What is genital herpes?

Genital herpes is a sexually transmitted disease (STD). People with genital herpes develop painful blisters, which subsequently turn into small ulcers on the skin and mucous membranes around the genital area.

Genital herpes is very contagious. There are two types of herpes viruses:

1. Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1), which is also called herpes labialis because it often appears on the lips like a cold sore.

2. Herpes simplex virus 2 (HSV-2), which is also called genital herpes because it typically appears around the genital area.  However, they can also reside on the inner thighs and buttocks.

Over 80% of the population carry HSV-1 and about 20% are infected with HSV-2.

Herpes simplex virus is typically transmitted by sexual-, or close physical contact. Herpes does not transmit through contact with toilet seats, towels, cutlery or in swimming pools.

People who are infected with HSV-2 may be more protected against contracting HSV-1 infection. However, people who are infected with HSV-1 are not protected against contracting HSV-2 infection but may experience less symptoms when contracting HSV-2.

Women often experience more severe symptoms than men.

Symptoms

Redness and a small group of painful blisters usually appear around 4-7 days after unprotected sex with an infected partner. The blisters burst shortly after appearing and turn into small painful ulcers, which subsequently heal within 2-3 weeks without scarring.

The first outbreak of herpes is often the worst one. The first outbreak may result in several small ulcers, swollen lymph nodes in the groin, and flu-like symptoms including fever. The ulcers may also reside in the urethra and cause discharge and a burning sensation when urinating.

Some patients do not have any symptoms and may not know that they have been infected with genital herpes.

Once you have contracted a herpes infection, the virus will stay latent in your body and may thus reappear on the same spot again. However, HSV-1 infections usually give rise to less frequent outbreaks compared to HSV-2.

Herpes outbreaks can be provoked by sunlight, stress, and illnesses, all of which weakens the immune system. For some women outbreaks appear up to or after their period.

When is the highest risk of infecting others?

If you have an outbreak with blisters, ulcers or small rips in the mucosa/skin around the genital area, you should obtain from having sex until the mucosa/skin feels normal again.

The risk of infecting others is higher if you have frequent outbreaks.

The risk of contracting a herpes infection is smaller if you practice safe sex by always using a condom.

REMEMBER to always wash your hands with soap and water if you have touched herpes blisters or ulcers, as you may infect others or re-infect yourself on other body parts.

Treatment

The first outbreak of genital herpes can be treated with anti-viral tablets that repress the virus and thereby reduce the duration of the outbreak. The tablets are called Aciclovir, Valaciclovir or Famvir. The first outbreak is usually treated for 7-10 days.

If you experience more frequent outbreaks of genital herpes, e.g. 6-12 outbreaks a year, a preventive treatment with the above-mentioned tablets can prove helpful. These treatments do not have any significant side effects.  

In general, the medical treatment should be initiated as soon as the symptoms of an outbreak appear. Therefore, it is a good idea to have a packet of medicine at your disposal or to have a prescription ready for pick up when needed.

If you want to listen to our podcast about herpes you can scan the QR code below with your smartphone or tablet.

Special circumstances with pregnancy and newborns

All pregnant women should talk to their general practitioner and midwife about the risk of transmission to the infant.

Women who acquire primary or first-episode genital herpes during pregnancy are at a greater risk of transmitting the infection than are women with recurrent genital herpes. We thus recommend using condoms and avoid oral sex during the last weeks of pregnancy. Transmission to the infant at birth can cause serious and life-threatening infection. Women with known genital herpes pre-pregnancy virtually never transmit the infection to their newborn, as the newborn is protected by the mother’s antibodies against the virus.

Avoid close contact between a newborn and a person with a cold sore on the lips, as they may infect the baby.