Posts Tagged ‘Genital Herpes’

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Genital Herpes Virus and the Symptoms of Genital Herpes

Comments: 0December 26th, 2011 by admin



Genital herpes is spread by direct contact with an infected person. Sexual intercourse or oral sex are usually the most common ways of the virus spreading. Genital herpes usually entails the sufferer getting breakouts or episodes, in-between they experience symptom-free periods. The first episode is always the most severe, it usually starts with a tingling, itching, or a burning sensation or pain around the genitals followed by the appearance of painful red spots which, within a day or two, evolve through a phase of clear, fluid-filled blisters which rapidly turn whitish-yellow. The blisters burst, leaving painful ulcers that dry, scab over and heal in approximately 10 days.

Symptoms of recurrent outbreaks are usually limited to genital blisters, sores, and swollen glands. The blisters are most painful during the first 24 hours after they appear, sometimes flu-like symptoms, or aches, pains – especially are felt down the back, and the back of the legs.

Outbreaks can be treated or partly prevented with medicine from your doctor but there’s no prescription for the feeling of being stigmatized by having herpes. When Outbreaks occur they generally last a few days they often occur during times when you are feeling stressed.

Often Genital Herpes can be mistaken for a variety of other diseases, including syphilis. Some women with the genital herpes Virus don’t even know they have it because the outbreaks usually occur on the cervix.

Genital herpes is more commonly found in females, African-Americans, and users of cocaine (90% in one study) most of these people who had the positive blood tests for HSV virus had no history of symptoms or outbreaks it was silent. Genital herpes outbreaks can occur with such mild symptoms that it goes completely unnoticed by the person. You or your partner may have contracted the virus from a sexual partner such a long time ago or your partner may have had genital herpes without even knowing it.

Genital herpes is classed as an STD (sexually transmitted disease) which is caused by the herpes simplex viruses type 1 (HSV-1) or type 2 (HSV-2). Genital herpes is usually caused by HSV-2.

Condoms will offer some protection against the disease, by covering or protecting the mucous membranes which are the likely place of infection. However, be warned condoms do not provide 100 % protection because a lesion may be found which the condom did not cover and such the virus is passed.

Most people think that kissing is a safe activity. Unfortunately, syphilis, herpes, and other infections can be contracted through this relatively simple and apparently harmless act so you need to be careful.

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STD Testing Methods For Genital Herpes

Comments: 0November 5th, 2011 by admin



Genital herpes is a disease that can be easily transmitted through sexual contact. What it makes the risk of spreading the infection higher is the fact that most people who already have it do not notice symptoms at all. In some cases, symptoms do appear but then these do not give any pain or discomfort that a person infected with it will still not recognize that he or she already has the herpes simplex virus or the HSV. Therefore, this person may just continue to perform sex without any precaution, infecting others instead with the virus. The HSV can be transmitted also through oral sex.

Because of the absence of any telltale signs, an HSV virus carrier may not find it necessary to undergo STD testing. Usually, the need for medical check-up is felt only when blisters appear in the area of the genitalia. However, some will even wait for the more telling signs of infection such as fever, vaginal discharges, and cold sores to occur before ever considering of seeing a doctor. This is certainly unfortunate because this means that the difficulty in controlling the spread of the HSV is can be attributed to the negligence or ignorance of the very carrier themselves. Definitely, this can put to harm the people that they care for most, including their kids.

There are certain ways of testing a person possibly infected with the herpes virus. The very basic among these is to find out the existence of blisters. A doctor may examine a patient if she has this basic symptom. However, there are cases when blisters cannot be found, especially if the testing was done when during the early stage of the infection. If so, the patient may be sent to a genitourinary clinic for further examinations. There, she may be made to undergo blood and urine tests. The samples taken will be analyzed to find out any HSV infection. Doctors think that this may not be a very effective STD testing method though. They said that this has a rate of accuracy of a little above 80% only.

The existence of blisters near the sexual organ does not immediately prove herpes infection, although it does make the possibility much higher. Doctors examining the patient may need to take a sample of it too. They usually swab a sample and then study it through the aid of a microscope. This is definitely the more effective way of testing for genital herpes.

It is imperative for sexually active people to learn about genital herpes and its symptoms. By being informed about the disease, they can be more aware of any signs of the infection. Those who can already sense the infection by themselves usually undergo STD testing.

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Genital Herpes- Some Facts Everybody Must Know

Comments: 0October 18th, 2011 by admin



1. Genital herpes and oral sex-

If your partner has cold sores (carrier of virus type1), he/she can pass HSV1 to you by performing oral sex on you. You will contract Genital herpes.

2. Genital herpes is not life destroying-

Genital herpes is not life destroying. A large population is living with genital herpes without any serious problem. Control your triggers and outbreaks of herpes. A person suffering from genital herpes is more susceptible to get HIV. Maintain a healthy life style and you can live life normally.

3. Genital herpes cannot be transmitted through toilet seat-

The herpes virus cannot live long on dead surfaces such as toilet seats, towels, etc. It is rare to contact herpes from these objects.

4. Silent transmission-

An affected person, who does not have any signs of active sores, can also pass on the virus. That is called asymptomatic shedding of virus. So if your partner is suffering from genital herpes, you may also get it even if your partner shows no active outbreaks.

5. You may get the indication of herpes outbreak-

Before any herpes outbreak there is a period called prodrome. During this period you may get sensations such as- tingling, itching or some pain. That indicates that the genital herpes will break out in a day or two. Genital herpes can also spread easily during this prodrome period.

6. Prevention-

The best safeguard for genital herpes is to have a single partner who is free of herpes. If not, use of latex condoms and minimizing partners may reduce the risk.

7. Pregnancy & genital herpes-

A woman who is having active sores in or near vagina or having her first outbreak of genital herpes can pass on the disease to her newborn. In such cases herpes is controlled with anti-viral medications and cesarean delivery is performed to protect the new born from contacting herpes.

8. Reducing the spread of virus-

Anti viral therapy reduces the shedding of herpes virus considerably.

9. Cure-

There is no cure for genital herpes. The virus remains in the body for life. You should get treated whenever you get active sores (ulcers) to reduce the intensity and period of the outbreak.

10. Recurring episodes-

Some people get active genital herpes only once, while others may have several recurrences through their lifetime.

11. Affected Areas-

In men, the affected areas of genital herpes include- urethra, penis, scrotum, anus and buttocks. In women, the herpes appears on external genitals, vagina, cervix, buttocks and anus.

12. Transmission-

Genital herpes commonly gets transferred through skin cuts or mucous membranes. Oral cavity, vagina, anus and glans penis are all covered with mucous membrane.

13. Testing-

Herpes is tested with viral culture during active outbreaks. During dormancy (no visible signs), a blood test is performed. These tests are not very accurate and may need to be repeated.

14. Many people do not know that they have Genital herpes-

Many people who have genital herpes may not show any symptoms or the symptoms may be so insignificant that they ignore them.

This article is only for informative purposes. This article is not intended to be a medical advise and it is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Please consult your doctor for your medical concerns. Please follow any tip given in this article only after consulting your doctor. The author is not liable for any outcome or damage resulting from information obtained from this article.

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STD Testing For Genital Herpes

Comments: 0September 21st, 2011 by admin



Sexually transmitted disease (STD) testing for genital herpes is important for those who are sexually active because the herpes simplex virus (HSV) can be easily transferred to another person through oral, vaginal or anal sex. Most of the time, those who are carriers of the disease are not aware of it because there are usually no symptoms. And if there are symptoms, the indications are usually minimal and are often ignored by the infected person.

Herpes is a chronic disease but it could go into remission and if it recurs, the symptoms tend to be milder the next time around. Moreover, the length of the remission periods become longer over time. Some of the symptoms that may occur at the time when a person is first infected include vaginal discharge, ulcers and blisters on the cervix, painful urination, fever, cold sores usually around the mouth, malaise, and red blisters around the thighs, buttocks, genital area and anus. HSV is found on the skin surface and is transmitted to another person through moist skin, such as the genitals, rectum, the mouth and even the eyes.

One method of testing for herpes is through viral culture. A swab sample is taken within 48 hours after a lesion has appeared. This technique is highly accurate when it provides a positive result. However, it has the disadvantage of having a high probability for false negatives. Thus, blood tests may be recommended. These tests are based on measurements of the quantities of IgM and IgG antibodies in the blood because HSV itself is not found in the blood. IgM appears during the first infection but it may not appear during the recurrences of the disease. IgG is produced right after infection and remains in the blood for life. The problem with IgG tests is that they require a certain length of time before the quantity of IgG is detectable. Thus, there is a possibility of getting a false negative if the test is conducted too early. An alternative method for detecting herpes is the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test that detects the presence of the virus itself.

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Antiviral Drugs For Herpes

Comments: 0June 30th, 2011 by admin



Acyclovir (Zovirax), an antiviral drug effective in the treatment of herpes simplex infection, was approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA)in 1984. Since its approval, the effects of acyclovir on human pregnancies have not been determined. Acyclovir passes into breast milk and may harm a nursing infant. Do not take this medication without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby. Acyclovir belongs to the family of medicines called antivirals. Antivirals are used to treat infections caused by viruses.

Zorivax is a brand name for Acyclovir. Zorivax, never leave home without it. Double your pleasure Double your fun for you and you partner.

How It Works

Acyclovir works by interfering with the virus developing a resistance ot ACV. ZOVIRAX is still immunogenic in frontier form. Acyclovir is usually prescribed in ointment form for topical application. It is sometimes prescribed in tablet and liquid form and can be administered as an injection in the treatment of severe cases of genital herpes, and it also relieves pain and itching.

Acyclovir is available as a prescription medication and is used most commonly in its oral form to treat genital herpes; it is also used to treat primary varicella (chickenpox) and varicella zoster (shingles). Among users of oral acyclovir in the United States, an estimated 30%-50% are women aged 15-44 years.

Acyclovir topical is usually applied every 3 hours, six times a day for seven days. Follow your doctor’s instructions. Acyclovir is an antiviral drug. It slows the growth and spread of the herpes virus so that the body can fight off the infection. Acyclovir can prevent herpes simplex outbreaks, which may help people co-infected with HIV and herpes simplex live longer. High dose acyclovir is used to treat hairy leukoplakia , a viral infection that usually shows up on the sides of the tongue.

Acyclovir delayed 32% of the CMV infections and prevented 59% of the CMV disease cases which occurred in the placebo cohort. The time to CMV disease was significantly prolonged in patients on acyclovir as compared to patients on placebo ( P =0.013). Acyclovir is a white, crystalline powder with the molecular formula C8H11N5O3 and a molecular weight of 225. The maximum solubility in water at 37�C is 2.5�mg/mL.

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The Symptoms of Herpes – The Signs to Look For

Comments: 0May 10th, 2011 by admin



Genital Herpes is a sexually transmitted disease that is caused by the Herpes Simplex virus. Many people will be unaware that they have contracted genital herpes. The first symptom of herpes is small blisters that occur in the genital or rectal area.

When these blisters burst they leave small painful weeping ulcers which will usually heal in around 1-2 weeks. Following outbreaks may appear in the weeks or months after the initial outbreak, but it is always less severe than the initial outbreak.

Herpes is a common disease, infecting one in five adolescents or adults, and is more common in women than in men; this may be due to ease of the virus being passed from male to female rather than female to male.

Genital Herpes frequently causes distress in those affected by the disease. It is not curable but can be treated by taking a daily homeopathic remedy, Herpeset, which not only relieves the symptoms during an outbreak, it also reduces the recurrence of future outbreaks to next to none in the majority of cases. Unlike pharmacy medications, Herpeset does not carry additional health risks associated with long term preventative medicines.

Physicians can take blood tests to ascertain whether an individual is infected by the Herpes Virus, however, these results are not always clear cut as any individual who has ever suffered from a cold sore will test positive for the herpes virus in their blood stream. The only way for a physician to positively test for genital herpes is to take a sample of a sore during an outbreak – however, by this time the patient has usually acknowledged that they are a Herpes sufferer and has saught alternative treatment.

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Testing For Herpes

Comments: 0August 28th, 2010 by admin



Sometimes, one does not know what one is looking for. This is a general truth for just about anything, from something as superficial as shopping, to matters of person and public health. That is to say, with STD testing sexually active persons do not always know what they are looking for. Visits to the clinic for screenings can be spurred by symptoms or as a part of a routine. Herpes is one of the most commonly checked for STD. in fact, it is thought that nearly half of all sexually active adults in the United States are likely to have herpes antibodies.

What is Herpes?

A herpes simplex virus (HSV) infection is marked by a cluster of small painful blisters on or near the skin of the genitals, or in some cases, the mouth, urethra, rectum and or tissue lining the throat or nose. There are two types of herpes simplex viruses, HSV1 and HS2. HSV1 is most commonly know as cold sores or fever blisters. Located on the lips, HSB1 is usually transmitted though kissing or sharing eating utensils with someone having an outbreak. HSV1 can cause blisters around the genitals.

HSV2 is referred to as genital herpes, since the blisters grow on and or around the vagina or penis. But, HSV2 can cause mouth sores, as a result of unprotected oral sex. Additionally, pregnant mothers with genital herpes can infect their unborn babies if delivered vaginally.

Testing

Typically, medical professionals perform HSV tests by examining the blisters located on the genitals. However, since there are cases of HSV infecting other body parts, including the eye and brain, a test can be completed using samples of blood, urine, or tears. Before visiting a health care provider and being tested, a patient might find it helpful, maybe even empowering, to understand how many tests are available, how they work, and which most fits his or her needs. Being informed, observant, and unafraid to ask questions can make the experience of sharing personal information, like ones sexual history, might make the testing experience more productive.

Herpes Testing Four Ways

To determine if sores or blisters present on a sexually active person are caused by HSV for types of tests can be performed. The best method of identifying a genital herpes infection is by taking a culture sample. This is done by swabbing cells or fluid from a afresh blister. As effective as this test is, some patients receive false-negative results. For added security an antigen detection test can be performed along with a viral culture. An antigen requires scrapping cells from a fresh blister and examining them under a microscope. Since herpes has a dormant period, when no blisters are visible, another testing option is a polymerase chain reaction test. While, a PCR test can be used on cells, urine, spinal fluid, or fluid from a blister work equally as well. PCR looks for the DNA of HSV and can differentiate between HSV1 and HSV2. This test is particularly useful for the rare instances when herpes infects the brain. A fourth and less accurate test is an antibody test. Antibodies develop in the immune system to fight the infection. However, it takes time to develop antibodies and patient may not have a positive test if infection recently occurred.

Herpes is incurable and while medication can relieve symptoms, reducing blister outbreaks and relieving pain, medicine cannot cure the infection. Those who test positive should know that the recurrence of infection depends on but is not limited to stress, fatigue, sunlight, or other infections like the cold or flu.

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Herpes and Pregnancy – How to Safeguard Your Unborn Baby

Comments: 0January 27th, 2010 by admin



Herpes and pregnancy can occur at the same time. In fact 20% to 25% of pregnant women worldwide have genital herpes – some are active and some are asymptomatic.

Although the mothers-to-be are not at risk, the unborn baby may be in danger.

The degree of risk the baby faces is dependent on three major factors:
The herpes infection timeline. Whether antibodies are present in the mother-to-be. Whether there has been enough time for antibodies to develop in the baby before the onset of labor. Let me explain:

As a result of a herpes primary infection, the system produces antibodies to the particular type of virus involved.

If a woman contracts herpes, approximately six weeks after the primary outbreak the resultant antibodies in her system will prevent infection of an additional form of her particular HSV infection.

What’s more important regarding herpes and pregnancy, after six to nine weeks, the baby will acquire antibodies via the placenta.

Once that has happened, it is extremely difficult for cross infection to occur while the infant is still in the womb. It also makes it unlikely that the baby will become infected if the mother happens to be in the viral shedding stage during birth.

The Herpes Infection Timeline

There are three possible scenarios if herpes and pregnancy coincide:
If the woman had herpes before becoming pregnant, antibodies will be present in her system and she will transfer them to the fetus. If the mother is in the viral shedding stage during labor, there is less than a 1% chance of the baby becoming infected during vaginal birth. If primary infection occurred shortly before, or during the first trimester of pregnancy, the unborn baby is at risk. Since it takes approximately 6 weeks for antibodies to appear, there is a 3% chance of the infant becoming infected by viral shedding during vaginal birth. In rare cases, transmission could occur via the placenta. In this instance there is a 5% possibility of the baby being born with serious birth defects. If primary infection occurred during the second or third trimester of the pregnancy, this situation presents the highest risk of transferring the virus to the baby during vaginal birth. In this scenario, if the virus is shedding during labor, there is an up to 50% chance of the infant acquiring neonatal disease. Therefore a Caesarian section, rather than vaginal birth is essential. In the case of a first outbreak during pregnancy, the doctor should call for a “Western blot” blood test in order to:

a) Identify the type of virus.

b) To tell whether the outbreak was a non-primary first occurrence, or a primary outbreak.

Since the immune system is suppressed during pregnancy, 80% of herpes positive pregnant women will experience an average of 3 outbreaks during the gestation period.

Herpes Treatment During Pregnancy

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) recommend daily suppressive antiviral therapy to be given to herpes positive women from the 36th week of pregnancy.

This limits HSV recurrence and shedding during childbirth, thereby reducing the need for caesarean section.

Since the drug ‘acyclovir’ was subjected to a clinical study of 1000 pregnant women in which there were no increases in birth defects, it remains the drug of choice during pregnancy.

For women infected during the second or third trimester, daily suppressive treatment with antiviral herpes medicine as described above, should be considered. For others, this antiviral therapy is recommended during the final 10 days prior to delivery.

This will all but eliminate the chances of viral shedding while giving birth.

Herpes and Pregnancy – Vaginal Delivery or Cesarean Section?
Vaginal birth presents the greatest risk of cross transmission between mother and child. If lesions are detected on either the cervix, inside walls of the vagina, urethra or on the vulva prior to delivery, a Cesarean section would be necessary. As a safety precaution, women infected during the second or third trimester of pregnancy should seriously consider opting for a Cesarean section. This would virtually eliminate the chances of the baby becoming infected by viral shedding. If a woman has oral herpes lesions, they should be covered with an occlusive dressing before vaginal delivery. In other cases there is less than a 1% chance of the baby suffering from neonatal disease, so a vaginal delivery would be the logical option for most women.
Herpes and Pregnancy – Precautions During Pregnancy

If both you and your partner appear to be herpes negative, the following is worth discussing:
Since 90% of herpes positive victims have never had a primary outbreak, both of you should consider having a herpes blood test.

This would be a sensible precaution against unwittingly transmitting the virus either way during the shedding process. Alternatively, you might both consider taking daily antiviral medication throughout your pregnancy.
A latex condom should be used during vaginal, anal or oral sex in order to reduce the chances of transmission. Skip all sexual contact if either you or your partner has a herpes outbreak or experiences prodromal symptoms (tingling, itching or pain in the area of an impending outbreak). If either of you has oral herpes, avoid skin-to-skin contact with the infected area. Abstain from sex altogether during the third trimester of your pregnancy.

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Genital Warts and Herpes

Comments: 0December 13th, 2009 by admin



Genital warts and herpes are both sexually transmitted diseases. They are caused by different viruses. Genital warts are caused by human papilloma virus (HPV) and herpes is caused by a virus called herpes simplex virus (HSV). Millions of people are infected every year by these two most common STDs. Let us look at these diseases separately so that we may understand the better and know the differences between genital warts and herpes.

Genital warts
These occur in the genital areas and are transmitted mainly through vaginal, anal and oral sex. Genital warts are more common among women than men and therefore there are more works being done to prevent women from getting infected. These warts are flesh colored or gray growths. They may be flat or occur in lumps. Thee warts itch and pain and may eve bleed. These are common symptoms for both men and women.

The HPV can remain inside the body for a long time without showing itself. Once the symptoms are noticed, it is very important to show them to the doctor. There are many treatments for genital warts. They may be removed by freezing using liquid nitrogen, cutting them off with blades heated by electricity, laser surgery or by a method called excision where the doctor uses the surgical tools to remove them. There are also several over the counter effective medicines.

HPV can also attack a pregnant woman and this will involve a lot of risk as the warts may be transmitted to the baby. The pregnant women cannot use the same medicines to treat the warts and need proper medical help.

There are vaccines to prevent genital warts but these vaccines are only for women but search is on for men also. It is best to prevent the problem because there is no cure.

Herpes
This is also a highly contagious STD that has no cure. In this case rashes with blistery sores appear in different parts of the body. These sores may appear even in the anus, vagina, penis and cervix. The symptoms include, itching, burning sensation, pain, fever, swollen glands, headaches, etc. Psychological distress is another symptom from which an infected person suffers from. Herpes is so contagious that it may be transmitted from casual touching or sharing of the same items with an infected person.

There is no treatment available for herpes and therefore it is very essential to protect oneself from it. It is also the responsibility of the person to do everything to prevent the transmission off the disease to other people.

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Herpes – Testing For Herpes

Comments: 0June 11th, 2009 by admin



Genital herpes is a sexually transmitted disease passed from skin to skin sexual contact. If you think you have been exposed to the virus, it is a good idea to visit a doctor to get a proper diagnosis. Many people do not get diagnosed with genital herpes because oftentimes the virus is not accompanied by symptoms, or the symptoms can easily and frequently get mistaken for other conditions. This lack of diagnosis, of course, leads to the high numbers of genital herpes cases.

If you experience the following symptoms and/or believe that you have been exposed to the genital herpes virus, you may want to consider going to get tested by your physician or at a sexual health clinic.

- Flu-like symptoms: fever, aches and soreness, swollen lymph nodes
- Tingling, itching, burning or pain in the genital area
- Appearance of painful red spots, which, within a day or two, develop into clear, fluid-filled blisters
- Painful urination
- Abnormal genital secretions

The best time to go to the doctor or clinic for herpes testing is when you first experience any of these symptoms, because a visual diagnosis may be made. Genital herpes can be caused by either herpes type 1 or type 2, so other testing besides a visual diagnosis is necessary to determine the exact type of herpes virus that you have.

Upon your doctor visit, you can expect to first be given a medical survey which will provide information about your medical history: general health, previous conditions and current and previous symptoms. This evaluation will probably include questions about your personal life, like how recently you participated in sexual activity, whether you used condoms, if you have had an STD before and if you have any reason to believe that you have been in contact with herpes. Answering these questions as candidly and truthfully as possible will help the physician in evaluating the chance that you have been infected.

Next, to verify HSV diagnosis, the doctor may suggest one or more tests (a swab test or a blood test) to conclude whether you have HSV-1 or HSV-2. Type 1 is the virus more usually associated with facial herpes, while HSV-2 typically causes genital herpes, although cross-infection can occur. Knowing which virus you have helps determine protocol for future outbreaks. You may need to schedule another appointment to get blood work. Once blood work is done, the doctor will discuss the results with you.

Once you are diagnosed, it is common to be shocked or nervous. You may want to schedule a follow-up appointment just to discuss the implications of your genital herpes diagnosis Here are some questions you may want to ask your doctor after diagnosis is confirmed:

- How did I contract genital herpes?
- How often can I expect outbreaks?
- How can I identify a genital herpes outbreak?
- Can I prevent future outbreaks?
- What are my options for treatment?
- How can I decrease the chance of spreading herpes to my sexual partner?
- Will I be able to have sex without infecting my partner?
- How does genital herpes differ from cold sores/facial herpes?
- What are additional resources?
- Are there any support groups in my area?

Once you have discussed this with your physician, you should ask him/her about treatments that can reduce herpes outbreaks. Natural treatments have proven to be very affordable and lack the side effects of pharmaceutical drugs.

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