Reviewed by: Daniel Williams, MD<\/p>\n
What is Genital Herpes<\/strong> While infection with the virus is incurable for life, there is medicine available that is FDA-approved to reduce the frequency and severity of outbreaks. <\/p>\n Below is some more information about the disease, which may help answer your questions.<\/p>\n When can a herpes outbreak first occur?<\/strong> What signs and symptoms should I watch out for?<\/strong> What other factors can bring the on an outbreak of genital herpes?<\/strong> What do herpes blisters or sores look like?<\/strong> How long do the sores last?<\/strong> How often do outbreaks occur?<\/strong> How will I know when an outbreak is about to begin?<\/strong> What <\/strong>tests<\/strong> can I have done to find out if I have herpes?<\/strong><\/p>\n The appearance of sores usually indicates the presence of the virus. Doctors take a swab of the sore to confirm the diagnosis. It can take a few days for laboratories to analyze the swab sample and determine if it is the virus herpes.<\/p>\n What are the complications of genital herpes?<\/strong> Is there a cure or treatment for genital herpes?<\/strong>
\nGenital Herpes is a common sexually transmitted disease, usually caused by the Herpes Simplex Virus -2, which results in blisters or open sores, also called ulcers, around the genitals or other parts of the body. It is acquired through skin-to-skin contact, sexual contact or exchange of body fluids from infected persons. The majority of affected persons do not experience any symptoms of the disease, thus they are not even aware that they have it. <\/p>\n
\nAn outbreak can occur two weeks after having sex with an infected person, if you have become infected. It can also lie dormant for up to six months, but is easily found by conducting STD testing at a sexual health clinic.<\/p>\n
\nSores that develop in groups or crops, fever, swollen glands, severe headaches, muscle aches, vaginal discharge and painful urination are indicative of the infection.<\/p>\n
\nStress, the menstrual cycle, excessive alcohol consumption, exposure of infected area to UV rays, surgery and weakened immune systems from any cause.<\/p>\n
\nBefore blisters or sores appear, a person will feel a discomforting sensation like tingling, itching or burning. This will be followed by red spots, which turn into clear, fluid-filled blisters in a day or two. After that, the blisters will end up being a whitish-yellow color. When the blisters burst, they will heal and eventually will become a dry scab. If the blisters do not occur, small cuts or cracks on the skin may surface instead.<\/p>\n
\nThe sores heal in a span of two to four weeks.<\/p>\n
\nPeople who experience their initial outbreak can expect for it to happen four or five times in a year. Over time, the outbreaks will lessen.<\/p>\n
\nRecurrent outbreaks start when a person feels an itching, tingling or burning sensation in the infected areas. There are those that experience a sharp pain in their pelvis or lower leg, this pain is caused by irritation and inflammation of the nerves and infected skin areas.<\/p>\n
\nRecurrent genital herpes can be very painful and mentally challenging to the sufferer. It can also cause life-threatening infections in newborn babies if herpes sores appear during active labor with a vaginal delivery. For this reason cesarean deliveries are the standard of care.<\/p>\n
\nHerpes can only be controlled. So far, there is no permanent cure for it but you can prevent and treat genital herpes. Antiviral medications can shorten and prevent numerous outbreaks from occurring. Valtrex, for instance, reduces the number of genital herpes outbreaks. Medications such as Valtrex also decrease the chance that the disease will be transmitted to one’s partner. Valtrex also aids in healing sores faster and prevents the development of painful outbreaks when taken before an outbreak. <\/p>\n