Herpes is a disease that can be caused by one of two kinds of the Herpes virus. Either virus can cause sores and blisters in the genital area, anus, mouth, and throat.Ā Herpes simplex virus type oneĀ (HSV-1) is most commonly responsible for oral herpes. Herpes simplex virus type twoĀ (HSV-2) is typically what causes genital herpes.Ā Although each virus has its infectious preference, both can infect either area.
Herpes is a fairly common virus. According to the CDC, oral herpes in some form is found in over half of Americans, and genital herpes is found in roughly one out of every six people between the ages of 14 and 49 in the United States.Ā It is estimated that 776,000 people acquire new herpes infections every year in the United States alone.Ā
Symptoms
Most people that have herpes do not have any symptoms, and if they do, they are often so mild that they are mistaken for pimples or ingrown hairs.Ā Because of this, herpes often goes unnoticed, undiagnosed, and untreated. If symptoms are present, they can vary slightly depending on the area affected as well as the strain of virus causing them.
Oral herpes tends to be the milder version of the two, causing…
- Ā Sores on the lips, around the mouth, and/or even inside the mouth.Ā These sores, sometimes referred to as cold sores or fever blisters, usually go away on their own, but can return at any time thereafter.
Genital herpes can cause…
- A cluster of blisters on any of the areas near the genitals, including the vagina, vulva, cervix, penis, butt, anus, and inner thighs.Ā When these blisters break they become sores, and can be itchy and painful.
- If HSV-2 infects the genitals, it can also come with flu-like symptoms such as swollen glands, fever, chills, headache, and fatigue.
- The first genital herpes outbreak is most commonly the worst, and starts anywhere between 2-20 days after contracting the virus.
- This first outbreak can last anywhere from two to four weeks.
- After the initial outbreak, any subsequent flare-ups tend to decrease in severity over time.Ā With that being said, there have been cases where the initial outbreak doesnāt happen for years, so a lack of outbreaks is not a reliable indicator that one is herpes-free.
TransmissionĀ
The herpes virus is spread through physical contact with someone who has the virus.Ā Someone with the oral herpes infection can spread the virus through their sores, saliva, and skin around the mouth. Many people who have oral herpes contracted it from non-sexual contact with saliva at some point during their childhood.
If someone has genital herpes, their sores, skin around their genitals, and genital secretions can spread the virus.Ā The virus is most commonly spread through sexual acts such as vaginal sex, oral sex, anal sex, and kissingābut it can also be spread through non-sexual acts.Ā Mothers with the virus can pass it on to their child during childbirth, and someone can pass it on after touching an open blister and then coming into contact with someone elseās mouth, eyes, or genital area. Additionally,Ā if someone touches an open herpes sore, the liquid from the sore can carry the virus to another area of the body, such as the eyes.Ā One way to avoid that is to refrain from touching any sores and thoroughly washing your hands if you do.
A lack of sores does not mean that one is temporarily not ācontagious.”
There are some common myths about how herpes is transmitted. ItĀ cannotĀ be transmitted through…
- hugging
- holding hands
- sneezing or coughing
- sitting on a toilet seatāthe virus dies too quickly when it is outside of the body to make these types of transmissions possible.
Ā
Prevention
The tricky thing about this virus is that it often goes undetected. Because people can be asymptomatic, many are unaware that they are infected and can unknowingly spread the virus to others. The only way to completely protect yourself from herpes is to abstain from sex, but if you choose to be sexually active, there are a few ways to have safer sex that can help you protect yourself and lessen the chances of contracting the virus.
- Using protection such as condoms or dental dams lowers the risk of transmission, but does not eliminate it completely. Even with perfect use, condoms leave areas where herpes can live unprotected (scrotum, butt cheeks, upper thighs, labia).Ā Check out the CDCās guidelines for putting on condoms to make sure youāre using them correctly.
- If you or your partner are having an outbreak, try to avoid having sex until itās over. The virus is most easily spread when sores are present.
Diagnosis
Herpes is often asymptomatic or its symptoms are mistaken for other skin conditions, which leads many people who have the disease to be completely unaware of it. Any sores or blisters near the mouth, genitals, or anus, should be brought to the attention of a medical provider who can determine whether they are caused by herpes.
If you have no visible symptoms, they can administer a blood test to see if there are any herpes antibodies present in your blood.Ā STD tests are usually left out of routine check-ups, but you can bring it up the subject of sexual health with your doctor so they can assess your risks and administer the tests most suited for you.
If you feel uncomfortable talking to your doctor or nurse about your sexual activity, you always have the option to find a different provider you feel more comfortable with. Remember that sexual health is an integral part of your overall health, and medical professionals are there to ensure that you are living your best and healthiest life.
Treatment
The bottom line is that herpes cannot be cured, but there are many different treatments available that can help suppress and control outbreaks and reduce the chances of transmitting the disease to someone else.
- Antiviral medications can be used both topically and orally to help minimize the symptoms of herpes. Creams and ointments can reduce any burning, itching, or unpleasant sensations that come with an outbreak, and pills or shots are available that can shorten the duration of future outbreaks.
- When taken on a daily basis, antiviral medications such as Acyclovir, Famciclovir, and Valacyclovir reduce the frequency of outbreaks, and in turn reduce the risk of transmission. These medications all require a prescription from a doctor.
- Some natural ways to reduce any pain caused by sores include warm baths, wearing soft, loose, and breathable clothes, applying an ice pack to the sores, and keeping the area around the sores dry can all reduce any irritation and speed up the healing process.
- There are no known triggers for herpes outbreaks, but maintaining a healthy lifestyle with exercise, a balanced diet, sleep, and stress management can help your body fight off outbreaks.
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā
Herpes is common. Once you have it, you have it forever, but it doesnāt have to stop you from having a healthy sex life. By taking certain precautions and having open communication with a physician and any partner(s), people with herpes can lead perfectly happy and healthy lives.