Genital Herpes – Symptoms, Causes, and Diagnosis

What Does Genital Herpes Look Like?

The herpes simplex virus causes genital herpes, which is a common sexually transmitted illness (HSV). The pathogen is carried mostly through sexual contact. The virus remains latent in your system after the first infection and can be reawaken multiple times a year.

Itching, Pain, and lesions in the vaginal region are all symptoms of genital herpes. However, you could not show any noticeable symptoms of genital herpes. Even if you don’t have any visible sores, you might be infectious if you are infected.

Even though there is no cure for genital herpes, drugs can help to alleviate symptoms and minimize the risk of spreading the virus to others. use of contraceptives like condoms can indeed assist to avoid the spread of genital herpes.

Symptoms of Genital Herpes

The majority of persons afflicted with herpes simplex virus are unaware of their infection either they show no noticeable symptoms or signs, or their symptoms have become so minor.

Symptoms usually develop two to twelve days following contact with the virus if it is present. If you do have genital herpes, you may encounter the following symptoms:

1. Ulcers. Whenever blisters break and leak or bleed, they can develop. Urination might be uncomfortable if you have ulcers.

2. Itching or pain. Until the virus is cleared, you may suffer discomfort and sensitivity in your vaginal area.

3. Scabs. As ulcers heal, the skin may crust over or even develop scabs.

4. Small red lumps or white blisters on the skin. These might emerge anywhere from a few days to weeks after you’ve been infected.

You may experience flu-like symptoms such as enlarged lymph nodes in your groin, headache, muscular pains, and high temperature probably from fever during an early epidemic.

Symptom May Appear In Different Location

Nevertheless, where each pathogen invaded your body, sores form. By contacting a sore and then pressing or pinching another portion of your body, even your eyes, you might transmit the infection.

Both men and women can have sores on the following areas of their body:

1. Mouth
2. Anus
3. Urethra
4. Buttocks
5. Thighs

Men can have sores in or on the following areas:

1. Scrotum
2. Penis

Women can have sores in or on the following areas:

1. Cervix
2. External genitals
3. Vaginal area

Causes of Genital Herpes

Genital herpes can be caused by two(2) kinds of herpes simplex virus infections:

1. HSV-1. 
   The above is the kind that typically produces sore throats, mouth sores or fever blisters. Herpes Simplex Virus 1( HSV-1) is most commonly transmitted by skin-to-skin contact, although it can also be transmitted to the vaginal area during oral sex. When compared to HSV-2 infection, relapses are far less common.
2. HSV-2.
   The above type is the form that generates genital herpes most often. Sexual and skin-to-skin contact are also ways for the virus to transmit. Whether you have an open sore, Herpes Simplex Virus(HSV-2) is quite prevalent and very infectious.

The Risk Factors of Genital Herpes

If you do any of the following, your chances of contracting genital herpes might increase:

1. Having a variety of sexual partners. Each extra sexual partner increases your chances of contracting the HSV virus.
2. You’re a female. Women are much more likely than males to have the genital herpes virus. It is easier for males to transfer the virus to females than it is for females to spread it to males.

Pregnancy Precautions of Herpes Genital Virus

Talk to your doctor when you are  pregnant and have HSV virus. Get tested for the virus if you suspect you have it.

To avoid a herpes breakout around the time of birth, your physician may prescribe that you begin taking antiviral drugs late in pregnancy. If you are in the middle of an epidemic while you are in the labour stage, your doctor may recommend a surgical operation to decrease the danger of the virus spreading to your new born baby.

Complications of the Herpes Genital Virus

The following are some of the complications linked with genital herpes namely:

1. Problem with the Bladder. Inflammatory all around tube that transports urine from your bladder to the outside environment might occur in certain circumstances as a result of genital herpes blisters. Over several days, the swelling might shut the urethra, necessitating the placement of a tube to drain your bladder.
2. Meningitis. Herpes Simplex Virus(HSV)  infection can cause inflammation of the walls and cerebrospinal fluid around the brain and spinal cord in rare cases.
3. Infection in a new born. Viruses can infect babies delivered to infected moms during the childbirth procedure. The infant may suffer blindness, brain damage, or death as a result of this.
4. Proctitis(Inflammation of the rectal cavity). Inflammation of the rectum lining can result from genital herpes, especially in males who have intercourse with other men.
5. Infections that are sexually transmitted. If you have genital sores, you are more likely to spread or get other sexually transmissible illnesses, such as HIV/AIDS.

Prevention of Herpes Genital Virus

Avoiding genital herpes or HSV follows the same guidelines as the prevention of other sexually transmitted diseases: Avoid sexual activity or restrict sexual interaction only to one infection-free or disease-free individual. In the meanwhile, you can:

1. If any of the partner has herpes HSV in the vaginal area or elsewhere, don’t engage in sexual activity.
2. Use a condom, or instruct your mate use one, during any sexual encounter.