Genital Herpes In Women

Genital herpes

Genital herpes is a sexually transmitted disease (STD). The infection is caused by herpes simplex which differs into type 1 and type 2, the latter being the one that affects the genital area. It manifests itself as small blisters that can open, leaving open wounds in the vaginal and anal area, but also the thighs and buttocks. How is it transmitted and what is the cure?

What Are The Symptoms Of Genital Herpes

Symptoms of genital herpes are pretty specific, but they are common to other conditions as well. They can also be traced back to bacterial infections or vaginal mycosis. The only way to diagnose genital herpes is to do a physical exam, swab, or blood test. The main symptoms of herpes are:

 

Chapped, rough, or red skin around the genitals with or without pain, itching, or tingling;

Itching or tingling around the genitals or anal region;

Small blisters that rupture and cause painful sores and scabs;

Pain when urinating, especially in women;

Flu-like symptoms, such as fever, swollen lymph nodes, and fatigue;

The incubation period of herpes

Symptoms may go unnoticed at first and usually occur after five to six days or at most within two weeks of infection. But it is also possible not to have an initial outbreak after the infection and remain asymptomatic for months or even years.

 

After diagnosis, the partner must also undergo a tampon.

 

How Genital herpes is transmitted

Genital herpes is very easy to transmit and is very contagious. It can be transmitted through skin-to-skin contact with the infected area (including vaginal, anal, and oral sex). It can be prevented by using a condom during sexual intercourse, although it is also easy for the skin of the thighs to become infected and therefore this makes the protection of the condom completely ineffective.

 

How long does herpes last

Herpes may start with a first outbreak, which in many cases resolves spontaneously within a few days or may require an antiviral and pain treatment. But the virus remains dormant in the body and can cause new manifestations of the infection throughout life. Some people will never have symptoms again, while others may have several outbreaks throughout the year and this may require antiviral therapy for a longer time.

 
Genital Herpes, How to Treat

Genital herpes is a recurrent infection caused by two viral serotypes: HSV1 and HSV2. The serotype influences the prognosis: type 1 causes up to 30% of cases of primary infection, type 2 is the most involved in relapses. Clinical diagnosis is often insensitive and nonspecific because typical vesicular-ulcerative lesions are frequently absent in people infected with the virus.

 

Viral isolation in culture is the best diagnostic test in the case of active lesions, but loses sensitivity in the case of recurrent or healing lesions, with possible false negatives.

Viral DNA testing (PCR) is more sensitive, but not always feasible on genital samples. The negativity of culture tests does not indicate with certainty an absence of infection, since the viral antigen test does not allow the serotype to be distinguished, but it is possible with the serological antibody test, which is useful both for confirming the diagnosis and for identifying asymptomatic infected people.

Positive serology for HSV2 is in almost all cases due to anogenital infection, while in the case of isolated positive serology for HSV1 in an asymptomatic subject, it is not possible to distinguish between orolabial and anogenital infection.

 

Systemic therapy with antiviral drugs (acyclovir, famciclovir, valacyclovir) should be undertaken both in the case of the first infectious episode and in relapses, resulting in a marked improvement in the extent and duration of symptoms and a shortening of the elimination time of the virus. Therapy does not eradicate the infection, nor does it decrease, once interrupted, the risk, frequency, severity of relapses. Topical antiviral therapy offers little benefit and is not recommended.

 

In the case of a first clinical episode, the recommended treatment regimen is:

 

Acyclovir * 400mg orally three times a day for seven to ten days

or

Acyclovir * 200mg orally five times a day for seven to ten days

 

Famciclovir (250mg orally 3 times a day for 7-10 days) and Valacyclovir (1g orally 2 times a day for 7-10 days), judged to be equally effective, are much more expensive.

 

In case of relapses, you can choose:

 

episodic treatment, to be started within 1 day of the appearance of the lesions or the first symptoms:

Acyclovir 400mg orally three times a day for five days

or

Acyclovir 800mg orally 3 times a day for 2 days

or

Acyclovir 800mg orally 2 times a day for 5 days

or

Famciclovir 125mg orally 2 times a day for 5 days

or

Famciclovir 1000mg orally 2 times a day for 1 day

or

Valacyclovir 500mg orally 2 times a day for 3 days

or

Valacyclovir 1g orally 1 time a day for 5 days

 

 

the long-lasting suppressive treatment reduces the frequency of relapses by 70-80% in particularly prone patients (i.e. presenting more than 6 episodes in a year) and appears to reduce the risk of transmission to the partner

Acyclovir * 400mg orally 2 times a day

or

Famciclovir 250mg orally 2 times a day

or

Valacyclovir 1g orally 1 time a day

 

 

Suppressive therapy can be discontinued after one year and the patient reevaluated clinically. If frequent recurrences reappear, therapy can be restarted.

The efficacy and safety of the suppressive regimen have been demonstrated with both acyclovir * treatment for 6 years and famciclovir for 1 year. The result is a noticeable improvement in the quality of life of those affected.

 

Counseling infected people and their partners are very important. It is necessary to provide some fundamental information, in particular, it must be certain that the patient or the patient:

 

know the natural history of the disease, know the possibility of relapse and the risk of transmission, possible even in asymptomatic periods

be informed about possible treatments available to prevent or shorten the duration of relapses

are encouraged to inform current or future partners and to refrain from sexual intercourse with uninfected partners if prodromal symptoms or injury are present

be aware that the condom, when used correctly and if it covers infected areas, reduces the risk of sexual transmission

know that neonatal transmission is possible and that pregnant women should refrain from having sex with infected partners during the last trimester

Natural Remedies for Herpes

Here are some useful tips to naturally treat blisters at home and avoid acute symptoms:

 

·         Keep the area clean to prevent the blisters from becoming infected;

·         apply an ice pack wrapped in flannel fabric for pain relief;

·         rinse with warm water and 3% salt or boric acid;

·         applying petroleum jelly or a pain reliever cream to reduce pain when urinating;

·         use a topical gel-based on zinc sulfate and/or iodine;

·         pee in the bidet while keeping the water jet open, this should reduce the burning;

·         do not wear tight clothing that could irritate blisters or sores;

·         do not put ice directly on the skin do not touch the blisters or sores unless you are applying the cream;

·         avoid sexual intercourse until the sores have disappeared.

·         Supplementing with propolis, echinacea, and other natural immune system stimulants may also be helpful.

 

In any case, the woman is subjected to antiviral therapy starting from the 36th week of gestation, therefore in the vicinity of birth, which can be vaginal (although in particular circumstances a cesarean section may be recommended).

 

Frequently asked Questions

What if I don't have a lesion? || Herpes of The Mouth

Most patients with genital herpes do not have lesions. Many people do not realize they are infected with the genital herpes virus until a blood test shows they have antibodies to the virus.

 

Do condoms help prevent the spread of genital herpes?

Yeah. We always recommend using condoms to prevent herpes transmission. Many patients are contagious even when they have no symptoms. Many new herpes infections are caused by partners who are asymptomatically shedding the virus, so the use of condoms is highly recommended.

 

If you already have genital herpes, can it spread to other parts of the body, such as the arms or legs?

No. Genital herpes cannot spread to another part of your body, such as an arm, leg, or hand after the initial infection has occurred. If you have genital HSV II, you cannot transmit HSV II to another part of your body. The immune system produces antibodies that protect other parts of your body from infection.

 
Can genital herpes be transmitted through oral sex?

Yes: Genital herpes (type I or II) can be transmitted through oral sex.

 

Can I get genital herpes when I have cold sores in my mouth?

Yeah. Herpes is usually caused by HSV I. People who have HSV I are more likely to become infected with HSV II, the common cause of genital herpes.

 
Is genital herpes infection associated with HIV?

Herpes and HIV are caused by different viruses. However, patients infected with these viruses are more likely to transmit both diseases to their sexual partners. Herpes patients are more vulnerable to HIV infection. People newly diagnosed with herpes should be tested for HIV infection and other sexually transmitted infections.

 

Patients infected with both herpes and HIV may have a higher concentration of HIV in their bodies due to the interaction between the herpes virus and HIV. When HIV damages a person's immune system, the person is more likely to spread the herpes simplex virus.

 

Does Genital Herpes Affect Fertility?

Genital herpes, like other sexually transmitted diseases, can affect fertility because, if caught during pregnancy, it can be responsible for early miscarriage and preterm birth. Also, as we have seen, it can be passed on to the baby and neonatal herpes is a very serious condition.

 

Genital herpes in pregnancy

Women who have had herpes before pregnancy can expect to have no particular complications vaginal delivery goes well and there is no risk to the baby. This is because the antibodies already present should also protect the baby.

If, on the other hand, genital herpes occurs for the first time during pregnancy, there is a risk that the baby will develop a serious disease called neonatal herpes which requires immediate antiviral treatment.