The symptoms of sexual herpes may not be apparent until years after contracting the disease. A person with herpes may experience symptoms only after several sexual partners.
This means that the current partner may not have been the source of the infection. This makes it even more important to understand how sexual herpes is transmitted.
Treatment options
Choosing the right treatment for your sexual herpes is critical. Many people with recurrent outbreaks are unsure of what regimen is best for them. There are several factors to consider, including frequency and severity of symptoms. For example, if you have severe outbreaks and frequent vaginal contact, your doctor may recommend suppressive therapy. If your symptoms are mild and recurrences are few, episodic therapy may be appropriate.
A person with genital herpes will experience several blisters in the genital area. For women, the most common areas are the vagina and vulva. In men, the penis, scrotum, and anus are common areas of infection. The blisters in these areas tend to crust over or heal within five to seven days. The outbreak may also be accompanied by fever, joint pain, and headache.
Treatment options for sexual herpes include various medications. Antiviral medications can reduce the severity of the outbreak, and may help alleviate symptoms. Some people experience several outbreaks over time, but they become less frequent and less severe as the disease progresses. Despite being treated for the condition, anyone who has herpes is still at risk of transmitting the virus during sexual intercourse.
Patients with genital herpes may also benefit from counseling. The benefits of counseling include assisting patients with the disease, and helping them cope with the symptoms. In addition, many genital herpes support groups are available in the United States and abroad. These groups are free and safe spaces for people with the disease to discuss their experiences. They also provide accurate information about the disease.
Risk of transmission
While the risk of transmitting genital herpes to a partner increases when a person has frequent sex, there are still many ways to reduce the risk. Using condoms, using sex toys and talking to your partner about your disease can reduce the chances of transmission. If you are sexually active, your healthcare provider may recommend an antiviral medication, which inhibits the activity of the herpes virus.
Generally, the risk of sexual herpes transmission is highest during outbreaks. However, most people do not experience symptoms. In the event that you do, you should avoid oral sex until your symptoms clear up. If you do contract herpes, use a barrier during oral sex to protect yourself from HSV transmission.
The use of condoms is highly recommended. While it may be uncomfortable to use a condom for every sexual act, it can significantly reduce the risk of transmission. In addition, you should avoid sex with people who have genital ulcers. Using condoms may decrease the risk of transmission by up to 65%.
Pregnant women who are suffering from recurrent genital herpes are at a higher risk of transmitting the disease to their baby. Although most of these women will deliver a healthy infant, there is a small risk that the infant will have an infection during delivery. This type of infection can lead to severe damage to the newborn’s brain, lungs, and liver. However, there are many ways to reduce the risk of genital herpes transmission during pregnancy.
