Genital herpes

Genital herpes: Introduction

Genital Herpes is a common, sexually transmitted disease that affects the genitals and/or anus. It is an infectious condition, caused by viruses, known as herpes simplex viruses (HSVs). Genital herpes is highly contagious through sexual contact involving the genitals. Genital herpes infection can remain in the body indefinitely for long periods without symptoms. When there is an episode or "flare up" of genital herpes symptoms, they may include blisters to the genitalia and anus. Blisters break open, leaving sores (ulcers) that may take several weeks to heal. About one out of five adolescents and adult in the U.S. have had HSV infection, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Genital herpes infection may make people more susceptible to HIV infection, and it can make people with HIV more infectious.

Symptoms of Genital herpes

• No symptoms - it is possible to be infected and not know it
• Sores - these can afflict various areas of the body
  • Red bumps - sores begin as small red bumps.
  • Blisters - sores then become blisters and then change into sores.
  • Vaginal sores
• more symptoms...»

See full list of 27 symptoms of Genital herpes

Home Diagnostic Testing

Home medical testing related to Genital herpes:

• Home STD Testing
  • Home HIV Tests
  • Home Chlamydia Tests
  • Home Hepatitis Tests
  • Home Herpes Tests
  • Home Trichomonas Tests
• Sexuality & Libido: Home Testing:
  • Home Hormone Tests
  • Home Libido Tests
  • Home Menopause Testing
  • Home Andropause Tests
• Liver Health & Hepatitis: Home Testing
  • Home Hepatitis Tests
  • Home Liver Tests
  • Sexually Transmitted Disease Tests
• more tests...»

Genital herpes: Complications

Review possible medical complications related to Genital herpes:

• Mother-infant transmission (see Birth symptoms) - a fetus can catch herpes and the baby is born with herpes. The risk is greatest if the mother's first outbreak was during pregnancy. Later outbreaks still pose some risk to the fetus.
• Neonatal HSV infection (type of Herpes)
• Premature birth - a fetus with herpes is often delivered early.
• Neonatal complications (see Birth symptoms) - a newborn may have various health problems.
• Neonatal death (see Death) - some newborns with herpes have a poor prognosis.
• more complications...»

Medical Textbooks Online about Genital herpes

Book excerpts: Copyright © 2008 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. All rights reserved.

Wrongly Diagnosed with Genital herpes?

• Misdiagnosis of Genital herpes
• Failure to diagnose Genital herpes
• Hidden causes of Genital herpes (possibly wrongly diagnosed)
• Undiagnosed: Genital herpes

Genital herpes: Medical Mistakes

• STDs -- Health Mistakes
• more mistakes...»

Genital herpes: Marketplace Products, Discounts & Offers

Products, offers and promotion categories available for Genital herpes:

• Sexual Health
• more product offers...»

Genital herpes: Undiagnosed Conditions

Commonly undiagnosed diseases in related medical categories:

• Sexual Disorders & STDs -- serious diseases often undiagnosed:
  • Sexually Transmitted Diseases -- Undiagnosed
  • Chlamydia -- Undiagnosed
  • Gonorrhea -- Undiagnosed
  • HIV -- Undiagnosed
  • Genital Herpes -- Undiagnosed
  • Hepatitis -- Undiagnosed
  • more ...»
• more undiagnosed conditions...»

Hospitals & Clinics: Genital herpes

Research quality ratings and patient safety measures for medical facilities in specialties related to Genital herpes:

• Urinary Health (Urology) -- Hospital Quality Ratings
• more hospital ratings...»

Hospital & Clinic quality ratings » »

Choosing the Best Hospital: More general information, not necessarily in relation to Genital herpes, on hospital performance and surgical care quality:

• 50 Best Hospitals Report
• Outstanding Patient Experinece Award Winning Hospitals
• Women's Health Best Hospitals
• Patient Safety
• Hospital Quality and Clinical Excellence Study (2009)

Causes of Genital herpes

• HSV type 1 - though less common than HSV type 2, the HSV-1 virus from cold sores can also cause genital herpes.
• more causes...»

Read more about causes of Genital herpes

More information about causes of Genital herpes:

• Triggers for Genital herpes
• Underlying causes of Genital herpes
• Medical news summaries relating to Causes of Genital herpes

Treatments for Genital herpes

• Acyclovir (Zovirax®) - an antiviral drug
• Famciclovir (Famvir®)
• Valacyclovir (Valtrex®)
• Keep area clean and dry
• Avoid touching sores
• more treatments...»

See full list of 11 treatments for Genital herpes

Latest Treatments for Genital herpes

• Cool compresses of aluminum acetate
• Ice packs
• Sitz baths
• Topical anesthetic
• NSAIDs
• more treatments...»

See full list of 10 latest treatments for Genital herpes

News Archives for Genital herpes

Medical news articles related to Genital herpes include:

• Bird Flu Virus Can Survive Two Years in Landfill
• Global Testing Shows No Variation in Swine Flu Virus
• Man Dies of Brain Inflammation Caused by Deer Tick Virus
• Health Tip: Soothing Herpes Pain
• Gum Disease May Reactivate AIDS Virus
• Treatment Target for Herpes Pinpointed
• Drug Impedes Body's Deadly Reaction to Flu Virus
• more health news...»

Source: HealthDay News

Evidence Based Medicine Research for Genital herpes

Medical research articles related to Genital herpes include:

• Effect of aciclovir on HIV-1 acquisition in herpes simplex virus 2 seropositive women and men who have sex with men: a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.
• Prenatal exposure to maternal infections and epilepsy in childhood: a population-based cohort study
• Guidelines for the management of herpes simplex virus in pregnancy
• Genital herpes: gynaecological aspects.
• Medical Induction of Labour
• more research...»

Click here to find more evidence-based articles on the TRIP Database

Videos for Genital herpes

Patient Surveys for Genital herpes

• Patient Profile Survey
  Take Survey  View Results
• Survey about the symptoms of your Genital herpes
  Take Survey  View Results

Prognosis for Genital herpes

Prognosis for Genital herpes: Although the infection can stay in the body indefinitely, the number of outbreaks tends to go down over a period of years. (Source: excerpt from Genital Herpes: DSTD) ... HSV remains in certain nerve cells of the body for life, and can produce symptoms off and on in some infected people. (Source: excerpt from Genital Herpes, NIAID Fact Sheet: NIAID)

More about prognosis of Genital herpes

Reseach about Genital herpes

Visit our research pages for current research about Genital herpes treatments.

Prevention of Genital herpes

Prevention information for Genital herpes has been compiled from various data sources and may be inaccurate or incomplete. None of these methods guarantee prevention of Genital herpes.

• Avoid unprotected sex
• Avoid unprotected oral sex
• more preventions...»

Read more about prevention of Genital herpes

Statistics for Genital herpes

• Medical statistics for Genital herpes
• Prevalence and incidence statistics for Genital herpes
• Death and Mortality statistics for Genital herpes
• Society statistics for Genital herpes

Genital herpes: Broader Related Topics

• Sexually Transmitted Diseases
• Herpes
• Viral diseases
• Male sexual conditions
• more types...»

Types of Genital herpes

Curable Types of Genital herpes

Possibly curable types of Genital herpes include:

• HIV related herpes
• Occupational exposure related herpes
• more types...»

Rare Types of Genital herpes:

Rare types of Genital herpes include:

• HIV related herpes
• Occupational exposure related herpes
• more types...»

Stories from Users Related to Genital herpes

• Mystery virus lasting 4 months now..
• Not Herpes, but what could it have been?
• A Nasty New Neurological Virus ?
• The lowdown/possibly herpes?
• Weird Virus? Can't Figure Out What's Wrong
• Scabies or Herpes? Or something else
• please help! allergy or wierd virus?
• If not herpes... then what?
• Diagnosed with HSV-2 after trip to Asia
• herpes?
• Palpitations, numbness, lightheadedness. Virus? Bacteria? Thanks!
• Herpes? Please help!
• Herpes Misdiagnosis... what next?
• Severe numbness -- dr. says dormant virus???
• genital warts/herpes/spots which 1?
• do I have herpes or molluscus? help please
• Herpes or misdiagnosis??
• Help! Herpes??
• Herpes/Yeast??
• Yeast Infection,herpes,or something else?

Related forums and medical stories:

• Infectious Diseases (213)
  • Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever
  • small pink spots on penis
  • very high titers
  • Sharp needles like pain on skin.
  • Lymes-like symptoms. Could someone please help me?
  • More user stories

User Interactive Forums

Read about other experiences, ask a question about Genital herpes, or answer someone else's question, on our message boards:

• I can not get a diagnosis. Please help.
• Tell us your medical story.
• Share your misdiagnosis story.
• What is the best treatment for this?
• See all the forums.

Article Excerpts about Genital herpes

Genital Herpes: DSTD (Excerpt)

Herpes is a sexually transmitted disease (STD) caused by the herpes simplex viruses type 1 (HSV -1) and type 2 (HSV-2). Most individuals have no or only minimal signs or symptoms from HSV-1 or HSV-2 infection. When signs do occur, they typically appear as one or more blisters on or around the genitals or rectum. The blisters break, leaving tender ulcers (sores) that may take two to four weeks to heal the first time they occur. Typically, another outbreak can appear weeks or months after the first, but it almost always is less severe and shorter than the first episode. Although the infection can stay in the body indefinitely, the number of outbreaks tends to go down over a period of years. (Source: excerpt from Genital Herpes: DSTD)

Genital Herpes, NIAID Fact Sheet: NIAID (Excerpt)

Genital herpes is an infection caused by the herpes simplex virus or HSV. There are two types of HSV, and both can cause genital herpes. HSV type 1 most commonly infects the lips causing sores known as fever blisters or cold sores, but it also can infect the genital area and produce sores there. HSV type 2 is the usual cause of genital herpes, but it also can infect the mouth during oral sex. A person who has genital herpes infection can easily pass or transmit the virus to an uninfected person during sex. (Source: excerpt from Genital Herpes, NIAID Fact Sheet: NIAID)

Definitions of Genital herpes:

An infection caused by herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) that is usually transmitted by sexual contact; marked by recurrent attacks of painful eruptions on the skin and mucous membranes of the genital area - (Source - WordNet 2.1)