Genital Herpes Patient Information Leaflet

 What causes Genital Herpes?

• Genital herpes is an infection of a part of the genital area with the herpes simplex virus (HSV)
• There are two types of HSV:
  •  Type 1 HSV is the usual cause of cold sores around the mouth. It also causes more than half of cases of genital herpes
  • Type 2 HSV usually only causes genital herpes. It can sometimes cause cold sores

How is it spread?

• It is usually acquired initially through skin to skin contact during oral, vaginal or anal sex
• The virus can be spread when there is an episode (when the sore/ulcer is present) or between episodes (when there is no sore, blister or ulcer)
• After an initial infection, the virus lies within the nerve root, and may cause recurring symptoms
• Many people who have genital herpes are not aware they have the infection, because they may not have any symptoms
• So what this means is that a new rash is not the same as a new infection. A sufferer may have caught the infection years before the first rash appears – and they may pass it on without knowing

What are the symptoms of genital herpes?

The first episode of HSV can cause considerable pain and distress and symptoms usually include:

• small blisters around the genitals – these break open to form shallow, painful ulcers, which scab over and heal after one to two weeks
• small cracks in the skin with or without an itch or tingling
• redness or a distinct rash (see below)

Recurrent episodes of genital herpes

• Recurrences are usually less painful and shorter in duration than the first episode.
• Over time, episodes usually become less frequent and may eventually stop altogether.
• Recurrences may be triggered by various factors including, stress, menstruation, sexual activity and viral illnesses

Treatment for genital herpes

• There is no curative treatment for the herpes virus.
• Treatment is aimed at reducing the severity of symptoms and reducing the frequency of recurrences.
• Symptoms can be improved by:
  • salt baths
  • ice packs to the affected area
  • pain-relieving medication – such as paracetamol and topical local
  • anaesthetic gels
  • antiviral medication
    • These can reduce the severity of an episode if taken early enough (preferably as soon as you become aware of any symptoms appearing).
  • Topical antivirals usually used for cold sores on the lips or face are not appropriate for use on the genitals.

Other advice

Individuals with symptoms should also avoid sexual contact whilst symptomatic

If you are pregnant and have genital herpes you should consult your obstetrician as soon as possible.

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