subject: The Causes of Genital Herpes - Be Informed and Prevent Herpes Infections [print this page] Genital herpes is a common infection in the U.S. today. It is a sexually transmitted disease which is more common in women than in men. The causes of genital herpes is the herpes simplex viruses 1 and 2. Virus 1 is what usually forms on the mouth in the form of cold sores or fever blisters. Virus 2 is what is passed on to the genital areas.
A person can have the virus and not know it, so passing it on to others goes unnoticed until the outbreak occurs. When an outbreak of herpes occurs, there is usually a blister that forms on or around the genital area and possibly the rectal area. When the blister ruptures, it becomes similar to an ulcer and can be very painful or uncomfortable.
The ulcer may stick around for two to four weeks before disappearing. However, the disease does not leave the body. It remains in the body's system, possibly for the rest of the life of the infected person. There can be a recurrence of the blister and ulcer within a few months to a year or more. It can come back at any time without any notice.
The main causes of genital herpes is that a person can become infected with genital herpes by sexual contact. Spreading genital herpes generally happens when one partner may have it and pass it on to the other without realizing it. The partner who was uninfected, may at the point of intercourse, be infected. The virus can be passed on to another partner even if no sore or ulcer is present.
There really is no cure for genital herpes. However there are some treatments which can make an infected person with an outbreak more comfortable or shorten the length of the outbreak. First of all, medical specialists will visually inspect the suspected virus outbreak and take samples to test it. If it is diagnosed, anti-viral creams can be prescribed to help make the time of the outbreak shorter.
The causes of genital herpes can be avoided if partners do not engage in sexual intercourse when the affected person has sores in the genital area. Another way to prevent the transmission would be to use protection such as condoms during sexual intercourse. Not having multiple and unfamiliar partners is another way to avoid picking up the disease.
Those are the main causes, symptoms and treatments for genital herpes. The best action a person can take to guard against this disease is know your partner and take precautions against the disease.
The Causes of Genital Herpes - Be Informed and Prevent Herpes Infections
