Genital herpes: Symptoms, causes, and treatment

This article gives an overview of genital herpes, including its symptoms, causes, treatments, and complications.

What is genital herpes?

People can contract this sexually transmitted infection (STI) through vaginal, anal, and oral sex.

Two types of virus can cause genital herpes:

• herpes simplex 1 (HSV-1), which usually causes oral herpes
• herpes simplex 2 (HSV-2), which usually causes genital herpes

Oral herpes causes cold sores, or fever blisters, to appear on the lips. People usually get oral herpes through salivary contact rather than genital contact.

Although HSV-1 usually causes oral herpes, it can spread to the genitals through oral sex, especially if a person has open cold sores.

A person can have HSV-1 and HSV-2 at the same time.

There is currently no cure for genital herpes. It can be easy to transmit to others, even if a person does not have open sores.

To prevent the transmission of genital herpes, it is important to use barrier protection during sex.

How common is genital herpes?

Genital herpes is very common, affecting 11.9 percent of people ages 14–49 in the United States.

Females are more likely to have genital herpes than males because vaginal tissues can tear easily, allowing the virus to enter the body. Estimates suggest that genital herpes affects 1 in 5 females and 1 in 10 males ages 14–49.

How is genital herpes transmitted?

Genital herpes can spread in the following ways:

• vaginal sex, anal sex, or genital contact with someone who has the virus
• receiving oral sex from a partner with a cold sore
• touching a herpes sore, then touching the genitals
• a baby can contract genital herpes during birth if the mother has the virus

People can sexually transmit the virus even if they have no visible symptoms.

It is not possible to contract genital herpes from toilet seats, bedding, swimming pools, or touching other objects. The virus can only spread from human-to-human contact.

Genital herpes does not typically cause serious health complications. However, it can make a person more vulnerable to contracting HIV.

If a person has genital herpes sores, viruses and bacteria, including HIV, have more opportunity to enter the body. Avoid scratching the sores, as this can lead to bacterial infection.

Also, having HIV can make genital herpes outbreaks more severe.

Prevention

Avoiding sexual contact, especially when sores are present, is the only sure way to prevent the spread of genital herpes.

Using condoms reduces the risk of transmitting the infection. However, people can contract herpes from the skin around the genitals, so this is not guaranteed to be effective.

Many people have STIs without knowing it. Doctors recommend getting regular checks, especially after a person has had sex with a new partner.

Outlook

Genital herpes is an STI that a person can transmit through vaginal, anal, or oral sex. It is usually caused by the HSV-2 virus, but it can also be caused by HSV-1.

There is no cure for genital herpes, but by taking antiviral medication, a person can reduce the likelihood of outbreaks and the risk of transmitting the virus.

A doctor can help diagnose genital herpes and recommend treatment options.

People can help prevent the transmission of genital herpes by using barrier protection during sex and by taking antiretroviral medication.

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