There is no cure for genital herpes. However, daily use of antiviral medications can prevent or shorten outbreaks. Antiviral medicines can also reduce your chance of infecting it to others. Although genital herpes is common, there are many misperceptions about this sexually transmitted infection.
Genital herpes is caused by a virus, called herpes simplex virus, or HSV. Firstly, they are much smaller, and secondly, they are much more difficult to treat. For example, while antibiotics usually kill bacteria, they don't work on viruses. Because of this, there is no known cure for genital herpes.
However, there are ways to prevent infections and to treat them once they occur. Antiviral drug treatment can help people who are bothered by outbreaks of genital herpes stay symptom-free longer. These medications can also reduce the severity and duration of symptoms when they get worse. Medication therapy isn't a cure, but it can make life easier with the condition.
Herpes is not curable, but it is treatable. Antiviral medications, such as Valtrex (valacyclovir) and Zovirax (acyclovir), not only heal herpes sores faster than other options, but they also work to prevent recurrences. When herpes is treated properly, the risk of infecting others is greatly reduced. Genital herpes is a sexually transmitted infection (STI) that is transmitted through vaginal, anal and oral sex.
Treatment from a sexual health clinic can help. The symptoms go away on their own, but may come back. The symptoms go away on their own, but the blisters may come back (a flare-up or a recurrence). Antiviral medications can be used to block the ability of the herpes virus to produce copies of itself, allowing the infection to be controlled more quickly.
Esophagitis is inflammation and irritation of the esophagus and is rarely the result of a herpes infection. The World Health Organization (WHO) describes the risk of the herpes virus being transmitted to a newborn during delivery. According to the CDC, genital herpes can cause painful sores, which can worsen in people with weaker immune systems. Antiviral medications directly treat herpes infections and can help reduce the severity or duration of an outbreak.
It's important to note that oral herpes can spread to the genitals and that genital herpes can spread to the mouth. Studies have shown that if started within 48 hours of the appearance of lesions, antivirals can reduce the duration of oral herpes by one or two days. See a primary care doctor or sexual health clinic if you've been diagnosed with genital herpes and need treatment for an outbreak. However, herpes medications can effectively reduce symptoms, outbreaks, and the risk of transmitting them to others.
Because genital herpes can affect everyone differently and because, in some cases, the virus can cause serious symptoms, you should always tell your sexual partner that you have this condition and you should encourage the use of a condom in your relationship. Because herpes can be transmitted through vaginal, anal, or oral sexual activity and sometimes even touching the genitals, all of these activities can cause an infection. Genital herpes is very easy to transmit (contagious) from the first tingling or itching of a new outbreak (before the blisters appear) until the sores have completely healed. Better yet, avoid sexual intercourse completely if you have an active herpes outbreak (or feel an outbreak coming).
