormant state then the laboratory analysis may come back as negative, meaning a conclusive diagnosis will not be possible until you suffer a recurrent outbreak.
Your doctor or sexual health specialist may ask:
- If this is the first time you have experienced these symptoms.
- If you have ever suffered from cold sores .
- If you have ever had a sexually transmitted infection .
- About your history of sexual partners.
For a conclusive diagnosis a swab will be used to collect a sample of fluid from one of the blisters. This sample will then be sent to a laboratory for analysis. The laboratory will be able to identify the presence of the herpes simplex virus.
Recurrent outbreaks of genital herpes can then be self-diagnosed and treated as long as the symptoms remain the same and the outbreaks do not get worse.
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If You Have Genital Herpes Already Can It Be Spread To Other Parts Of The Body Such As The Arms Or Legs
No. Genital herpes cannot be transmitted to another part of your body such as your arm, leg or hand after the first infection occurs. If you have genital HSV II, you will not get HSV II at another site in your body. The immune system produces antibodies that protect other parts of your body from infection. However, there are cases where a person has multiple site infections from the same virus. This is usually acquired at the time of the first infection. For example, if someone has never had herpes but then has oral and genital sex with an infected partner, they can acquire the infection at both sites.
Is There Any Resistance To Genital Herpes Medication
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.
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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.
Best Cream For Genital Herpes
Cream for genital herpes can help to soothe the pain and itching associated with the condition. There are a number of different creams available, and it is important to read the labels carefully to choose one that is best for your particular situation.
Some creams contain antiviral medication, which can help to speed up the healing process. Others simply provide a barrier between the sore and your clothing, which can help to prevent further irritation.
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Washing The Genital Area Before And After Sex Can Help Prevent The Transmission Of Genital Herpes
Washing the genital area doesnât help prevent any sexually transmitted disease , including genital herpes. The best way to prevent any STD is to abstain from sex or engage in sex only with someone you know is not infected. Condoms are not guaranteed to prevent infection, but research has shown that they provide some protection.
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%.
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Herpes Symptoms Can Go Unnoticed
Many people with HSV-2 have no symptoms. If you are sexually active you should be aware of the risk and take steps to reduce it.
If you are pregnant or thinking about becoming pregnant, you should be vigilant about preventing genital HSV infection because it can be transmitted to your baby during vaginal delivery, potentially causing serious problems.
The following are specific prevention and treatment strategies for HSV-1 and HSV-2:
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Rule #: Use Medication
At the very first onset of signs of an outbreak, you can use antiviral medications like acyclovir. Before the blisters even become visible, you might notice a tingling or burning sensation on your skin. Your healthcare provider can prescribe topical medications to apply to the lesion area . If you have had herpes before, a prescription should be readily available .
Its important to note that acyclovir ointment can be used to treat genital herpes but doesnt typically reduce the length or severity of outbreaks. You should not apply acyclovir cream to the genitals because it may irritate these parts of your body.
If you suffer from frequent or severe outbreaks, your healthcare provider may recommend trying prescription drugs to take by mouth. There are multiple options, including acyclovir, famciclovir, and valacyclovir . Studies have shown that oral antiviral drugs for herpes can shorten the duration of lesion episodes and pain by approximately one day . Your healthcare provider will choose the option thats best for you.
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Conditions Hydrocortisone Creams Cannot Treat
Hydrocortisone is not useful as a treatment for hives . This is because hives are caused by histamines, not skin inflammation.
Histamines are chemicals produced by the immune system in response to allergens, which are allergy-causing substances. An overreaction can sometimes cause a rash.
In this case, an oral antihistamine may be the best treatment choice. At the same time, hydrocortisone cream may be prescribed to relieve itchiness and swelling.
Hydrocortisone cream has its limits. Don’t count on it to relieve:
- Acne. In fact, the cream could make it worse.
- Broken skin, including blisters, boils, ulcers, or chancre sores.
- Rosacea and impetigo. The cream can upset both conditions.
The point should be clear: Using hydrocortisone cream on these problems would be a little like using a shop vac on a small kitchen fire. It’s a fine tool but the wrong one for the job.
You may use hydrocortisone cream on children. But be careful, especially with infants and toddlers. Speak with your pediatrician before using hydrocortisone cream to treat eczema or diaper rash. Other products may be gentler and work just as well on little ones.
Treatment Options For Genital Herpes
Acyclovir was the first antiviral agent to be used in the treatment of genital herpes, and as such, is the most extensively studied of the antiviral agents currently available. This drug is available in topical, oral, and intravenous forms . In the distant past, topical acyclovir was used to treat recurrent genital herpes, but its ineffectiveness has been known for quite some time. A randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind study found that after application of topical acyclovir 6 times daily for 5 days, only the duration of virus shedding from lesions was reduced compared to placebo. Differences between time to lesion crusting, lesion healing, new lesion formation, and cessation of pain were non-significant .
Intravenous acyclovir remains the most effective form of treatment for a primary genital herpes infection, leading to significant reduction in time to cessation of viral shedding and pain. Time to lesion healing is also 6 days faster than with placebo alone . However, as IV administration of acyclovir requires hospitalization, this route is reserved for patients with life-threatening disease or systemic complications .
Oral agents
Single-day treatment
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