Hendrix Clinic and Counseling Center

Herpes

• Genital Herpes is caused by the herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV 1) and type 2 (HSV 2) 

How Do I Get It?

• Genital Herpes is a sexually transmitted infection.
• Transmission can occur from an infected partner who does not have a visable sore and may not know that he or she is infected.
• Both herpes, HSV 1 and HSV 2 can be spread to the oral or genital areas via oral sex.

Symptoms:

• One or more blisters on or around the genital or oral area, or rectum.

Potential Complications:

• Genital herpes can cause recurrent painful genital sores in many adults, and herpes infection can be severe in people with suppressed immune systems.
• Because herpes is spread from skin to skin contact it can possibly spread to any open skin including eyes or nose.

Testing:

• Health care providers can diagnose genital herpes by visual inspection or by taking a sample from the sore(s) and testing it in a laboratory.
• HSV infections can be difficult to diagnose between outbreaks.
• Blood tests, which detect HSV-1 or HSV-2 infection, may be helpful, although the results are not always clear-cut.

Treatment:

• There is no cure for herpes however, antiviral medications can help shorten and prevent outbreaks.

Prevention:

• Correct and consistent use of latex condoms (or polyurethane condoms if you or your partner are allergic to latex condoms) can help reduce the risk of genital herpes only when the infected area or site of potential exposure is protected.
  
• Since a condom may not cover all infected areas, even correct and constant use of either latex or polyurethane condoms cannot guarantee protection from genital herpes.
• Because both HSV 1 and HSV 2 can be spread to both the oral and genital regions it’s important to use a dental dam when performing oral sex.
• The surest way to prevent the spread of herpes or any sexually transmitted infection is to abstain from sexual intercourse.