Wednesday, March 13, 2024

What Medicine For Genital Herpes

What Are The Different Types Of Herpes

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

There are two types of herpes simplex virus: HSV I and HSV II. HSV I commonly causes oral herpes, or cold sores. This virus can show up as an upper respiratory tract infection during early childhood. HSV II is the cause of most cases of genital herpes. However, it is possible for HSV I to cause genital herpes and HSV II to cause oral herpes.

Clinicians cannot tell the difference between the two types by physical examination alone, but there are differences between the two viruses. For example, genital herpes caused by HSV II is much more likely to recur. This diagnosis can be helpful in establishing a health care plan.

Are Herpes Dating Sites Right For You

The online world offers so many dating options for people with sexually transmitted diseases, but are herpes dating sites really right for you? You should ask yourself a few questions before delving into making a profile on one of these sites. Of course, you could always set up on online profile and also still utilize other platforms like Tinder if you would like.

You need to remember that the people on these websites are only those who are aware that they have sexually transmitted diseases. Even though there is a large portion of the population who might be infected and not yet know it, they are unlikely to be on these websites. Therefore, your dating pool will be a lot smaller. Some people who have herpes, genital warts, HIV or other sexually transmitted diseases prefer to date on regular apps and platforms and then just tell their potential partners about their STD status. You will want to ask yourself, am I willing to deal with a smaller dating pool if it means that I will not be stigmatized for my sexually transmitted disease status?

Additionally, there are some people who think that having separate websites for people with STDs encourage discrimination against people who test positive for sexually transmitted diseases. Ella Dawson, in her article suggests that having separate dating websites for people with sexually transmitted diseases only stigmatizes the community further and does real damage.

Protecting Your Partner And Preventing Herpes Transmission

Research shows that the single greatest fear is the fear of transmission to partners, says Dr. Handsfield.

The main ways to avoid transmitting herpes are:

  • Learn to recognize how you feel when an outbreak is on the way, and stop having sex immediately.
  • Dont have sex during active outbreaks.
  • Always use condoms but dont rely on them during outbreaks. They dont completely cover infectious areas.
  • Only after all sores have scabbed over and healed should you have sex again.
  • Avoid touching your herpes sores, because you can spread them to other places on your body that way. Whenever you touch a sore, wash your hands immediately.
  • Dont kiss people or have sex if you have a cold sore.
  • Tell potential partners about having herpes before having sex with them, even though it may be hard.
  • Ask your doctor about taking antiviral drugs regularly.

Also Check: Can You Still Have Kids With Herpes

Can I Be Treated To Prevent Genital Herpes Transmission To My Partner

Yes. A large study showed that if one partner has herpes and the other partner is uninfected, treating the infected partner with suppressive therapy can prevent transmission of symptomatic herpes in over 90% of cases. This is an option for couples who are interested in having unprotected sex or who are planning to become pregnant.

If you are entering into a new relationship and are aware that you have herpes simplex infection, you owe it to your partner to notify them before having sex.

Best For Genital Sore: Luminance Red Medicine For Genital Herpes

Genital Oral Herpes (HPV 1 & 2) Salve Balm Cream Treatment Blisters Cold ...

Compared with other medicine in this category, the Luminance Red Medicine For Genital Herpes has a convenient design. The luminance red medicine for genital herpes works great, is expensive, it is oral and has a compact design. See results for your genital sores in just a few days with a safe, highly-effective treatment that can help reduce pain and rejuvenate your skin. Also, it is powerful and it has prevented future outbreaks. Finally, the luminance red medicine for genital herpes is likely under-powered and may not be effective.

Almost all customers quickly discovered that the medicine has the energy to power around 25 sessions. And, they also found that the medicine is used to prevent multiple outbreaks every year and it is painful and, to be honest, kind of humiliating. In addition, a few say that the medicine is a placebo effect, or reality, but it seemed like it lessened the discomfort immediately.

Top Customer Quotes:

You May Like: How To Take Acyclovir For Herpes Outbreak

Read Also: Will Herpes Clear Up Without Treatment

Clinical Trials: Key To Genital Herpes Research

Although these new genital herpes treatments are just on the horizon, it may be years before any are available to consumers.

The process of introducing a new treatment to the public can be a long one. Before the FDA approves a drug, it must go through rigorous clinical trials, which are divided into three phases. In phase I, researchers try to find out if the drug is safe for people to take. If the drug is deemed safe, it may go on to phase II, when researchers aim to determine if the drug works as it should. They also collect more safety data. In phase III trials, they expand their research to include more patients in more places.

To conduct a clinical trial, scientists need people to participate voluntarily. Clinical trials often involve thousands of patients who volunteer to take the experimental drug. The FDA and an independent review board carefully monitor every aspect of the trial. There are rules the researchers must follow to ensure that their work is scientifically correct and ethically sound. Study volunteers have clearly defined rights, such as the right to drop out of the trial at any time.

Drug Treatment For Genital Herpes

If you are infected with genital herpes, your doctor may prescribe oral antiviral drugs to help ease your symptoms during both a first episode and recurrent episodes. Your doctor may also suggest taking antiviral drugs daily as a suppressive therapy to reduce symptoms and protect partners.

Remember, though, that antiviral drugs do not wipe out the virus completely. It continues to live in your body, so if you stop taking the drugs that suppress it, you may have more frequent or more intense symptom outbreaks, and the risk of your transmitting the virus to others rises.

Three antiviral drugs, all taken by mouth, are used to treat genital herpes:

Also Check: Can Herpes Be One Blister

Zovirax Topical Side Effects

Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction: hives difficult breathing swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Common side effects of Zovirax Topical may include:

  • dry, cracked, or peeling lips

  • dryness or flaking of treated skin

  • burning, stinging, or itching when the medicine is applied.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Dont Miss: Do You Have Discharge With Herpes

When Is Preventive Treatment Considered

An All Natural OTC Topical Product for Genital Herpes Outbreak Symptoms

Some people have outbreaks of genital herpes very often or experience especially severe symptoms. Then it may be a good idea to take antiviral medication for a longer time including during symptom-free phases. The goal is to prevent further outbreaks and to keep the symptoms from becoming so severe. Also, the antiviral medication reduces the likelihood of infecting others. As preventive treatment, the WHO recommends the following:

  • aciclovir: 400 mg two times per day,
  • famciclovir: 250 mg two times per day or
  • valaciclovir: 500 mg once per day.

Research shows that preventive treatment can considerably lower the risk of further outbreaks. The people participating had four or more herpes outbreaks per year before the start of the studies, and then took an antiviral medication or a fake treatment for up to one year. A comprehensive analysis of the study results shows that

  • 96 out of 100 people who took a placebo had at least one further outbreak of genital herpes.
  • 46 out of 100 people who were given antiviral medication had at least one further outbreak of genital herpes.

In other words, the medication prevented further outbreaks in 50 out of 100 people within one year.

People with very frequent herpes outbreaks also benefited from preventive treatment: In one study involving people with very frequent outbreaks, the medication lowered the number of episodes in one year from 11 to 2.

Read Also: Does Csl Plasma Test For Herpes

Is Genital Herpes Related To Shingles

Shingles, also called herpes zoster, is caused by the varicella zoster virus , which causes chickenpox earlier in life. The natural history of varicella zoster infection is similar to genital herpes infection in that VZV also becomes latent in the sensory nerve roots. Later in life the virus may exit, causing shingles.

Recurrences in shingles cause blister lesions in a single area of skin called a dermatome. Shingles is not a sexually transmitted infection and is independent from genital herpes.

Is Genital Herpes Infection Related To Hiv

Herpes and HIV are caused by different viruses. But patients infected with these viruses are more likely to transmit either disease to their sexual partners. Patients with herpes are more vulnerable to HIV infection. People newly diagnosed with herpes should be tested for HIV infection and other sexually transmitted infections.

Patients who are infected with both herpes and HIV also may have a higher concentration of HIV viruses in their body because of the interaction between the herpes virus and the HIV virus. When HIV damages a persons immune system, the person may be more likely to shed herpes simplex virus asymptomatically.

Recommended Reading: Does Herpes Mean You Have Hiv

Common Side Effects Of Genital Herpes Treatments

Doctors commonly prescribe antiviral medications to treat genital herpes. These medications are highly effective at preventing and reducing outbreaks, and also at preventing the spread of herpes from person to person.

But just like any other medication, antivirals for genital herpes carry the risk of certain side effects.

What Triggers Herpes Outbreaks

Genital Herpes Treatment Suppression Cure: The ORIGINAL HSV1 HSV2 HBG ...

If youve had herpes for a while, you might have identified things that cause your herpes to crop up. Some of the most well-known triggers for herpes are things that stress your body, like lack of sleep or even a common cold. While your body is off dealing with some other stress, your immune system is essentially distracted, allowing your herpes to wake up. Thats why theyre called cold sores or fever blistersbecause they often appear when you have a cold or fever.

Other common triggers include:

  • Hormonal changes
  • Reduced immune function

And while herpes viruses might be best known for causing cold sores and genital herpes, theres a whole range of herpes viruses. Different ones are responsible for causing various diseases. These include chickenpox and shingles, eye infections, mono , and more. Classic cold sores and genital herpes are typically caused by herpes simplex virus 1 or herpes simplex virus 2 .

Read Also: Do Genital Herpes Go Away On Their Own

Also Check: How Do I Prevent Herpes Outbreaks

How Are Initial Outbreaks Treated

Antiviral medications can help to control the symptoms and shorten the duration of initial herpes outbreaks by 2 to 4 days. The treatment of an initial outbreak should be started within the first three days the earlier, the better.

The medications are taken as tablets. The number of tablets per day depends on the active ingredient and the dose. The World Health Organization recommends the following doses and amounts for treating an initial outbreak:

  • aciclovir: 200 mg five times per day or 400 mg three times per day,
  • famciclovir: 250 mg three times per day, or
  • valaciclovir: 500 mg two times per day.

The WHO recommends that the treatment last ten days.

These three medications are about as effective as each other. Aciclovir is the most commonly used because doctors and patients have the most experience with this medication.

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 condomsto help prevent the spread of both herpes and HIV.

Also Check: Can You Catch Herpes From Oral Sex

How Should This Medicine Be Used

Acyclovir comes as a tablet, a capsule, and a suspension to take by mouth. It also comes as a delayed-release buccal tablet to apply to the upper gum of the mouth. The tablets, capsules, and suspension are usually taken with or without food two to five times a day for 5 to 10 days, starting as soon as possible after your symptoms begin. When acyclovir is used to prevent outbreaks of genital herpes, it is usually taken two to five times a day for up to 12 months. The delayed-release buccal tablet is usually applied with a dry finger as a one-time dose within 1 hour after itching, redness, burning or tingling cold sore symptoms begin but before the cold sore appears. Take or use acyclovir at around the same time every day. Follow the directions on your prescription label carefully, and ask your doctor or pharmacist to explain any part you do not understand. Take or use acyclovir exactly as directed. Do not take or use more or less of it or take it more often or for a longer time than prescribed by your doctor.

Do not chew, crush, suck, or swallow the delayed-release buccal tablets. Drink plenty of liquids, if you have a dry mouth while using the delayed-release buccal tablets.

I Had Lesions When I Was Evaluated But My Culture Was Negative Does This Mean That I Dont Have Herpes

Oral Herpes and Genital Herpes. Symptoms and Treatment. Herpes Simplex Virus

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.

Recommended Reading: How Long Has Herpes Been Around

How To Use Acyclovir Cream

Read the Patient Information Leaflet available from your pharmacist. Consult your doctor or pharmacist if you have any questions.

Use this medication at the first sign of infection . Wash your hands with soap and water before and after applying this medication. Clean and dry the affected areas before applying the medication. Apply to the affected area and rub in gently, usually 5 times a day for 4 days for cold sores, or as directed by your doctor. Apply enough cream to cover all affected areas .

Apply to skin only. Do not apply this medication in the eyes or nose, inside the mouth, or inside the . If you do get medication in those areas, flush with plenty of water.

Dosage is based on your medical condition, type of infection, and response to treatment. Do not use this drug more often or for longer than prescribed.

Use this medication regularly to get the most benefit from it. This medication works best when the amount of drug absorbed by the skin stays at a constant level. Therefore, use this drug at evenly spaced intervals. To help you remember, use it at the same times each day.

To prevent washing off the medication, do not bathe, shower, or swim right after applying it.

If applying to genital herpes sores, use a finger cot or rubber gloves to avoid spreading the infection.

Do not apply other skin products unless told to do so by your doctor. Do not cover the area with plastic or waterproof bandages unless told to do so by your doctor.

FAST FACTS

When Is Treatment Necessary

Herpes can cause blisters to form on or around the mouth or genitals. These blisters then break, forming open, painful sores that may take at least 1 week to heal.

The symptoms may clear up on their own, and they may reappear later, in what some people call outbreaks or flare ups.

Once the virus enters the body, it never completely goes away. Some triggers that can cause herpes symptoms to reappear include:

  • friction in the genital area
  • a weakened immune system

Doctors may prescribe one of the following antiviral medications to help manage herpes symptoms. A person can also take some steps at home to ease the symptoms, and we describe these later in the article.

Please note, the writer has not tested these products. All information is research-based.

You May Like: Is Herpes Virus In Saliva

Common Symptoms Of Genital Herpes

The hallmark symptom of genital herpes is the small red bumps or tiny white blisters that appear after infection. Ulcers can form when the blisters rupture. Eventually, after the ulcers heal, scabs appear. The area affected by the herpes lesions is usually itchy or painful.

Genital herpes symptoms come and go. Once someone has been infected with a herpes virus, it will always be present in their body, lying dormant in their nerves. The itchy, painful lesions only appear when a trigger reactivates the virus.

For most people, outbreaks occur less often as time passes.

Popular Articles
Related news