Genital herpes is an STD or sexually transmitted disease that is caused by a virus called the herpes simplex virus type 1 or HSV-1 or HSV-2. Many genital herpes are caused by HSV-2, but many people have very few or no signs and symptoms from the infection. Signs do occur, and normally appear as small blisters on or around the rectum and genitals. These blisters then break and cause sores that can take up to 4 weeks to heal after the first outbreak. Other outbreaks are certain to occur, as there is no cure for genital herpes.

Transmission of Genital Herpes

Genital herpes is spread by the sores on the genitals. The HSV-1 and 2 are found inside the sores that the virus creates, and are also released through the skin in between the outbreaks of blisters. The HSV-2 infection is normally only encountered during sexual intercourse or contact with someone who is infected. HSV-1 can cause the genital herpes, but is actually more commonly known as fever blisters. This infection is spread by oral sex with an infected partner, and can cause genital herpes outbreaks.

Signs and Symptoms

Many infected people do not know they are infected due to the fact that many times the signs and symptoms can be hard to see. During the first outbreak, the signs would be very noticeable and are normally present about 2 weeks after the virus is transmitted into the body. Sores or blisters begin to form and then flu-like symptoms and fever with swollen glands are common. Once diagnosed with genital herpes, you can expect to have up to 5 outbreaks on average a year. As time passes, the outbreaks will not come as often and will not be as ferocious as the first.

Complications

Recurrent and very painful genital sores are common, and many people with genital herpes will have a suppressed immune system. Psychological distress is common in those who know they are infected due to the embarrassment of telling sexual partners. Fatal infections in babies have occurred, so pregnant women should be careful to avoid contracting herpes during pregnancy. New infections in late stages of pregnancy can cause a high risk of transmitting it to the baby, and a C-section delivery can be used for those women with active outbreaks at the time of delivery. It is not known at this time if herpes leads to the spread of HIV, but it can make people more susceptible to HIV due to the suppressed immune system and can cause HIV infected persons to be more infectious.

Treatment

There is no cure for herpes, this is a disease that will be with your body for the rest of your life. Anitviral medications such as acyclovir and valacyclovir have been proven to help eliminate or decrease the number of outbreaks that a sufferer has annually. Taken daily, this helps to keep outbreaks down, and taken during an outbreak it will decrease the time period of the outbreak, but will not cure the infection.