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Genital Herpes (Genital cold sores)

Condoms are the ONLY form of contraceptive that protects against sexual infections.

Article by : SpunOut.ie

Herpes is a virus that causes skin infections on the mouth and lips (cold sores) or on the genitals (vagina, penis and testicles). Herpes is one of the most common STIs in the world. It can cause miscarriage or stillbirth in pregnant women and babies can have serious health problems. There is no cure for herpes but many people eventually clear the virus from their body. You can catch herpes by having unprotected sex (vaginal, oral or anal), kissing or foreplay with someone who is infected and it can pass from a woman to her baby.

What are the symptoms?

  • Some people with Herpes have no symptoms but usually symptoms appear a couple of weeks after infection. 
  • Painful or itchy clusters of blisters and sores can appear on the area around the vagina, penis, mouth, anus (bum) or on other parts of the body.  
  • The first infection can cause pain, itching, fever, a burning feeling when peeing, headache and vaginal discharge. 
  • The virus stays in your body so the blisters and sores can come back especially if you are stressed or run down run down, even without having sexual intercourse.

What treatment can you get?

There is no cure for Herpes but there are treatments available to help reduce the symptoms when they occur. Visit your doctor to have Herpes diagnosed. He/ she can prescribe a drug to help healing and shorten the infection. If the infection comes back often, you might be prescribed with a treatment to reduce the frequency of this. Your partner and recent partners should also be treated.
 
How can you prevent Herpes?

  • Use a condom with new sexual partners but remember that herpes can be spread from skin not protected by a condom. 
  • If your partner has blisters avoid sex until the infection is completely healed and there is new skin. 
  • Avoid oral sex with someone who has cold sores as the viruses are related. However just because you have a cold sore does not mean you have herpes.

Find out more about Herpes.

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