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Genital herpes is a disease that most people find embarrassing. It is sexually transmitted. It is caused by the herpes virus type 2 (HSV-2). It is especially dangerous for pregnant women – it is a direct threat to the fetus.
Genital herpes is a condition that continues to be an embarrassing problem for most people infected with it. The disease is the most commonly diagnosed venereal disease and is caused by HSV-1 herpes virus type 1 – usually responsible for oral herpes, but it also affects half of genital virus cases and HSV-2 type 2 virus – which in turn corresponds to just for the appearance of herpes on the genitals.
- What does herpes infection look like?
Genital herpes is asymptomatic in many people and is passed on to a partner during sexual intercourse. Possible symptoms are very easy to recognize by a doctor, there may be pain and skin changes in the form of blisters, which are located in the genital area and perineum (both in women and men).
If you experience any such symptoms, discuss them with your doctor as soon as possible. Remember that you can use the e-visit option – at any time of the day or night.
Sometimes herpes attacks the area of the anus and buttocks. It happens that some patients experience a recurrence of herpes symptoms, but they are less bothersome than the first time.
People who develop genital herpes regularly should take medication every day.
Genital herpes infection occurs through contact with the carrier, it may be sexual contact (also oral and anal). The anus, mouth and genitals are susceptible to infection because of their humidity. In addition, we can get infected with the herpes virus by using the same towels as the carrier or other personal items.
- Is sex still taboo?
Genital herpes – symptoms
Genital herpes may be asymptomatic or with changes in the skin and mucous membranes. The disease is especially dangerous for pregnant women due to the possibility of transmission of the infection to the fetus, causing serious complications for it. Full-blown infection during pregnancy may cause intrauterine, perinatal or postnatal infection of the baby.
In the first trimester of pregnancy, there is a high risk of spontaneous miscarriage, in the second trimester – preterm labor or IUGR (intrauterine growth restriction).
The greatest risk of infection of a child with herpes virus is in the case of vaginal delivery, during which the newborn is exposed to direct contact with infected cells of the mother’s body.
The first symptoms of the herpes virus may be visible a few days after infection – we can observe them on the skin and mucous membranes of the genital organs.
The first symptoms are:
- itch,
- baking,
- then painful blisters develop.
The blisters that attack the genitals take up to two weeks to burst and eventually become painful sores. Lymph nodes in the groin can also become enlarged during cold sores, which are easily felt when touched. Some patients suffer from pain when urinating, and women may also experience vaginal discharge.
Genital herpes in women causes ulcers and blisters on the cervix that develop for up to twenty days and disappear on their own, leaving no visible scars.
- Every scar is different. How to fight it effectively?
The fact is that the first symptoms of herpes can appear even years after the infection started. It remains a mystery why, some develop symptoms of the virus and others not, and why the first symptoms appear months or years after infection. This is suspected to be related to the immune system, which responds differently to the virus in each person.
If you want to boost your immune system, you can try natural grape seed supplements that have antiviral and antiallergic properties.
A lot of people are carriers of the HSV-2 virus, despite the lack of clinical symptoms, infection with this virus likes to recur. Curing an infection and treating it does not make us immune to it, but the virus becomes so-called. sleep state (latency state). HSV-2 virus most often activates under the influence of factors such as:
- general weakness
- decrease in the body’s immunity,
- fever,
- hormonal changes,
- overheating or freezing of the body,
- often pregnancy causes the virus to become active.
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The occurrence of suspicious changes in the genital area should prompt you to consult a gynecologist immediately. This is especially true for pregnant women. Early diagnosis of genital herpes and implementation of appropriate treatment reduces the risk of spreading the virus and, in the case of pregnant women, the risk to the baby.
If a woman had any incidents of illness before pregnancy, it is worth informing the doctor about it. There are currently many serological tests available to help determine if we are a carrier of the herpes virus.
Diagnosis of genital herpes virus
After going to the doctor’s office (dermatologist or gynecologist), the specialist assesses whether we have herpes based on typical clinical symptoms and a medical interview with us. Before the doctor implements any treatment, he has to ask a few personal questions that will help in choosing an effective method of therapy. The medical history includes the following questions about the genital herpes virus:
- what are the symptoms and ailments of herpes;
- when the first symptoms of the disease appeared;
- when was the last sexual intercourse, after which the first symptoms appeared;
- what kind of sexual intercourse you had;
- whether sex took place with a random partner;
- the type of contraception used;
- have there been any previous venereal diseases;
- are there people who may have been infected by us;
- do you take drugs;
- in women: date of the last menstruation, past pregnancies and their number, whether there is pain during intercourse, pap smear results, whether there are spotting or bleeding during intercourse;
- whether other sexually transmitted diseases coexist.
In addition to the medical history, specialists may order tests to identify the herpes virus. The type of virus is determined when the disease is severe. For this purpose, the following are used: serological examination, isolation of the herpes virus in cell culture, Tzanck test, immunofluorescence test or electron microscopy.
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Genital herpes – treatment
Treatment of genital herpes is primarily local in nature. To alleviate and reduce the ailments of the disease, it is recommended to use chamomile infusions and brush with a violet solution. Before using the treatment, consult a doctor (preferably a gynecologist or dermatologist – in the case of a gynecologist, a referral from another doctor is not needed).
Research is ongoing into vaccines and drugs to stimulate our immune system. Herpes symptoms can be alleviated by taking antiviral preparations (both oral and topical).
Management of genital herpes
Here are some practical tips for fighting genital herpes:
1. Use soda baths 3 to 5 times a day.
2. Be sure to wear cotton and loose-fitting underwear that will not irritate painful ulcers and blisters.
3. Affected genitals should be kept in proper hygiene and dryness. You can use a hair dryer to dry any oozing blisters.
4. Take a bath with the addition of geranium oil (preferably every day). It is also worth adding iodine-bromine thermal salt to the water in Zabłocka bath, which has a disinfecting and soothing effect.
5. If the blisters burst – use a disinfectant (it may be hydrogen peroxide).
6. You can also use various infusions, eg from cloves; sit-ins; warm compresses of powdered comfrey or myrrh. You can also make a paste yourself from selected ingredients and apply it to ulcers.
7. Aloe vera gel also soothes irritations.
8. Try not to eat nuts, chocolate or rice, which are high in arginine. However, it is beneficial to eat meat, milk, potatoes or eggs that contain lysine.
9. Your diet should include foods high in zinc, such as eggs, milk, pumpkin seeds and garlic. In addition, it is worth consuming red grapes and products containing vitamin B.
10. You can try acupressure, which involves applying pressure to the feet (three lengths of the thumb towards the little finger on the line connecting the ankle and little finger).
11. Try to determine in what situations herpes recurrence occurred, if it was, for example, stress – it is worth eliminating it.
12. Remember not to engage in sexual relations with people who have genital herpes and changes in these areas, but also if we are currently ill ourselves, we should refrain from intercourse.
13. A proper diet, a healthy lifestyle and regular exercise improve immunity, which in turn reduces the risk of the herpes virus.
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- Read more: Pregnancy and herpes
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