Genital Herpes
Vineel Eanuga
What are Genital Herpes?
They are a STD virus called herpes simplex(HSV). There are 2 types, HSV 1 which also causes sores and blisters around the mouth. HSV 2 is the most common type of genital herpes.
How is it transmitted?
It is transmitted through vaginal, anal, and oral sex especially unprotected sex when infected skin touches vaginal, oral, or anal area. Because the virus needs to be in a body to survive, they can live in places like on toilet seats meaning that it is hard to get them on areas where infected people have been.
Symptoms
Someone who has the disease may not show symptoms or have sores. Symptoms do cause discomfort. Itching, pain, sores that turn into red, watery blisters, painful urination, oozing of fluid from sores which then heal in the next 2-4 weeks. Tenderness, fever, headache, and swollen lymph nodes may occur. In the future that person who has had an outbreak, their next out break will be not as bad.
Treatment
If you think you or someone you know has it then go to your doctor. Although there is no cure, there is antiviral medication to clear up sores. And your doctor can tell you how to keep sores clean, dry, and how to ease discomfort.
Problems
After herpes sores goes away the virus remains. Both forms of the virus hide then reactivate to bring back the sores. Herpes often comes back again and again in the same place. 4-5 outbreaks can happen in a year although it will lessen with time. Even when there are no sores the virus can still transmit by unprotected sex. It increases the risk of HIV, babies can get it from mothers and can cause meningitis, seizures, and brain damage in baby.
Prevention
The only surefire way to prevent it is to not have sex. Condoms though will help although skin not covered by the condom can spread it. A dental dam can be used to prevent it in oral sex.