Genital Herpes: Essential Facts

Genital herpes is a common cause of blisters or sores on the genitals, but:

• Not all people with blisters or sores on the genitals have genital herpes, and
• Many people with genital herpes don't get blisters or sores on the genitals.

Genital herpes can show up in many different ways, such as:

• Redness or irritation of the skin
• Itchiness, tingling or soreness, or
•  Stinging and burning on passing urine.

 These symptoms aren't always on the genitals. Sometimes they appear on the buttocks, thighs or other areas.

Genital herpes is often not a serious problem.

In fact, many people have such a mild case of genital herpes that they don't even know it's there!

Genital herpes is caused by 2 viruses - herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) or herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2).

These viruses can only be passed on by direct skin-to-skin contact, usually during intercourse or oral sex.

The time from exposure to the viruses and when you first get symptoms is unpredictable.

After a person first contracts HSV-1 or HSV-2, their first outbreak of symptoms may show up anywhere from days to many years later - or not at all.

HSV stays in your system for life. Sometimes the virus becomes re-activated to cause further outbreaks of herpes.

Usually these outbreaks become less frequent and less severe with time. Some people get "warning signs" like tingling or numbness just before an outbreak.

You can have a blood test or a swab test to confirm genital herpes.

Both tests have advantages and disadvantages.

• If a swab from a genital sore shows HSV-1 or HSV-2, then it proves you have genital herpes. But sometimes the test doesn't find the virus, even though it is there.
•  If a blood test shows HSV-1 or HSV-2, then it means you have contracted the virus at some time in the past. But this doesn't prove that the virus is affecting the genitals. For example, most people with cold sores on their lips (which are usually caused by the HSV-1 virus) will show HSV-1 on their blood test.

You can pass on the herpes viruses if you come into contact with someone else's skin.

This is most likely to happen during or just before an outbreak of herpes, but sometimes it can happen when everything feels normal.

You can reduce the risk of catching or passing on herpes.

• Don't have sexual contact if you or your partner have an outbreak of genital herpes or cold sores,
• Use condoms, even when no blisters or sores are visible,
• People with herpes can take medication, which has been proven to reduce the chance of passing it on to partners.

Anti-viral medications are very effective.

They can be taken to:

• Make outbreaks of herpes clear up more quickly
• Prevent outbreaks of herpes in people who carry the virus
• Reduce the chance of passing the virus on to sexual partners