Genital Herpes

Source: http://www.medicinenet.com/

What causes genital herpes?

The herpes viruses enter the skin or mucous membrane through tiny, even microscopic, breaks in the tissue. Because an infected person may transmit the disease even when he or she does not have signs or symptoms of herpes, avoiding sexual contact with someone with active blisters does not guarantee protection against the infection.

Individual outbreaks of herpes vary among affected people in terms of their frequency and severity. Outbreaks can be related to the function of the immune system and are typically worse in cases in which the immune system is suppressed; for example, at times of physical or emotional stress, during illness, or when you are taking certain medications.

How is genital herpes transmitted?

HSV infection is transmitted by direct person-to-person contact. Genital herpes is acquired through sexual contact of any type that involves contact with the genital areas. Genital herpes can also be caused by mouth to genital contact with a person who has cold sores or herpes infection of the mouth. Transmission from an infected male to a female partner is more likely than transmission from an infected woman to a male partner.

What are the signs and symptoms of genital herpes?

In women, genital herpes usually causes blistering lesions on the vulva and around the vaginal opening that progress to ulcer formation. The infection spreads to involve the cervix in most cases, leading to cervicitis (inflammation of the cervix). In some women, cervicitis may be the only sign of genital herpes infection. Infection and inflammation of the urethra accompanies the infection in some women, leading to pain on urination.Many people infected with genital herpes have mild symptoms or symptoms that are mistaken for another condition. It is also possible to be infected and have no symptoms, so not everyone who is infected may be aware of the infection. When symptoms are present, they consist of typically painful blisters around the genital or rectal area. The blisters break open, form ulcers, and take 2 to 4 weeks to heal. With the first outbreak of genital herpes, a person may also experience flu-like symptoms including fever, body aches, and swollen lymph nodes. Immediately prior to an outbreak, there may be an itching, burning, or tingling sensation of the skin.

After the initial infection, a person typically has outbreaks later in life.

Top 10 Herpes Facts (Sex Health Guru Tip)

Herpes

Source: http://www.bodyandsoul.com.au/health

Herpes is a common contagious viral infection that is easily spread through kissing and sex.

Herpes is a common sexually transmitted infection caused by the herpes simplex virus (HSV) that cycle between periods of active disease – presenting as infectious blisters – that last 2–21 days, followed by a remission period, during which the sores disappear.

There are two types: HSV1 and HSV2. HSV1 is usually found around the lips and mouth and is commonly known as cold sores; HSV2 more typically infects the genital and anal areas although either HSV1 or HSV2 can occur on either the lips, mouth, genital or anal areas.

Herpes enters the body through the skin of the genitals, mouth and anus, or through tiny cuts and abrasions in the skin anywhere on the body and you can develop symptoms days, weeks or even months after infection or not at all.

When the blisters occur they become itchy then burst to become painful ulcers that then heal by themselves about a week after the outbreak. Some people may only ever have one outbreak of symptoms, while other people have outbreaks throughout the remainder of their lives.

A doctor will either diagnose you through observing the blisters or through a blood test.

There is no cure, you will have herpes for life, but there are anti-viral drugs and ointments that help reduce the severity of outbreaks. Keeping the area dry, bathing ulcers salt water and taking paracetamol for the pain helps too.