Health Disease

What is Genital Herpes?

Genital herpes is a type of sexually transmitted disease (STD) that causes herpetic sores that are painful blisters that are fluid-filled bumps which can break open and ooze fluid. Studies has shown that around 16% of the people that are aged in between 14 and 49 get STD. Genital herpes can lead to sores in the genitals, pain as well as itching. It is quite possible that you may not get any symptoms of genital herpes. But, if you get infected by the same, it can be contagious even though you may not have any visible sores.

There's no cure for genital herpes, however, there are certain medications that can ease the genital herpes symptoms and thereby reduce the risk of infecting others. Genital herpes prevention can be done by usage of condoms.

Causes of Genital Herpes

Genital herpes causes are highlighted mainly because of the two types of herpes simplex virus infections:

• HSV-1. This is the type of genital herpes that generally causes cold sores or fever blisters all around your mouth. HSV-1 often spreads via skin-to-skin contact, although it can spread to your genitals during oral sex. Recurrences are not too often in this type of genital herpes as much they are in HSV-2 infection.
• HSV-2. This is the type of genital herpes that typically causes genital herpes. The virus here spreads via sexual contact as well as skin-to-skin contact. HSV-2 is most common and therefore highly contagious. It doesn’t depend whether you have an open sore or not.

Since the genital herpes the virus quickly dies outside the body, it is not possible to get the infection via contact with towels, toilets, or other objects that are used by an infected person

Types of Genital Herpes

As mentioned above, there are two types of genital herpes. HSV-1 and HSV-2.

Treatment

What to do if your genital herpes worsens?

In case your symptoms of genital herpes worsens, it is advisable to seek immediate medical help without delaying the same.

What are the treatments available for Genital Herpes?

Mentioned below are the genital herpes treatment and that can only reduce the outbreaks, however it can’t cure you from the herpes simplex viruses.

• Medications

Antiviral drugs may be prescribed for reducing the healing time of your sores as well as pain. Medications should be taken at the first signs of an outbreak such as itching, tingling, and other related genital herpes symptoms for reducing the pain associated with the symptoms. To make it less likely for the outbreaks any time in future, medicines would be prescribed accordingly.

• Home care

It is advised to use mild cleansers while having bath or having shower in warm water. It is best to keep the infected site clean and dry. To keep the genitals comfortable, it is advisable to use loose cotton clothing.

Are there any home remedies or natural treatments for Genital herpes?

Mentioned below are some of the home remedies for genital herpes treatment:

1. Warm bath: The pain that is caused due to sores during an outbreak can be well taken care by soaking yourself in warm bath.
2. Soap and warm water: You should try and keep the infected area clean as much as possible. Using mild disinfectant soap in the infected area can also work wonders.
However, do keep in mind to pat the infected area dry post a warm water bath.
3. Baking soda: It is said that cornstarch and baking soda will help in keeping the infection dry and promote further healing.
4. Tea-bags: It is best to use a black tea-bag since it contains tannic acid that also has anti-viral properties. All you need to do is steep the black tea-bag in hot water for an hour and then allow the same to cool. Then you may apply the same warm tea-bag on to the infected area for some time and then pat the area dry.
5. Ice: Ice is the best Genital herpes treatment that helps to reduce the genital herpes symptoms. All you need to do is apply ice on the affected area and then pat the area dry thoroughly.
6. Aloe-vera: This gel can be applied on the infected area to heal the genital herpes sores and stop the genital herpes outbreaks.

When to see a doctor?

In case you suspect of having genital herpes or perhaps any other sexually transmitted disease or an infection, it is best to visit a doctor immediately.