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Genital herpes is transmitted through vaginal, anal and oral sex, from an infectious individual to his or her sexual partner.

Genital herpes may cause no symptoms in some individuals, whereas others may get itching, tingling or pain in the genital area followed by blisters or sores. An initial infection may be quite severe with multiple blisters that become shallow ulcers.

 

Genital herpes may cause no symptoms in some individuals, whereas others may get itching, tingling or pain in the genital area followed by blisters or sores. An initial infection may be quite severe with multiple blisters that become shallow ulcers.

Herpes can sometimes cause pain or difficulty passing urine, muscular aches, headaches and fever. The signs of herpes may not always be typical blisters or ulcers and may not be easy to recognise, therefore visiting a doctor for examination and testing is important in establishing the diagnosis.

Symptomatic recurrences are always milder than the primary infection and do not occur in all individuals, particularly following a genital herpes virus type 1 infection. However, all individuals infected with either type of herpes will have a lifelong infection

 

The herpes virus infects an individual in the genital tract, mouth, and anus or through tiny abrasions in the skin. It remains dormant in the body within sensory nerves after the first infection and reactivates from time to time causing recurrent symptoms in some people.

An individual with genital herpes is not only infectious when they have genital sores but will also secrete virus from the genital tract at times when they have no symptoms. This is called asymptomatic viral shedding and is a common cause of transmission of the herpes virus.

An infected individual therefore cannot identify all the days that they may be infectious to a sexual partner.

 

Antiviral medication is available to treat herpes. Medication reduces the severity and duration of the initial episode. Some individuals may have frequent episodes that they find painful or distressing, which can be improved considerably with the use of antiviral therapy.

If an individual has recurrences of genital herpes they may opt to take antiviral medication in 1 of 2 ways:

• at the first warning of an impending outbreak for 5 days to prevent or reduce the severity of the recurrence (episodic therapy)
• on a long-term daily basis to prevent outbreaks from occurring at all (suppressive therapy).

This medication is available through any doctor and is extremely well tolerated with few side-effects.

Partners of people with herpes should be tested by a doctor as they may also be infected. If not infected advice should be obtained on how to avoid contracting herpes. Recent studies have shown that consistent use of condoms and/or placing the infected partner on suppressive antiviral therapy will reduce the likelihood of transmission to an uninfected partner.

 

Herpes is also spread by skin contact so condoms do not provide complete protection. Condoms are however useful in reducing transmission of herpes and other STDs.

The risk of neonatal herpes in a woman already infected with genital herpes is very low. It is helpful to discuss herpes in pregnancy with a doctor. Pregnant women who have a partner infected with genital herpes can be tested and advised on how to avoid contracting herpes during pregnancy if they are not infected.