Produced by Krysta Munford, Bupa Health Information Team, February 2012.
This factsheet is for people who have genital herpes, or who would like more information about it.
Genital herpes is an infection caused by the herpes simplex virus (HSV). It can be spread through skin-to-skin contact, such as during unprotected sex, or passed from an infected mother to her baby during a vaginal birth.
Genital herpes is often referred to as a sexually transmitted infection (STI) because it’s usually spread through having unprotected sex. It's most common in adults, particularly women, between the ages of 20 and 35.
There are two types of HSV, HSV-1 and HSV-2. Genital herpes is most often caused by HSV-2, although HSV-1 can also cause it. From the first time you get HSV, which is known as the primary infection, it stays in your body for the rest of your life.
The primary HSV infection may not cause any symptoms at all. If you do get symptoms, they usually appear four to seven days after you come into contact with the virus, but can sometimes take weeks, months or years to develop.
Symptoms of genital herpes include:
After you’ve had the primary infection (with or without symptoms), the virus lies dormant (asleep) in your body. HSV can reactivate (wake up) and cause further reoccurring outbreaks, usually in or around the same place each time. You may have tingling or itching in the infected area before you get any blisters or sores on your skin. The blisters are usually less painful than they were in the primary infection and clear up faster – usually in about a week.
These symptoms may be caused by problems other than genital herpes. If you have any of these symptoms, see your GP for advice.
Complications of genital herpes include:
Having genital herpes increases your risk of getting or passing on the HIV infection during sexual contact, particularly if you have, or your partner has, blisters.
Genital herpes is most often caused by HSV-2. You can get the virus if you have unprotected vaginal or anal sex, share sex toys or have close skin-to-skin contact with someone who has the infection.
The infection usually passes from one person to another just before or straight after an outbreak, but it's possible to become infected by someone else even if they don’t have any symptoms.
If you think you may have genital herpes, you can see your GP, visit a genito-urinary medicine (GUM) clinic, or a sexual health clinic to be tested. You don't have to ask your GP to refer you to a GUM or sexual health clinic; you can make your own appointment. All visits are confidential and you don't have to give your real name. Details won't be sent to your GP without your consent.
Your GP or nurse will ask about your symptoms and examine you. He or she will take a swab from the infected area and may need to gently break one of your blisters to get a sample. It will be sent to a laboratory to confirm HSV infection.
Even if you don’t have any noticeable symptoms, you may be able to have a blood test to find out if you have herpes. However, this test won’t be able to pick up signs of a very recent infection.
Treatment for genital herpes usually involves self-help measures to ease your symptoms. There isn’t a treatment that can get rid of HSV. Once you’re infected, it will remain in your body, even if you never get any symptoms.
The following steps may help ease any pain or discomfort, particularly if you have sores on your genitals.
Always read the patient information leaflet that comes with your medicine and if you have any questions, ask your pharmacist for advice.
If it’s the first time you’ve had genital herpes, your GP can prescribe antiviral tablets such as acyclovir, valaciclovir and famciclovir. These can help to clear the outbreak faster and reduce the severity of your symptoms. You will usually need to take the tablets for five days, or sometimes longer if your symptoms are severe.
If you have regular outbreaks of genital herpes, usually more than six in a year, your GP may prescribe you a longer course of antiviral tablets or creams. This is known as suppressive therapy.
If you're pregnant
If you have an outbreak of genital herpes when you're pregnant, it's important to see your GP or your obstetrician (a doctor who specialises in pregnancy and childbirth) for treatment and advice. This is because there is a risk that you can pass the infection on to your baby during the birth (neonatal herpes). If this happens, your baby can become seriously ill.
If you get genital herpes for the first time in the last three months of your pregnancy (the third trimester), you’re more likely to pass the virus on to your baby if you have a vaginal birth. You may therefore need to have a caesarean section. Speak to your GP or obstetrician for more advice.
There are ways that you can reduce your risk of getting or passing on genital herpes. Some examples are listed below.
Also, sunbathing, being run down, stress and drinking heavily can trigger reoccurring episodes of genital herpes. Being aware of these and taking measures to prevent them can help reduce your risk of having an outbreak. For women, different times in the menstrual cycle can also bring on reoccurring episodes.
For answers to frequently asked questions on this topic, see Common questions.
For sources and links to further information, see Resources.
Male and female doctors make up Bupa's team of highly experienced GPs with all the empathetic qualities you'd expect. Book to see a Private GP today or call 0845 600 3458 quoting ref. HFS GP.
This information was published by Bupa's Health Information Team and is based on reputable sources of medical evidence. It has been reviewed by appropriate medical or clinical professionals. Photos are only for illustrative purposes and do not reflect every presentation of a condition. The content is intended only for general information and does not replace the need for personal advice from a qualified health professional. For more details on how we produce our content and its sources, visit the About our Health Information page.
Publication date: February 2012
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