Herpes: General Information
What is genital herpes?
Genital herpes is a sexually transmitted disease (STD) caused by the herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) or type 2 (HSV-2) [1]. Herpes is a common infection that stays in your body for life [2].
What’s the difference between genital herpes and oral herpes?
When you get either HSV-1 or HSV-2 on or around your genitals (vulva, vagina, cervix, anus, penis, scrotum, butt, inner thighs), it’s called genital herpes [2]. When you get either HSV-1 or HSV-2 in or around your lips, mouth, and throat, it’s called oral herpes. Oral herpes sores are sometimes called cold sores or fever blisters. HSV-1 is typically referred to as oral herpes, and HSV-2 is typically referred to as genital herpes.
Symptoms:
Both oral and genital herpes cause outbreaks of itchy, painful blisters or sores that come and go with the initial outbreak lasting between 2 and 4 weeks. The most common symptoms of genital herpes are painful blisters on the vagina, vulva, cervix, penis, anus, or the inside of the thighs [2]. These blisters may then break and turn into sores causing burning during urination or difficult urination due to swelling that may block the urethra. And, even when the blisters go away, the virus remains in the body with the potential to cause outbreaks off and on for the rest of one’s life [2].
Transmission:
Herpes is spread from skin-to-skin contact with someone who has the virus from the infected area(s), often during vaginal sex, oral sex, anal sex, and kissing. Many people with herpes don’t notice the sores or mistake them for something else, so they might not know they’re infected [2]. You can spread herpes even when you don’t have any sores or symptoms and it is possible for both types of herpes simplex to infect either area. For example, you can have HSV-1 on your genitals if someone with a cold sore on their lips gives you oral sex. And, you can get HSV-2 on/in your mouth if you give oral sex to someone with HSV-2 on his or her genitals [2].
How common is genital herpes?
The CDC estimates there are 776,000 individuals in the United States who become infected with genital herpes every year. Approximately 15.7% of individuals between ages 14 to 49 have HSV-2 infections but the proportion in the general population (prevalence) is likely higher due to the increasing number of HSV-1 caused cases [1]. Oral HSV-1 infection is usually acquired in childhood. It is thought that the decline in HSV-1 has led some people to be more susceptible to coming down with a genital herpes infection caused by HSV-1 [1].
Treatment.
There is currently no cure for the herpes virus. Antiviral medications can reduce the likelihood of outbreaks and also help with they symptoms. Common drugs used with equal effectiveness include: acyclovir, famciclovir, and valacyclovir.
Genital herpes is a sexually transmitted disease (STD) caused by the herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) or type 2 (HSV-2) [1]. Herpes is a common infection that stays in your body for life [2].
What’s the difference between genital herpes and oral herpes?
When you get either HSV-1 or HSV-2 on or around your genitals (vulva, vagina, cervix, anus, penis, scrotum, butt, inner thighs), it’s called genital herpes [2]. When you get either HSV-1 or HSV-2 in or around your lips, mouth, and throat, it’s called oral herpes. Oral herpes sores are sometimes called cold sores or fever blisters. HSV-1 is typically referred to as oral herpes, and HSV-2 is typically referred to as genital herpes.
Symptoms:
Both oral and genital herpes cause outbreaks of itchy, painful blisters or sores that come and go with the initial outbreak lasting between 2 and 4 weeks. The most common symptoms of genital herpes are painful blisters on the vagina, vulva, cervix, penis, anus, or the inside of the thighs [2]. These blisters may then break and turn into sores causing burning during urination or difficult urination due to swelling that may block the urethra. And, even when the blisters go away, the virus remains in the body with the potential to cause outbreaks off and on for the rest of one’s life [2].
Transmission:
Herpes is spread from skin-to-skin contact with someone who has the virus from the infected area(s), often during vaginal sex, oral sex, anal sex, and kissing. Many people with herpes don’t notice the sores or mistake them for something else, so they might not know they’re infected [2]. You can spread herpes even when you don’t have any sores or symptoms and it is possible for both types of herpes simplex to infect either area. For example, you can have HSV-1 on your genitals if someone with a cold sore on their lips gives you oral sex. And, you can get HSV-2 on/in your mouth if you give oral sex to someone with HSV-2 on his or her genitals [2].
How common is genital herpes?
The CDC estimates there are 776,000 individuals in the United States who become infected with genital herpes every year. Approximately 15.7% of individuals between ages 14 to 49 have HSV-2 infections but the proportion in the general population (prevalence) is likely higher due to the increasing number of HSV-1 caused cases [1]. Oral HSV-1 infection is usually acquired in childhood. It is thought that the decline in HSV-1 has led some people to be more susceptible to coming down with a genital herpes infection caused by HSV-1 [1].
Treatment.
There is currently no cure for the herpes virus. Antiviral medications can reduce the likelihood of outbreaks and also help with they symptoms. Common drugs used with equal effectiveness include: acyclovir, famciclovir, and valacyclovir.
References
1. Center for Disease Control-Herpes. CDC Fact Sheet last reviewed, August 2017. https://www.cdc.gov/std/herpes/stdfact-herpes-detailed.htm#ref9
2. Planned Parenthood-Oral and Genital Herpes. https://www.plannedparenthood.org/learn/stds-hiv-safer-sex/herpes
2. Planned Parenthood-Oral and Genital Herpes. https://www.plannedparenthood.org/learn/stds-hiv-safer-sex/herpes