About one out of five people in the United States has genital herpes. That’s more than 50 million people in the United States who have genital herpes. 85% of people with genital herpes don’t know they have it.Genital Herpes is essentially a sexually transmitted disease for which there is no proven cure.
Contrary to what many people believe, having genital herpes does not signify a lack of personal hygiene, and neither does it signify a person has had a multitude of sexual partners.
Contrary to what many people believe, having genital herpes does not signify a lack of personal hygiene, and neither does it signify a person has had a multitude of sexual partners.
Herpes Symptoms
Genital herpes remains a sexual transmitted disease that affects millions of people throughout the world. Yet, this STD remains a condition that very few people know much about. There are even individuals that contracted herpes and have been suffering from the problem for several years despite not knowing they have the condition.
The reason that such a problem can occur is due to the fact that they do not recognize the symptoms of herpes. Or, they may recognize the symptoms but do not believe they are a sign of herpes. Rather, they assume that something minor is wrong and do nothing to correct the problem. This can lead the herpes outbreak to get worse. It also increases the odds that afflicted person will spread it to someone else.
When taking all these issues into consideration, it is best to learn the basic signs of herpes symptoms. This way, you can recognize the symptoms as soon as they occur and then seek immediate medical treatment.
The common symptoms are not that difficult to recognize. Here are the most common ones:
The reason that such a problem can occur is due to the fact that they do not recognize the symptoms of herpes. Or, they may recognize the symptoms but do not believe they are a sign of herpes. Rather, they assume that something minor is wrong and do nothing to correct the problem. This can lead the herpes outbreak to get worse. It also increases the odds that afflicted person will spread it to someone else.
When taking all these issues into consideration, it is best to learn the basic signs of herpes symptoms. This way, you can recognize the symptoms as soon as they occur and then seek immediate medical treatment.
The common symptoms are not that difficult to recognize. Here are the most common ones:
- Itching - Among the very first symptoms that will be clearly noticeable would be severe itching in the genital region. This will likely occur within a few weeks after sexual contact with someone that is infected. Most will assume that the itching is jock itch or a minor allergic reaction. As a result, they do not realize they have contracted a sexual transmitted disease.
- Red Bumps - Small red bumps that look like pimples will appear on the body. These sores can show up within a week after sexual contact. For men, this can appear on the penis shaft and in women they can appear on the vulva. The red bumps can become filled with white pus. These whiteheads can break and ooze both pus and blood.
- Ulcers - After the red bumps develop pus, the bumps can turn into ulcers. The ulcers may bleed and ooze until they develop scabs. The scabs will heal but the problem does not go away. More red bumps will appear at different intervals. These ulcers can also cause pain when urinating which would be a serious red flag that a sexual transmitted disease may have been contracted.
- Flu Symptoms - Yes, you will discover a high fever, headache, and other severe flu like symptoms within a week after sexual contact. In some instances, the lymph nodes in the genital region can become swollen.
- Cold Sores – These are small lesions appearing on lips, nostrils, gums and/or roof of mouth. Once a person is infected with Herpes Simples 1, it can remain dormant in the body until fever and/or a cold triggers a flare-up. Extreme temperatures can also cause cold sores.Anyone susceptible to breakouts should limit/avoid foods containing arginine, an amino acid that sustains the virus. Arginine rich foods include: peanuts, chocolate, beer, peas and chocolate. Lysine counteracts arginine.
- Genital Herpes – Occurs in a woman’s cervix and/or vagina. In men, the virus appears on/around the penis. It can materialize around the anus of either sex.
Genital Herpes and Sex
The herpes virus, in any form, is notoriously contagious, particularly during times when the virus is active. During this phase, the virus causes skin irritation in and around the vagina in the case of women, while with men both the penis and scrotum can be affected. As the condition progresses, the red inflamed areas develop blisters contain a clear fluid. The blisters will then burst and a scab will form.
Once the scabs drop off, the virus usually goes back into hiding, and can remain dormant for several years at a time. Transmission of the virus from one person to another while it’s dormant is exceptionally rare, although not impossible. If however you have intercourse with an infected person when the virus is active, you will almost certainly contract the disease yourself.
It’s also worth noting that genital herpes can spread orally as well. If for example you have an active herpes outbreak and your partner perform oral sex on you, they will then end up with oral herpes. The same principle applies if you have oral herpes and you perform oral sex, your partner will then end up with genital herpes.
Many infected people only experience an outbreak every few years, while other carriers tend to have an outbreak regularly. The severity of an outbreak can also vary considerably from one person to the next. For some, it nothing more than an annoying inconvenience, while for others it can be excruciatingly painful. In most such cases, the pain is accompanied by severe itching, and of course, if you scratch the area, you run the risk of tearing the scab off, and that in turn means you could potentially spread the virus via your fingers.
Regardless of what you may have heard, there is no cure for herpes. Once you have the virus, it will stay with you for the remainder of your life, although you may be fortunate enough to never experience any severe outbreaks. Doctors and scientists are working hard to produce an effective vaccine that would essentially give a person immunity, but as of yet, no such vaccine exists. The important thing to remember, particularly if you have been infected, is that the condition can be treated in order to provide relief from the symptoms. Learn about herpes virus.
In cases where a person has a severe breakout, it’s important to seek medical advice as soon as possible. Unfortunately, however, many people suffer in silence simply because they’re embarrassed. In truth, there is no need to be embarrassed, considering that statistics reveal that approximately 1 in 4 sexually active women carry the herpes virus. On a global scale, it’s estimated that 1 in 6 of the world’s population has herpes in one form or another.
Once the scabs drop off, the virus usually goes back into hiding, and can remain dormant for several years at a time. Transmission of the virus from one person to another while it’s dormant is exceptionally rare, although not impossible. If however you have intercourse with an infected person when the virus is active, you will almost certainly contract the disease yourself.
It’s also worth noting that genital herpes can spread orally as well. If for example you have an active herpes outbreak and your partner perform oral sex on you, they will then end up with oral herpes. The same principle applies if you have oral herpes and you perform oral sex, your partner will then end up with genital herpes.
Many infected people only experience an outbreak every few years, while other carriers tend to have an outbreak regularly. The severity of an outbreak can also vary considerably from one person to the next. For some, it nothing more than an annoying inconvenience, while for others it can be excruciatingly painful. In most such cases, the pain is accompanied by severe itching, and of course, if you scratch the area, you run the risk of tearing the scab off, and that in turn means you could potentially spread the virus via your fingers.
Regardless of what you may have heard, there is no cure for herpes. Once you have the virus, it will stay with you for the remainder of your life, although you may be fortunate enough to never experience any severe outbreaks. Doctors and scientists are working hard to produce an effective vaccine that would essentially give a person immunity, but as of yet, no such vaccine exists. The important thing to remember, particularly if you have been infected, is that the condition can be treated in order to provide relief from the symptoms. Learn about herpes virus.
In cases where a person has a severe breakout, it’s important to seek medical advice as soon as possible. Unfortunately, however, many people suffer in silence simply because they’re embarrassed. In truth, there is no need to be embarrassed, considering that statistics reveal that approximately 1 in 4 sexually active women carry the herpes virus. On a global scale, it’s estimated that 1 in 6 of the world’s population has herpes in one form or another.
Stages of Genital Herpes
Genital herpes is one of the most common sexually transmitted diseases. The biggest reason for this is that it is so very easy to pass along. A person doesn’t even have to know that they have it to pass it. It can be passed by genital contact, as well as oral contact and even just by having the virus on fingers. Genital herpes doesn’t just appear on the genitals themselves. It can be anywhere in the area including the anus.
There are actually 5 common herpes viruses that people can get. Herpes simplex 1 is the kind that causes cold sores. They are usually in the same place on the face, usually around the lips and nose. The virus can get into a person’s eyes can cause conjunctivitis. There are a lot of things that can trigger an attack of simplex 1, but they are only contagious by direct contact with the sore or the fluid inside the sore.
Herpes simplex 2 is the kind that causes genital herpes. Once a person has this kind of herpes they will always have this kind of herpes. It shows up as small ulcers that are very painful. The sores will last for up to 21 days. A person who has herpes simplex 2 can also have problems with urination, as well as fever and headaches.
Chicken pox and shingles are caused by the varicella-zoster strain of herpes. Epstein-Barr and cytomegalovirus are the two other forms of herpes.
Once a person has been infected the initial infection shows up somewhere between 2 and 8 days. The problem is that not everyone knows they got infected because they don’t see any signs at all. The first signs for people who do have symptoms are red blisters. This stage is over very quickly as the blisters turn into open sores. The person might also feel like they have the flu and/or have problems with painful urination.
After the sores heal the virus itself starts moving from the initial infection site to the nerves in and around the spine where it will continue to live and reproduce itself. The body will produce antibodies but there is no way to get rid of the disease.
After a person has been infected they will always have genital herpes. They can spread it even when they are asymptomatic. That’s why it gets spread so easily. A person doesn’t have to have a sore for it to be passed. Even when a person does have a sore it isn’t always easily seen.
The best way to avoid getting genital herpes is to use a condom whenever having sex. The barrier of the condom can keep the open lesion from coming into contact with a sexual partner. It’s also important for an infected person to share that knowledge with any sexual partners.
While there is no cure there are treatments. There are antiviral medications that are specifically geared towards treating genital herpes. Cyclovir and Famvir are just two of the medications that can be taken. The infected person takes the medicine at the first sign of an outbreak. It can lessen the length and intensity of the outbreak.
It must first be noted that the herpes simplex discussed in this article are the genital and oral types only instead of the other types of the infection including ocular herpes, herpetic whitlow, and cerebral herpes infection encephalitis, among others. Oral herpes is the most common infection while genital herpes comes in second.
Resources:
www.stpt.com/directory/health/diseases_and_conditions/
botw.org/top/Health/Conditions_and_Illness/Infectious_Diseases/Viral/Herpes/
There are actually 5 common herpes viruses that people can get. Herpes simplex 1 is the kind that causes cold sores. They are usually in the same place on the face, usually around the lips and nose. The virus can get into a person’s eyes can cause conjunctivitis. There are a lot of things that can trigger an attack of simplex 1, but they are only contagious by direct contact with the sore or the fluid inside the sore.
Herpes simplex 2 is the kind that causes genital herpes. Once a person has this kind of herpes they will always have this kind of herpes. It shows up as small ulcers that are very painful. The sores will last for up to 21 days. A person who has herpes simplex 2 can also have problems with urination, as well as fever and headaches.
Chicken pox and shingles are caused by the varicella-zoster strain of herpes. Epstein-Barr and cytomegalovirus are the two other forms of herpes.
Once a person has been infected the initial infection shows up somewhere between 2 and 8 days. The problem is that not everyone knows they got infected because they don’t see any signs at all. The first signs for people who do have symptoms are red blisters. This stage is over very quickly as the blisters turn into open sores. The person might also feel like they have the flu and/or have problems with painful urination.
After the sores heal the virus itself starts moving from the initial infection site to the nerves in and around the spine where it will continue to live and reproduce itself. The body will produce antibodies but there is no way to get rid of the disease.
After a person has been infected they will always have genital herpes. They can spread it even when they are asymptomatic. That’s why it gets spread so easily. A person doesn’t have to have a sore for it to be passed. Even when a person does have a sore it isn’t always easily seen.
The best way to avoid getting genital herpes is to use a condom whenever having sex. The barrier of the condom can keep the open lesion from coming into contact with a sexual partner. It’s also important for an infected person to share that knowledge with any sexual partners.
While there is no cure there are treatments. There are antiviral medications that are specifically geared towards treating genital herpes. Cyclovir and Famvir are just two of the medications that can be taken. The infected person takes the medicine at the first sign of an outbreak. It can lessen the length and intensity of the outbreak.
It must first be noted that the herpes simplex discussed in this article are the genital and oral types only instead of the other types of the infection including ocular herpes, herpetic whitlow, and cerebral herpes infection encephalitis, among others. Oral herpes is the most common infection while genital herpes comes in second.
Resources:
www.stpt.com/directory/health/diseases_and_conditions/
botw.org/top/Health/Conditions_and_Illness/Infectious_Diseases/Viral/Herpes/