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Genital herpes

Genital herpes - what is it?

Genital herpes is caused by the Herpes Simplex virus (HSV). A lot of people with herpes don't know they have it. The reason is that the herpes virus often shows no symptoms whatsoever. Herpes can cause genital sores - which is our focus - aswell as mouth and lip ulcers. Herpes sores on around the mouth and lips are called 'cold sores'. Genital herpes - like cold sores - is lifelong, so someone with genital herpes might experience repeated and recurrent 'episodes' throughout their life.

Genital herpes - how common is it?

New diagnoses of first episodes of genital herpes have been steadily rising since the early 1990s. In 2006 over 21,000 people were diagnosed with genital herpes for the first time. There were also over 16,000 diagnoses of recurrent genital herpes. The fact that most people with the herpes virus don't know that they have it means that the actual numbers of people with herpes in the UK are significantly higher.

Genital herpes - what are the symptoms?

Most people with genital herpes don't have any symptoms, or don't recognise the symptoms of a herpes attack because their genital herpes symptoms are so mild. But if you do experience symptoms, you may experience the following anything from a few weeks to a few years after contracting the herpes virus: • feeling achy and hot, as if you have a cold or the flu • small blisters or sores, often around the penis or vagina, which can be painful and can make it hurt when passing urine. If someone has genital herpes they can get symptoms or outbreaks a number of times, often with long gaps inbetween. Usually people feel most unwell during the first outbreak. Many people with genital herpes only ever have one outbreak as their body stops future genital herpes episodes from happening.

Genital herpes - how can I get tested?

If you have a blister or ulcer that could be a symptom of genital herpes, the doctor or nurse will test you for herpes by taking a small sample with cotton wool or a swab. They can only test for herpes when there is a sore present to swab. Often the doctor or nurse will diagnose genital herpes simply by looking at the sore. If you are diagnosed with genital herpes, a follow-up blood test can tell the doctor precisely what type of herpes you have. This information can help the doctor or nurse understand the risk of you passing genital herpes to any partner and advise as to the likelihood of futuer episodes and their severity.

Genital herpes - how might I have got it?

Genital herpes is transmitted through skin-to-skin contact, so sex, particularly penetrative vaginal and anal sex, is the main way that it is passed on. It can also be transmitted through other forms of sex. It's more tricky to know precisely when you may have actually got your genital herpes as genital herpes may not show symptoms for a very long time. It's worth remembering this before jumping to any conclusions who may or may not have given it to you or any partner.

Genital herpes - if I've got it, can I get treated?

Genital herpes can't be removed from your body by any kind of treatment. What treatment can do is to help you lessen the severity of any herpes 'episodes'. You can get treatment at a Terrence Higgins Trust Fastest clinic, at your local NHS genito-urinary medicine (GUM) clinic, or from this website. If you've previously been diagosed with genital herpes and recognise when an episode is about to occur, you can request up to three courses of herpes antiviral tablets from this website. You can also request a course of herpes local anaesthetic cream. Both treatments should lessen the effect of a herpes episode if taken when you think that the herpes episode is about to begin. If you have more than five herpes episodes a year, you should consider having what's called 'supression therapy'.

Genital herpes - can I pass it on to a partner?

Herpes can be passed on to partners at any time, but particularly immediately before, during and after a herpes episode. Using condoms can protect women from contracting herpes from a male partner. However, condoms won't necessarily protect against female to male transmission.

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