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Genital herpes is a sexually transmitted infection (STI) caused by the herpes simplex virus (HSV).

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Genital herpes can cause painful blisters and sores on the genitals, buttocks, thighs, or rectal area. Other symptoms include tingling, burning, itching, or pain at the site where the blisters will appear. However, most people with genital herpes don't notice any symptoms or have very mild symptoms.

General symptoms for those with a penis include blisters on the:

Penis

Scrotum

Buttocks (near or around the anus)

General symptoms for those with a vagina include blisters around or near the:

Vagina

Anus

Buttocks

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Transmission between sexual partners — The herpes virus is most often transmitted between partners during oral, anal, or vaginal sex. There is no risk of becoming infected after exposure to environmental surfaces (door knobs, toilet seats, bed sheets).

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There is no cure for herpes, but there are ways to reduce your chances of getting it or passing it on:

Use condoms: Use condoms correctly and consistently during vaginal, anal, or oral sex. Condoms reduce the risk of transmission, but herpes can still be passed on if the condom doesn't cover the infected area.

Avoid sex during outbreaks: Don't have sex when you or your partner has herpes symptoms, such as sores, blisters, itching, or tingling.

Use other barrier methods: Use dams, sponges, diaphragms, or cervical caps.

Talk openly with your partner: Let your partner know you have herpes before having sex and allow them to decide what to do.

Take antiviral medication: If you have frequent outbreaks, your doctor may prescribe antiviral medication to reduce the risk of infecting your partner.

Get medical male circumcision: This can provide partial protection against HSV-2 infection.

Practice safe sex habits: Wash your hands with soap and water after touching a sore, and don't share towels, toothbrushes, or lipstick.

Take care of your immune system: Get enough sleep, eat healthy foods, and keep stress low.

Protect yourself from the sun: Use sunscreen, especially on your lips.

Don't breastfeed if you have sores: If you have sores on your breast, don't breastfeed or give your baby expressed milk from that breast until your sores have healed.

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The best ways to prevent genital herpes | Stanford Center for Health Education

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Genital herpes is a lifelong infection that can cause a number of complications, including:

Other sexually transmitted infections

People with genital herpes are at a higher risk of contracting other STIs because the herpes sores can make it easier for HIV to enter the body.

Brain infection

In rare cases, genital herpes can lead to a brain infection called meningoencephalitis.

Eye infections

In rare cases, genital herpes can lead to eye infections like keratitis.

Other complications

Other complications include vaginal yeast infections, bladder problems, internal inflammatory disease, and finger infections.

More severe symptoms

People with weakened immune systems or who have genital herpes for the first time may experience more severe symptoms.

Frequent recurrences

People with weakened immune systems may experience more frequent recurrences of genital herpes.

There is no cure for genital herpes, but there are treatments that can help shorten and prevent outbreaks. Medications can help reduce symptoms and speed up healing.

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Infected newborns may have mild symptoms at first, such as low grade fever (100.4 degrees F., or more, rectally), poor feeding, or one or more small skin blisters. This can happen two to 12 days after HSV exposure. If any of these occur, notify your doctor immediately.

Newborns can become very sick quickly with high fever and seizures, and may become lethargic (floppy).

HSV infection in newborns can be very severe and can even cause death.

How can you prevent your newborn from getting HSV?

If you are pregnant and have a history or signs and symptoms of genital HSV-2 infection, tell your doctor as soon as possible. A C-section delivery is recommended if a mother has an HSV-2 outbreak near the time of birth.

Everyone should wash their hands before touching the newborn.

Do not kiss your baby or let others kiss your baby if you or they have cold sores on the mouth or lips.

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Herpes Simplex virus pregnancy and your baby 2023

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Herpes sores on outer female reproductive tract

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Herpes sores on outer female reproductive tract

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There is no cure for herpes, but there are treatments that can help manage symptoms and reduce the risk of spreading the virus:

Antiviral medications

These can reduce the severity and duration of symptoms, and can help prevent future outbreaks. Some common antiviral medications include acyclovir, famciclovir, and valacyclovir. It's most effective to start taking these medications as soon as symptoms appear.

Pain medication

Paracetamol (acetaminophen), naproxen, or ibuprofen can help with pain from sores.

Topical anesthetics

Benzocaine and lidocaine can help numb the affected area.

Self-care

Keeping the area clean and dry, taking a warm bath, and wearing cotton underwear can help. You can also try applying an ice pack wrapped in a washcloth.

Avoiding triggers

Sun exposure, illness, fever, menstrual period, injury, emotional stress, and surgery can all trigger the virus. You can try to avoid these triggers, and you can apply sunblock lip balm when you're outside.

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Lack of Education and Effective Herpes Testing Are Barriers to Patients

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Lack of Education and Effective Herpes Testing Are Barriers to Patients

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Many patients say that a lack of accurate testing and ignorance about the condition among their providers pose further challenges. There are two ways to test for the virus. For a patient with an active outbreak, clinicians can directly swab the sore and provide a highly accurate result. Asymptomatic patients can seek out a blood test, but there is significant risk of receiving a false positive. “Current testing measures are absolutely not adequate. We’ve had the same tests on the market for decades,” says Jeffrey Klausner, MD, professor of clinical population and public health sciences at Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California. “There just hasn’t been a push or demand for expansion of confirmatory testing.”