Genital Herpes Symptoms – How To Know If You Have Herpes
Note : Genital Herpes Symptoms are not always easy to recognize or distinguish form other conditions.
What Causes Genital Herpes?
Genital Herpes is caused by contracting a strain of HSV (herpes simplex virus) either HSV-1 or HSV-2.
The vast majority of Genital Herpes is caused by the HSV-2 strain. The HSV-1 strain is the more common herpes, often referred to as cold sores. HSV-1 usually appears in the form of blisters and around the mouth and is easily passed by kissing. If someone that has HSV-1 gives oral sex to their partner, the receiver may indeed receive Genital Herpes even though it is the HSV-1 strain of the virus.
HSv-2 is passed by sexual intercourse, many people as many as 90% are not aware they are carrying the virus and thus it is easily spread. The infection can be mild and remain dormant, only to reappear later and even when dormant people with herpes are contagious.
It is important that when you have an outbreak of sores around your genitals you abstain from sex altogether, whilst condoms will prevent transmission, often they do not cover all sores efficiently so its best to abstain when you have an outbreak.
Genital Herpes Symptoms
The infection appears in the form of small (1-2 millimeter) blister like sores around and on the penis in men, surrounding, on and often inside the vagina in women. The blisters group together in small packs and the pain associated can range from little to no pain up to very painful. The blisters will usually last from 2 – 4 weeks.
The initial reaction during first infection is more server and symptoms include
- Headache
- Fever
- sore muscles
- pain urinating
Subsequent infections are usually much less harsh.
Symptoms can include discharge from the penis, itching, pain and burning.
The lesions that form from the blisters in men appear around the glans of the penis, the shaft of the penis, and also on the anus, buttocks and thighs.
After around 2 weeks these lesions transform into ulcers, then develop a a crust and heal.
Genital Herpes Treatment
The bad news is there is no current cure for Genital Herpes, but there are treatments to help lessen the severity of them and inturn help and relieve pain and discomfort.
Treatment will always need to be supervised by your doctor, you more than likely will prescribed the antiviral Acyclovir.
As there is no medical treatment to cure herpes, the spread of genital herpes, mainly due to unprotected sex, continues to grow.
In the US there is an estimated 45million herpes carriers.
As mentioned above if you have concerns about genital herpes or may suspect you have them, be sure to visit your doctor or health clinic as soon as possible, prompt treatment can greatly reduce the pain and symptoms associated with Genital Herpes
Reated Tags
receiver and carrier of genital herpes