Facts about Genital Herpes – A Sexually Transmitted Infection

Genital herpes is actually a sexually transmitted infection and the cause for it is the herpes simplex virus. It is known to affect the mucous membrane which is present on the genitals. The main cause of this sexually transmitted infection (STI) is the HSV virus (Herpes Simplex Virus). This infection can be passed on to other person during a sexual contact. This infection can spread through the discharge from the mouth or from the genitals.

 

It is known that herpes can actually affect the mouth and lips of a patient suffering from it and it also causes cold sores and even fever blisters. This is infection spreads while performing the oral sexual activity. One can easily be infected with this infection if you come in contact with the person who is suffering from herpes. The parts of the body that can be affected are skin, women and men’s reproductive organ. It can even spread even if you touch the skin of the person suffering from herpes or who has sore blisters or even a rash. It is known that the herpes virus can spread even if the blisters and sores are not visible. Some people do not even know if they are infected with this virus.

 

The genital HSV2 infections are more pronounced in men and more men seem to be suffering from it as compared to women.

 

The Symptoms

There are many people who suffer from herpes and do not have sores, some men have very slight to mild symptoms which often go unnoticed they are even mistaken for mosquito bites or insect bites. It is generally reported that the symptoms that occur for the first time are usually very severe and it should not be mistaken for any other kind of skin condition. A patient who has just suffered from an infection the outburst can be noticed in 2 days to even 2 weeks of time.

 

The general symptoms of herpes are:

• Reduction in appetite
• Fever
• A sick feeling
• Muscle pain in lower body like lower back, thighs and buttocks

The genital symptoms are usually small in appearance, but the blisters are very painful. The blisters are usually clear or straw colored fluid and can be found in:

• Near the vaginal lips of women, the cervix, and also around the anus. These blisters are often noticed on thighs or buttocks of women.

• For men they can common around the male member, anus, thighs, buttocks and around the scrotum.

• For both men & women: they are found on tongue, gums, lips, eyes and even other parts of the body.

• Even before the blisters appear on the body of a person the person may feel skin tingling, burning sensation, itching or they also suffer from pain wherever the blister appear.

• After the blisters break there is a continuous pain which is actually the shallow ulcers, but they are very painful. It takes about 7 to 14 days for the ulcers to heal.

Some other symptoms of Genital Herpes are:

• Pain during urination.

• Some women suffer from the vaginal discharge and are unable to empty the bladder which requires a urinary catheter.

It is usually reported that the second outbreak is less severe as compared to the first outbreak and the symptoms usually fade away much sooner as compared to the first outbreak. It is often noted that the outbreaks may often decrease. The HSV2 virus is known to hide around the nerve cells and it remains in the body and is known to remain there for a long time.

 

The virus which often sleeps can be active or wake up and trigger these symptoms:

• Fatigue

• Menstruation

• Genital Irritation

• Emotional stress

• Physical stress

Some people tend to suffer from genital herpes at least once in a year, while some who are not so lucky tend to suffer from it quite often and for such people this infection does not seem to go away at all.

 

Prevention from Genital Herpes:

The only way and also the best way to avoid this virus infection is to avoid any kind of physical contact with a person who seems to suffer from it.

 

This disease can also be prevented by using latex condoms as it reduces the chances of the disease being spread. The correct and consistent use of condoms definitely helps to prevent herpes. The female condoms are also useful in preventing the spread of this disease.

 

A person suffering from genital herpes should inform their partner before hand that they suffer from this disease even if the symptoms are not visible.

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