What you need to know
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Genital herpes is an infection you can get from having sex with someone who is already infected.
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Protect yourself by using condoms and avoiding sex with anyone during a herpes outbreak.
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An infected person may have blisters or sores on the mouth or genitals during an outbreak, or there may not be any symptoms.
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If you do not get treated, it can lead to serious health problems.
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There is no cure. But there are medicines that can shorten outbreaks.ā
āGenital herpes basics
āWhat is genital herpes and how do you get it?
Genital herpes is a common sexually transmitted infection (STI). You can get genital herpes by having vaginal, anal, or oral sex with someone who has the infection. You can get genital herpes from a sex partner who does not have visible sores.
There are two types of viruses that cause genital herpes: herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1) and herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2).
What are the symptoms of genital herpes?ā
Most people with genital herpes have mild symptoms or no symptoms at all. Mild symptoms may be mistaken for other skin conditions like a pimple or ingrown hair. Because of this, most people do not know they have herpes.
See a health care provider if you have these symptoms.
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Genital herpes outbreak
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This is when herpes sores appear as one or more blisters on or around the genitals, rectum or mouth. The blisters break and leave painful sores that may take a week or more to heal.
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Flu-like symptoms. This may include fever, body aches, or swollen glands during the first outbreak.
People can have repeated outbreaks, especially if their genital herpes is caused by HSV-2. Later outbreaks are usually shorter and less severe than the first outbreak. The number of outbreaks may decrease over time. Genital herpes is a lifelong infection.
If genital herpes is not treated, it can cause serious health problems
A genital herpes infection may increase one's risk of becoming infected with HIV. The infection can cause problems for pregnant people and their babies such as miscarriage, preterm birth, or neonatal herpes.
How do I avoid getting genital herpes?ā
You can get genital herpes by having vaginal, anal, or oral sex with someone who has the infection. You can get genital herpes from a sex partner who does not have a visible sore.
You can get herpes if you have contact with:
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A herpes sore
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Saliva from a partner with an oral herpes infection
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Skin in the oral area of a partner with oral herpes
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Genital fluids from a partner with a genital herpes infection
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Skin in the genital area of a partner with genital herpes
You will not get herpes from:
Lower your chances of getting genital herpes:
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Do not touch herpes sores or fluids from the sores.
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Touching sores or fluids may infect another body part, like your eyes. To avoid this, wash your hands thoroughly. Wash as soon as possible.
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Use condoms.
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Be aware that not all herpes sores occur in areas that a condom can cover. Also, the skin can release the virus (called shedding) from areas that do not have a visible herpes sore. For these reasons, condoms may not fully protect you from getting herpes.
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āāāāIf your sex partner(s) has genital herpes, lower your risk of getting it:
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Your partner should take an anti-herpes medicine every day. Your partner should discuss this with their health care provider.
- Avoid having vaginal, anal, or oral sex when your partner has an outbreak. āā
Who is most affected by genital herpes?
Genital herpes is common in the United States. In 2018, there were about 570,000 new genital herpes infections among people 14 to 49 years of age.
Genital herpes and pregnancy
If you are pregnant and have genital herpes, prenatal care visits are very important. A genital herpes infection may lead to miscarriage or make it more likely to deliver your baby too early. You can pass herpes to your unborn child before birth. But it more commonly passes during delivery. This can lead to a deadly infection in your baby, called neonatal herpes. It is important that you avoid getting genital herpes during pregnancy. Tell your health care provider about your diagnosis or symptoms. Also tell them about any possible exposure to genital herpes.
You may need to take anti-herpes medicine towards the end of your pregnancy. This may reduce your risk when you deliver. At the time of delivery, your health care provider should examine you for herpes sores. If you have signs or symptoms of genital herpes at delivery, a C-section is likely to occur.ā
What if I get genital herpes?
Diagnosis
Your health care provider may diagnose genital herpes by looking at any sores that are present. Providers can also take a sample from the sore(s) and test it. Your health care provider might use a blood test to determine if HSV-1 or HSV-2 is causing the sores.
Treatment
Genital herpes is not curable. There is medicine that can prevent or shorten outbreaks. It also makes it less likely to infect your sex partner(s). Talk to a health care provider about your treatment options.ā
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