Genital Herpes

• Genital herpes is a common infection that causes painful blisters on the genitals and nearby areas, caused by the herpes simplex virus (HSV).

  Genital herpes is most often transmitted through sexual contact, and so is commonly classified as a sexually transmitted infection (STI). Like many STIs, HSV is highly contagious and can be spread by any direct contact with the affected areas.

  Once you contract the herpes virus, you cannot cure the virus completely; however, you can use antiviral medication to treat symptoms and keep outbreaks at bay.

Cold sores and genital herpes are both caused by the herpes virus, but they are caused by different strains of the virus. Small blisters appear on the lips and face as cold sores, caused by the herpes simplex virus-1 (HSV-1). The HSV-2 virus causes genital herpes, which is spread through sexual contact. Both HSV-1 and HSV-2 can cause mouth and genital sores.

In some cases of genital herpes outbreaks, you won’t experience any symptoms at all, but you can still be contagious. More commonly, you will notice changes in the affected area around 2 to 12 days after exposure to the virus.

Common symptoms of genital herpes include:

• Small blisters around the genitals that burst and leave open sores.
• Red bumps.
• Itching, pain or tenderness in the genital area.
• Bleeding or oozing ulcers.
• Pain when urinating.
• Unusual vaginal discharge.

Sores may appear differently depending on where they crop up on your body. They often occur in the following areas:

• Buttocks and thighs
• Anus
• Mouth
• Urethra
• Vagina or penis
• scrotum

If you do notice signs of the condition, no matter where it appears, it’s important to seek a genital herpes treatment to reduce symptoms and prevent further outbreaks.

You should always have the primary (first) infection of genital herpes diagnosed by a healthcare professional. If you develop any symptoms of genital herpes it is important to seek medical attention as soon as possible. This is because the infection is much easier to diagnose when it’s still active. If the HSV has reverted to a dormant state then the laboratory analysis may come back as negative, meaning a conclusive diagnosis will not be possible until you suffer a recurrent outbreak.

Your doctor or sexual health specialist may ask:

• If this is the first time you have experienced these symptoms
• If you have ever suffered from cold sores (also caused by the herpes virus)
• If you have ever had a sexually transmitted infection (STI)
• About your history of sexual partners

For a conclusive diagnosis, a swab will be used to collect a sample of fluid from one of the blisters. This sample will then be sent to a laboratory for analysis. The laboratory will be able to identify the presence of the herpes simplex virus.

Recurrent outbreaks of genital herpes can then be self-diagnosed and treated as long as the symptoms remain the same and the outbreaks do not get worse.

between an initial outbreak (primary infection) and a recurrent attack. If you are suffering from a primary infection of genital herpes then it is likely you will be prescribed an antiviral medication, for example, Aciclovir 400mg tablets.

Aciclovir works by preventing the herpes simplex virus from multiplying. Aciclovir, and other antivirals, are unable to completely eradicate the infection from the body. The dose of Aciclovir when treating genital herpes is typically one 400mg tablet, five times a day after your initial outbreak. You will need to take Aciclovir for at least five days or longer depending on whether new blisters are still forming when you start treatment. For subsequent outbreaks of genital herpes, you only need to take one Aciclovir 400mg tablet, three times a day for five days. Other antiviral medications used to treat genital herpes include Valaciclovir, which works in a similar way to Aciclovir.

Lidocaine 5% ointment is an anaesthetic ointment used to know the area of genital herpes to relieve the pain and irritation of blistering during the outbreak. It does not treat the infection itself, however, it helps to relieve the symptoms whilst the outbreak clears on its own.

Recurrent outbreaks may require a course of Aciclovir however, if your symptoms are mild, you may wish to use some self-help techniques to ease the symptoms. These can include:

Using salt water to clean the affected area can help prevent blisters and ulcers from becoming infected as well as encouraging them to heal more rapidly
Drinking plenty of fluid. This will help dilute the urine, making it less painful to pass
Avoid wearing clothing that is tight fitting as this may irritate the ulcers and blisters
Use an ice pack wrapped in a flannel to help soothe the pain and speed up the healing process
Apply petroleum jelly (Vaseline) to any blisters or ulcers to help reduce the pain when passing urine