Australian Herpes Management Forum

New Management Guideline: Suppression of Genital Herpes

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The AHMF has released a new management guideline, recommending suppressive treatment for people with recurrent outbreaks of genital herpes.

Over 90% of patients with clinical evidence of a first episode genital herpes outbreak have frequent recurrences of symptoms that are often painful. In order to reduce the frequency of recurrences patients can take antiviral medication on a daily basis and experience a dramatic reduction of symptoms and outbreaks. Research shows that antiviral drugs can reduce the number of recurrences and viral shedding by 85-90%, thus less pain, discomfort and lesions.

There are three antiviral drugs used in Australia to treat genital herpes infections; they are valaciclovir, famciclovir and aciclovir. Indeed many patients will have no recurrences whilst on therapy. All three drugs prevent replication of the herpes virus by inhibiting synthesis of DNA. The drugs act only in virus-infected cells and used on a daily basis they are safe and well tolerated with minimal, if any, adverse side effects.

Professor Adrian Mindel, Director, Sexually Transmitted Infections Research Centre, Westmead Hospital and Professor Sexual Health Medicine, University of Sydney, is the Chair of the Board of the AHMF and says: “Taking daily suppressive therapy will reduce the frequency of recurrences and may help patients with the psychological impact of genital herpes, as some people feel they are unable to develop new relationships or cease having sex for fear of how herpes will impact on their sex life. Some are embarrassed to even tell their partners.”

Professor Mindel stated that “Herpes is not curable but is manageable so one of the major goals when living with herpes is to manage and suppress herpes outbreaks and continue to engage in a healthy sexual life. Many patients on antivirals will have a marked improvement in psychological ad psychosexual well-being and their quality of life will also be improved.”

Read the new guideline...

5 May 2008