Genital Herpes

Genital herpes is a contagious infection caused by a virus known as herpes simplex virus (HSV). According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, genital herpes affects an estimated 45 million Americans. Although the infection can be serious for newborn babies and people who are chronically ill, rarely is it fatal. While there is still no known cure, genital herpes does respond well to treatment.
There are two types of herpes simplex virus, herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1), and herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2). Both types are related to the family of viruses that cause chicken pox and shingles. Both HSV-1 and HSV-2 can cause genital herpes.
"Oral herpes" causes sores and blisters on the lips, gums and in the mouth-typically referred to as cold sores. Oral herpes is very common and can be spread by kissing or oral sex. It is usually caused by HSV-1.
"Genital herpes" causes sores in the genital area. The sores it causes often are painful, and sometimes itchy. Genital herpes also can cause serious health problems in infants who become infected by their mothers during delivery and in persons whose immune systems are weakened. Genital herpes is usually caused by HSV-2.
For reasons not entirely clear, many persons with genital herpes either have no visible symptoms or don't recognize the symptoms. The virus can be transmitted with or without symptoms being present. But perhaps the major concern with both oral and genital herpes is that you remain infected for life and there is no cure.
When it does cause symptoms, genital herpes can produce sores in and around the vaginal area, on the penis, around the anal opening and on the buttocks or thighs. Occasionally, sores also appear on other parts of the body where broken skin has come into contact with the virus. HSV remains dormant in certain nerve cells of the body for life, causing periodic symptoms in some people while remaining dormant for life in others. Like other genital ulcer diseases, genital herpes increases both the risk of acquiring and transmitting HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, by providing a point of entry or exit for HIV. In addition, HIV-positive persons who are not being treated for HIV because their immune system is suppressed often have severe herpes outbreaks.
One of the most bewildering and frustrating aspects of genital herpes is the periodic outbreak of sores that infected persons often experience. Recurrences of genital herpes can be upsetting and sometimes painful. Moreover, the emotional stress over transmitting the disease to others and disrupting sexual relations during outbreaks, as well as informing your sexual partner of your infection status, can take a toll on personal relationships. With proper counseling, improved treatments and prevention measures, however, couples can cope with and manage the disease effectively.
Genital herpes is acquired by sexual contact with someone who is infected. A decade ago, it was believed that the virus could be transmitted only when the virus was active and causing symptoms, such as sores and blisters. Now, it is known that the virus can spread even when there are no symptoms. In fact, it is believed that genital herpes is spread most often when no symptoms are present (known as asymptomatic transmission). In addition, recent research suggests that a large proportion of people who appear to have no symptoms do have symptoms that they just don't recognize. If you have oral herpes, you also can transmit the infection to the genital area of a partner during oral-genital sex. An estimated 30 percent of genital herpes infections in the U.S. are due to HSV-1; presumably, many of these were transmitted during oral sex. No documented cases have been spread by contact with objects such as toilet seats or hot tubs. While rare, transmission is possible from skin-to-skin contact through open sores. Prudent hand-washing and personal hygiene decrease or nearly eliminate that risk.