What Is Genital Herpes?

Genital herpes is a common sexually transmitted infection (STI) that can cause small, painful sores on or around the genitals, thighs, or buttocks. However, many people who have it have no symptoms, or the symptoms are so mild that they’re mistaken for other skin problems.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e59762959aba76b-f411-4765-86f8-b63b0745ce09 There’s no cure for genital herpes, but medications can help prevent transmitting the virus to your sexual partner and shorten outbreaks.
Complications Complications of Genital Herpes Genital herpes can increase the risk of certain health issues or diseases, including:e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629af54c6cd-0cf9-476a-9bcf-db496e30dc9e Other STIs Genital sores make it easier to contract or transmit other STIs, such as HIV. Newborn Infection Pregnant women who have an active herpes outbreak while giving birth may pass the virus to the baby, which can cause brain damage, blindness, or death. It’s important to inform your doctor if you’ve ever been diagnosed with genital herpes.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629bf0c0ee5-f894-4d2b-a3a9-ccb062d8cd10 Bladder Issues Herpes sores can sometimes cause inflammation around the urethra, the tube that carries urine out of the body. The swelling can block the urethra for several days; if this occurs, a catheter may be needed to drain the bladder. Rectal Inflammation Herpes can cause inflammation of the lining of the rectum, a condition called proctitis, especially in people who have anal sex. Eye Infection The virus can spread to the eyes and cause herpes keratitis, which can cause eye pain, redness, blurred vision, tearing, and sensitivity to light. Without treatment, it can lead to permanent eye damage.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629bdc093ae-2d94-4517-b617-a3eb89626b4b A genital herpes diagnosis may bring feelings of embarrassment or shame. Talking openly with a healthcare provider can help you normalize your experience and move forward. If you’re in a committed relationship, going to an appointment together may be helpful for both people. You may also worry about getting herpes from a sexual partner. Having an honest conversation with your sexual partners, and educating yourself about the causes and symptoms of herpes, can help ease those fears.
Lifestyle Lifestyle Changes and Prevention of Genital Herpes Practicing safe sex can reduce the risk of spreading genital herpes. This includes having a mutually monogamous partner who doesn’t have herpes and using condoms or dental dams during sexual encounters.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629109ebcca-1938-4fb3-9dd8-914ec93169b9 Condoms can’t fully cover every area where the virus can spread, such as the thighs and buttocks. Still, using condoms and dental dams consistently, not just during outbreaks, can help lower the risk of contracting and transmitting the virus. Other ways to lower the chance of passing herpes to another partner include: Learning to recognize the early signs of an outbreak and stop having sex as soon as you sense the onset Avoiding sex during active outbreaks Waiting for all sores to scab over and heal before having sex again Avoiding touching herpes sores, and washing your hands right away after any contact Avoiding kissing and oral sex while a cold sore is present Telling a prospective sex partner about the infection before you have sex with them
Resources We Trust Mayo Clinic: Genital Herpes: Can You Get It From a Toilet Seat?Cleveland Clinic: Herpes SimplexAmerican Sexual Health Association: The Search for a Herpes VaccineCenters for Disease Control and Prevention: Genital Herpes Treatment and CareWorld Health Organization: Herpes Simplex Virus
Disparities Disparities and Inequities in Genital Herpes HSV-2 infects women nearly twice as often as men, likely because the virus passes more easily during penile-vaginal sex.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629ed9adf88-a3e4-4f8d-95be-ab5db2b0b6fc Black Americans and Hispanic Americans generally have higher rates of STIs than white Americans. This isn’t caused by race or ethnicity; instead, social conditions such as poverty, limited access to quality sexual healthcare, and fear of discrimination from doctors all play a part in the disparity.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e5976296348d866-a662-4bef-965b-3a0321eed2f0 Black Americans and Genital Herpes Among people ages 14 to 49, about 34.6 percent of Black Americans have HSV-2. That compares with 9.4 percent of Mexican Americans and 8.1 percent of white Americans.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e5976291b2f7cc5-0559-4453-a964-d6d6de372166 Black Americans are also less likely to be diagnosed with genital herpes, even after accounting for education, income, and health insurance. Underdiagnoses likely contribute to higher rates of transmission.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629716300c7-d3ff-42c2-ac9c-1d2127fa7e2b
Prognosis How Long Does Genital Herpes Last? Genital herpes is a lifelong infection, but it doesn’t cause symptoms all the time. The first outbreak of genital herpes usually begins within two days to two weeks of infection. It often starts with inflammation, followed by small, fluid-filled blisters. The blisters eventually break open into sores that crust over and heal in a week or two, sometimes longer. After the first outbreak, the virus can remain dormant for a while but reactivate from time to time. Later outbreaks tend to be shorter and milder, and they often become less frequent over time.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629761680aa-e5bb-4743-b4b5-ceeb275d8b24
Symptoms Symptoms of Genital Herpes Many people with genital herpes have no symptoms, or they may mistake mild symptoms for a pimple or an ingrown hair. The first outbreak often happens within two days to two weeks of contracting the virus. It’s typically the most severe outbreak if symptoms do occur. Some people may have only one herpes outbreak, while others can have recurring outbreaks that are usually shorter and less severe than the first one. Although the virus stays in the body for life, the number of outbreaks tends to decrease over time. Some general symptoms include:e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e59762907dd1d26-2b44-4d2e-b91f-22ee322ae79d Fever Reduced appetite Malaise Muscle aches in the lower back, buttocks, thighs, or knees Swollen lymph nodes in the groin Burning or pain when urinating Unusual vaginal discharge Genital symptoms can show up as small, painful blisters on the genitals, around the anus, and on the buttocks or inner thighs. Before the blisters appear, there may be itching, burning, or tingling on the skin area. The sores sometimes cause severe pain and are more likely to do so in people with weakened immune systems. Women tend to have worse symptoms of genital herpes, but the infection doesn’t cause serious health problems in most people.
Treatment Treatment and Medication Options for Genital Herpes While herpes cannot be cured, it can be managed with oral medications and lifestyle changes. Antiviral medications can ease symptoms and lower the risk of transmission to another person by 70 to 80 percent.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629aeacddde-5df8-418d-a8f9-d7964ca1b55a Medication Options Oral antiviral medication is the primary treatment for genital herpes . A doctor typically prescribes the pills for 7 to 10 days. Recurring outbreaks can be treated with a shorter course of medication. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved four antivirals for herpes: valacyclovir (Valtrex) acyclovir (generic) famciclovir (generic) pritelivir (Hovilpri) for immunocompromised adults whose infection hasn’t responded to the three medications abovee60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e59762941090039-10a8-41dc-a7b2-a9537ec6cc8e The first outbreak is usually the most severe. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends antiviral medication for everyone who has a first episode even if symptoms are mild. Doctors may also recommend taking antiviral medication daily, called suppressive therapy, to reduce the frequency of outbreaks and the risk of transmission.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e5976292f91763a-6cb7-43d6-9428-f4875acd2360 Complementary and Integrative Therapies Experts don’t know for certain what triggers herpes outbreaks, but they’re often associated with fatigue, stress, menstruation, or illness.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e5976292022df7b-c856-4b00-a086-7490db977a86 Practices that reduce stress, such as meditation and yoga, may help reduce outbreaks. Getting enough sleep and following a nutritious diet can support a healthy immune system and make stress easier to manage. Some supplements, such as lysine , have shown some benefit in small studies.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e5976294fd19be1-69fe-4579-9fdd-6f5833831cbf However, no supplement has been proven as effective as antiviral medications.
Diagnosis How Is Genital Herpes Diagnosed? A doctor can often diagnose genital herpes just by looking at the sores. A fluid sample from a sore or a blood test can also help screen for genital herpes. Testing can show whether someone has herpes, but it can’t show who passed on the infection or when it happened.
Causes Causes and Risk Factors of Genital Herpes Two types of viruses cause genital herpes: herpes simplex type 1 (HSV-1) and herpes simplex type 2 (HSV-2) . HSV-1 typically causes oral herpes, which show up as cold sores, or fever blisters , around the mouth. Most people contract oral herpes in their childhood or young adulthood through nonsexual contact with the saliva of a person who has the infection. Oral herpes doesn’t mean someone has genital herpes, but HSV-1 can spread from the mouth to a partner’s genitals during oral sex. HSV-2 causes most cases of genital herpes . Since genital herpes is transmitted mainly through sex, it rarely arises before adolescence. When a child develops genital herpes, healthcare providers must consider the possibility of sexual abuse. Genital herpes spreads through vaginal, anal, or oral sex with someone who has HSV-1 or HSV-2. The virus can pass through contact with: A herpes sore Saliva or oral skin area of a partner with oral herpes Genital fluids or skin in the genital area of a partner with genital herpes People at a higher risk of HSV-2 infection include women, people who have multiple sexual partners, people in lower-income households, and people with HIV . Herpes sores can create tears in skin that make it easier for HIV to enter the body.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629c25f66fd-2db1-4db3-a03d-24d7542618a5 “The more partners you have and the more partners they have had, the more likely you are to contract genital herpes,” says I. Cori Baill, MD , an obstetrician-gynecologist and an associate professor at the University of Central Florida College of Medicine in Orlando. “You sleep with everybody your partners have ever slept with.” You can contract genital herpes from a partner who has no visible sores, or from a partner who doesn’t know that they have the infection. Genital herpes is most infectious during outbreaks when a person has visible sores, especially during the first outbreak.