Genital herpes, which is a common ailment in women and men, is a contagious feature of genital herpes. Genital herpes is seen in adults. If untreated, they can be easily transmitted through sexual contacts. Most people today are unaware that they have genital herpes. Therefore, they can easily infect others during sexual intercourse. Even if people with genital herpes are protected during sexual intercourse, there is a possibility of transmission. Therefore, when genital herpes is noticed, it is necessary to see a doctor immediately for treatment.
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What is Genital Herpes (Herpes)?
Herpes seen in both sexes are defined as viral and contagious infections. These infections, seen in and around the genital area, got their name from the area where they were seen. After genital herpes occurs in people, it manifests itself with symptoms such as redness, blistering and swelling in the genital area. It can be seen in and around the penis in men, while it can be seen around the vagina, hips and anus in women. Its occurrence in and around the anus is due to the contamination after anal intercourse.
Genital Herpes Causes
The main cause of this disease is the HSV virus. When this virus infects the body, it does not show itself with any complaints or symptoms immediately. Depending on the state of the immune system of the person, the duration of its manifestation varies. Almost 60 percent of people who are active in their sexual life have genital herpes. When people with genital herpes have sexual intercourse with someone else, this virus is directly transmitted to them. The infected person will develop genital herpes over time.
HSV viruses appear in two types. These;
HSV-1
This type of HSV virus usually causes infections in the mouth, face and lips. It can occur frequently in people in many periods, including childhood. In particular, it is transmitted through contact, saliva. Contacting the infected people directly or with the tools used by those people will also transmit the virus to you. Although these viruses keep in the mouth area, researches have shown that HSV-1 virus can be seen in the genital areas recently.
HSV-2
It is the main cause of genital herpes. The HSV-2 virus is also contagious, just like type one. It can be seen frequently in adulthood in people who have an active sexual life. In particular, the number of sexual partners and the variety of sexual partners increase the risk of contracting this disease. People who have their first sexual experience at an early age are also more likely to have genital herpes. People with genital herpes disease must be protected during sexual intercourse and receive the necessary treatment. It is important both for their own health and for not transmitting the virus to others during sexual intercourse.
In Which Periods Is Genital Herpes More Common?
Genital herpes can manifest itself severely in attacks during periods when the immune system is weak. Periods and situations where genital herpes is common;
- Depression states,
- Extremely stressful, sad and irritable periods,
- Experiencing inflammatory diseases
- Unbalanced and unhealthy diet,
- Cancer diseases,
- Experiencing chronic diseases
- Periods when body resistance is low,
- Excessive smoking and alcohol consumption
- Periods of sleep problems,
- Periods when cortisone drugs are used,
- Being infected with HIV causes an increase in genital herpes.
Due to the above-mentioned conditions, the immune system of the people weakens from time to time and the body resistance decreases. With the weakening of the immune system and the decrease of body resistance, genital herpes can be experienced more severely.
What are the Symptoms of Genital Herpes?
There are certain symptoms of genital herpes. When these symptoms are noticed, a doctor’s examination is essential. We recommend that you see a doctor when you experience or notice any of the following symptoms. Symptoms of the disease are similar in both sexes. Symptoms of genital herpes;
- Redness in the genital area,
- Watery lesions,
- Fluffiness,
- Skin rashes,
- Having pain and ache during sexual intercourse,
- Itching in the genital area
- Edema formation in areas where spillage occurs,
- Experiencing swelling in the lymph nodes,
- Pain in the muscles of the genital area,
- The occurrence of pain in the abdomen and ovaries,
- Sudden fatigue and headache are among the most common symptoms of the disease.
How is Genital Herpes Diagnosed?
When people with the disease notice the above symptoms, they should go to a doctor’s examination. In the examination, the genital area is examined first. During the gynecological examination, herpes are visibly checked. There is no need for an extra diagnosis or diagnostic method. Herpes in the genital area is easily diagnosed by gynecological examination.
Your doctor can perform virological tests, if necessary, about whether the lesions in the genital area pose any risk. Virological tests are performed by taking fluid from the lesions in the genital area. These tests are not tests that give definitive results about herpes. Genital herpes can be seen in most people, even if the test result is negative. In short, a definitive diagnosis is not possible according to these tests.
Another diagnostic method is PCR tests. With PCR tests, swabs are taken from the lesions. The DNA of the virus is evaluated with the swab taken. Because PCR tests are the fastest test types, they are used more frequently than virological tests.
The other type of test used in the diagnosis of genital herpes is called serological tests. Serological tests are done as blood tests. In the blood tests, it is checked whether the HSV virus is present in the body. If HSV antibodies are found in the blood test, genital herpes is diagnosed.
Among all these test and diagnostic methods, PCR test is preferred more frequently because it gives fast results. However, compared to other test methods, PCR testing is a more expensive type of test. If necessary, after physical examination and blood test, it can be done to confirm the diagnosis of the disease.
Genital Herpes Treatment
Treatment of genital herpes begins after the doctor diagnoses the disease. Antiviral drugs are generally used in the treatment. These drugs must be used regularly and correctly. Antiviral drugs used in treatment include acyclovir, famciclovir and valaciclovir. With drug treatment, genital herpes is not completely eliminated from the body. People with HSV virus in their body periodically encounter the problem of herpes in the face and genital area. Early diagnosis is important in the treatment of the disease. If the disease is detected early and drug treatment is started early, the complications are reduced. In particular, conditions such as pain, aches, redness, and spillage can be prevented with early drug treatment. Drug treatment lasts at least 5 days. If there is still no improvement in the lesions after 5 days, drug treatment should be continued. Your doctor should adjust the dosage and use of the drugs used in the treatment.
If people have this disease and it manifests itself more than 6 times a year, suppressive treatment is applied. In the suppressive treatment method, acyclovir treatment is performed twice a day. This method is applied twice a day for 6 months and 1 year in the treatment. The aim of treatment is to reduce the transmission of genital herpes and to eliminate frequent attacks.
People with genital herpes should remember that there is no definitive treatment for the disease. After herpes heals, they may recur from time to time. In order to prevent recurrence and to prevent the increase, it is necessary to be under the control of a doctor. Medications must be taken regularly. Apart from these, it is necessary to be protected while having sexual intercourse, not to change sexual partners constantly, to give importance to the hygiene of the genital area, to use cotton and not tight clothes, and not to use too many chemical products on the genital area. In addition, it is recommended not to use too tight trousers for both genders.
Frequently asked questions of people with genital herpes disease;
What are the methods of protection from genital herpes?
Using condoms during sexual intercourse and paying attention not to use shared objects reduce the risk of transmission, even if they do not prevent transmission.
Is Genital Herpes Transmitted to Child During Pregnancy?
Women with herpes can transmit the virus to their baby during childbirth. A cesarean delivery is generally recommended for people who have an active herpes infection during childbirth.
Are there any side effects of the drugs used in the treatment?
Antiviral drugs used in the treatment of herpes do not have serious side effects. As with other drugs, mild symptoms such as nausea, vomiting and diarrhea can be seen. Your doctor will plan the interaction with other drugs you use.
Are Genital Herpes and Genital Warts the Same?
No, both are different from each other. Both are sexually transmitted, but warts are small bumps on the skin, while herpes are painful sores.
How many days after infection does Genital Herpes appear?
The incubation period after genital herpes infects the body is between 2-12 days. It manifests itself easily with symptoms 2-12 days after infecting the body.
Does genital herpes spread to other parts of the body?
No, it will not spread. Genital herpes only spreads around the genital area. It is easily transmitted to other people through sexual intercourse and contact.
Is Genital Herpes transmitted by oral or anal sex?
Yes, it does. Even touching the genital areas is sufficient. For this reason, it is recommended not to have sexual intercourse when there are wounds, especially when the disease is active. Transmission has also been reported during the inactive period.
Genital Herpes Treatment Prices
Treatment prices of genital herpes vary depending on the drug to be used, the diagnosis methods, the tests performed, and the process of the disease. Apart from these, the experience and clinical equipment of the doctor who will treat you are among the main factors affecting the price of the treatment. In addition, the fact that herpes is constantly recurring has an effect on prices, as it requires regular follow-up and treatment.
According to the rules of the Ministry of Health, it is not correct to give prices for health transactions on the internet pages. The prices for your treatment by experienced doctors with high patient satisfaction may also increase. For more information about genital herpes treatment prices and dermatologist examination fees, you can reach us from the information on our contact page and easily make an appointment. After making an appointment, the staff and doctors in our clinic will answer all your questions about genital herpes treatment prices. We provide services with our specialists in the treatment of many diseases to make you healthier and feel happier. You can get information about genital herpes treatment prices by calling our polyclinic on +902122414624
