Although most Canadians have heard of genital herpes, what they may not know is that 1 in 4 sexually active adults in the country has it, and that women are more likely to have it than men.
Genital herpes- while distressing and often painful - is more an annoyance for most people than a major health concern. If you are pregnant, however, it's a different matter: Genital herpes can be life-threatening for a fetus or newborn. In addition, having genital herpes puts you at a greater risk of acquiring HIV, the virus that causes AIDS.
Genital herpes is caused by the herpes simplex virus (HSV), a virus from the herpesvirus family that is made up of almost 100 kinds of viruses, including the varicella-zoster virus, which causes chickenpox and shingles, and the Epstein-Barr virus, which causes infectious mononucleosis.
There are two types of HSVs: HSV-1 and HSV-2. There was a time when HSV-1 was thought to be the herpes of "north of the border", only causing cold sores on the mouth, and that HSV-2, was the herpes that affected "south of the border", (with the border represented by the waist). Now it is clear that both types "go south" and cause genital herpes. In recent years, HSV-1 has been found to cause most primary outbreaks of genital herpes because of oral-to-genital contact.
Many people who have genital herpes do not even know they have it because they aren't aware of any symptoms.
What to look for:
HSV is passed from person to person through skin-to-skin contact, usually during genital or oral sex. It infects skin cells via mucous membranes and the thinner tender skin in and around the mouth, the genitals, and the anus. HSV can also infect skin cells through a cut or scrape. It can be passed from the mouth to the genitals, from the genitals to the mouth, from one part of your body (e.g., your genitals) to another (e.g., fingers, then eyes), and from pregnant woman to fetus or newborn.
HSV typically makes itself felt within a couple of weeks of transmission. Often the first outbreak is the worst, lasting about 2 to 3 weeks, and sometimes accompanied by a fever, headache, muscle aches, painful or difficult urination, vaginal discharge, and/or swollen glands in the groin area.
Once you've got HSV, it stays with you for life. It takes up residence near the root of a bunch of nerves
(ganglia) serving the area of transmission (usually the genital or mouth region). Whenever the virus
becomes activated (often accompanied by a tingling or itching), it moves to the surface of the skin
area supplied by the nerves, producing blisters. After some time, the virus goes dormant again, only to
return to the same spot on the surface when reactivated.
Some people experience only a few outbreaks, others have them several times a year. No one knows
for sure what causes the recurrences, but some sufferers find that sun, stress, or menstruation
are triggers.
The virus is typically active on the surface of the skin about 15 percent of the time (this is called shedding). Half the shedding occurs just before, during, and after an outbreak, but the other half occurs completely at random. That's why people with genital herpes should always wear a condom.
If you think you might have genital herpes, go to your doctor or another health-care provider to get tested, preferably during an outbreak. Current laboratory analysis include:
If diagnosed with genital herpes:
Those who are most at risk of contracting genital herpes include people:
At this point there's still no cure for genital herpes, but there are antiviral medications you can take that may shorten the outbreaks, make the sores less painful, and considerably reduce the chances of you transmitting the infection to your sexual partner(s). Antiviral therapies currently in use in Canada for treating recurrent outbreaks of HSV are valacyclovir (e.g., Valtrex™), acyclovir (e.g., Zovirax™), and famciclovir (e.g., Famvir™).
There are two ways that oral antiviral medications are used for the management of recurrences:
In order to decide which type of therapy is best for you, your doctor needs to know your complete medical history. Considerations such as pregnancy, kidney disease, HIV, and age, for instance, need to be taken into account.
Also, talk to your pharmacist about the effects - and side effects of any antiviral agents you are taking, especially with regards to long-term usage.
A diagnosis of genital herpes does not mean that your sex life is over. What it does mean, however,
is that you'll have to factor it in when making important life choices. You can live well with herpes.
At first, you may feel anger or grief or fear. Some people, on discovering they are infected with
HSV, feel ashamed and isolated. They worry that people will reject them if the news gets out. These
are normal reactions. Remember: you are not alone, millions of people have herpes. Talk to your
doctor or another health-care provider and talk to your sex partner. You'll find that by
treating the infection and managing the outbreaks, you'll lower the risk of transmission and sooth
discomforts related to having the virus.
Tips during an outbreak:
There's no way to guarantee you won't pass it on. Studies show that within a year, 4 percent of men and 10 percent of women catch genital herpes if their mate has it. However, if you or your partner has genital herpes, you can reduce transmission rates by about half by:
For more information :
The Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada
Sexuality and U
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The patient information leaflets are provided by Vigilance Santé Inc. This content is for information purposes only and does not in any manner whatsoever replace the opinion or advice of your health care professional. Always consult a health care professional before making a decision about your medication or treatment.