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What Causes Genital Herpes?
I am a 22 year old female and a few years ago I was diagnosed with herpes simplex virus type 1, but on my genitalia. Last Saturday, I noticed a slight discomfort when I was urinating and checked what could have possible been there. Using my hand I stretched out the skin on the outside of my labia majors and saw a small scratch or a cut. It was just a little red and painless. I took 500 mg of Valtrex twice a day for three days, as precaution. Nothing was there and the skin felt normal. I engaged in sexual activity on Thursday night and then Friday. On Friday, I noticed that in a similar spot there were two very small cuts and the original one had disappeared. I am unsure if this was actually an outbreak or not because it didn t look like my initial outbreak in 2010. Today (Sunday) I developed severe symptoms for an UTI and was given antibiotics.
Wed, 31 May 2023
Hi,
Genital herpes occurs due to a virus called the herpes simplex virus (HSV). There are two types of HSV: type 1 and type 2. HSV-1 typically causes cold sores on or around the mouth, while HSV-2 typically causes genital herpes. However, either type can infect either location.
Genital herpes is usually spread through sexual contact, including vaginal, anal, and oral sex. The virus is most easily spread when there are visible blisters or sores, but it can also be spread when there are no symptoms present. It is important to note that even when there are no visible sores, the virus can still be present in the body and can still be spread to sexual partners.
The initial outbreak of genital herpes typically involves multiple painful blisters or sores on or around the genitals or anus, which can take several weeks to heal. After the initial outbreak, the virus can remain dormant in the body for long periods and may reactivate periodically, causing new outbreaks. Symptoms of a recurrent outbreak may include tingling, itching, or burning in the genital area, followed by the appearance of small blisters or sores.
Treatment for genital herpes typically involves antiviral medication, such as Valtrex, which can help to reduce the severity and duration of outbreaks, as well as reduce the risk of transmitting the virus to sexual partners. In addition to medication, it is also important to practice safe sex by using condoms or other barrier methods and to inform sexual partners about the presence of genital herpes.
If you require a personalized response, kindly use the Ask A Doctor service and post a follow-up. Take care. Hope I have answered your question.
Regards,
Dr. Priyanka, General & Family Physician
Genital herpes occurs due to a virus called the herpes simplex virus (HSV). There are two types of HSV: type 1 and type 2. HSV-1 typically causes cold sores on or around the mouth, while HSV-2 typically causes genital herpes. However, either type can infect either location.
Genital herpes is usually spread through sexual contact, including vaginal, anal, and oral sex. The virus is most easily spread when there are visible blisters or sores, but it can also be spread when there are no symptoms present. It is important to note that even when there are no visible sores, the virus can still be present in the body and can still be spread to sexual partners.
The initial outbreak of genital herpes typically involves multiple painful blisters or sores on or around the genitals or anus, which can take several weeks to heal. After the initial outbreak, the virus can remain dormant in the body for long periods and may reactivate periodically, causing new outbreaks. Symptoms of a recurrent outbreak may include tingling, itching, or burning in the genital area, followed by the appearance of small blisters or sores.
Treatment for genital herpes typically involves antiviral medication, such as Valtrex, which can help to reduce the severity and duration of outbreaks, as well as reduce the risk of transmitting the virus to sexual partners. In addition to medication, it is also important to practice safe sex by using condoms or other barrier methods and to inform sexual partners about the presence of genital herpes.
If you require a personalized response, kindly use the Ask A Doctor service and post a follow-up. Take care. Hope I have answered your question.
Regards,
Dr. Priyanka, General & Family Physician
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