Sexual Health: Genital Herpes

Genital herpes is a highly contagious infection usually spread through intercourse with a person with infected sores, but it can be passed through oral or anal sex as well. It may also be spread even when sores are not visible.

Genital herpes can also be transmitted (spread) to a newborn during birth if the mother has an active infection.

What Causes Genital Herpes?
Usually, this infection is caused by the herpes simplex virus-2 (HSV-2) although herpes simplex virus-1 (HSV-1), the virus responsible for cold sores, may occasionally cause this disease. It can be spread by an infected partner who does not have any sores and may not even know they have the disease.

How Common Is Genital Herpes?
At least 45 million American adults and adolescents have genital herpes — that’s 1 out of every 4 to 5 people, making it one of the most common sexually transmitted diseases. Since the late 1970s, the number of Americans with genital herpes infection has increased 30%, mostly in teens and young adults.

Genital herpes is more common in women than in men.

How Do I Know If I Have Genital Herpes?
Most people infected with genital herpes have very minimal or no signs or symptoms of their disease. The first attack of herpes usually follows this course:

Skin on or near the sex organ becomes inflamed. Skin may burn, itch or be painful.
Blister-like sores appear on or near the sex organs.
Sores open, scab over, and then heal.
Symptoms that may also be present when the virus first appears include:

Swollen glands
Fever
Headache
Burning when passing urine
Muscle aches
The first outbreak of herpes can last for several weeks. After the outbreak, the virus retreats to the nervous system, where it remains inactive until something triggers it to become active again.

Typically, another outbreak can appear weeks or months after the first, but it almost always is less severe and shorter than the first episode. Although the infection can stay in the body indefinitely, the number of outbreaks tends to decrease over a period of years.

How Often Do Outbreaks Happen?
How often outbreaks occur depends on the person. On average, people with herpes experience about four outbreaks a year. The first outbreak usually is the most painful and takes the longest to heal. The pain and recovery time often decrease with each outbreak.

What Triggers an Outbreak?
It depends on the person. Some commonly reported triggers include:

Stress
Illness
Surgery
Vigorous sex
Diet
Monthly period
How Are Genital Herpes Diagnosed?
Your doctor can diagnose genital herpes by visual inspection if the outbreak is typical, and by taking a sample from the sore(s). But, HSV infections can be difficult to diagnose between outbreaks. Your doctor may check for ulcers internally — on the cervix in women and the urethra in men. Blood tests that detect HSV-1 or HSV-2 infection may be helpful, although the results are not always easy to interpret.

Genital Herpes: Stigma Still Strong

Stigma Ranks Second to HIV in Poll

By Miranda Hitti
WebMD Health News

Reviewed by Louise Chang, MD

Aug. 24, 2007 — Genital herpes is common but it still carries a big social stigma, an online poll shows.

The poll included 503 U.S. adults with genital herpes and about 1,400 other adults who said they didn’t have genital herpes.

Participants answered questions about their relationships and views of genital herpes.

They ranked genital herpes second for social stigma, out of all sexually transmitted diseases (HIV took the top spot for STD stigma).

The poll also included a list of other potentially taboo topics, including HIV, gonorrhea, mental illness, obesity, substance abuse, and cancer.

Most participants — 64% of those without genital herpes and 56% of those with genital herpes — said they didn’t think any of those topics were taboo. However, genital herpes was the top-ranked “taboo” topic.

Among genital herpes patients, 39% said they were troubled by societal stigma about genital herpes. Far more genital herpes patients — 75% — were troubled by bothersome symptoms of genital herpes outbreaks.

Most people without genital herpes said they would avoid having a relationship with someone who has genital herpes and break up with a partner who had genital herpes.

Among people with genital herpes, 36% said they tell their partners about their genital herpes “well in advance of having sexual intercourse for the first time,” and 68% said they were concerned about transmitting genital herpes to their sexual partners.

But that doesn’t mean it’s easy for patients to talk to their partners about their genital herpes.

For instance, of the 325 genital herpes patients who reported having genital herpes outbreaks, 38% said they’d made up an excuse to avoid having sex during a genital herpes outbreak, instead of telling their partner about their outbreak.

Harris Interactive conducted the poll between Dec. 14, 2006, and Jan. 12, 2007. The poll was commissioned by the drug company Novartis.

Half a Billion Have Genital Herpes Virus

World Health Organization Publishes First Global Estimates of Herpes Simplex Virus Type 2 Infection

Mother-to-Infant Herpes Transmission

Cesarean Section and Other Steps Can Reduce Risk
By Jennifer Warner
WebMD Health NewsReviewed by Ngozi A. Osondu, MDJan. 7, 2003 — Women infected with herpes can reduce the risk of passing the virus on to their children by having a cesarean section and taking other safety precautions during pregnancy and delivery, according to a new study. Researchers say it’s the first real proof that delivering a baby via cesarean section can protect an infant from infection with the herpes simplex virus (HSV), despite the fact that it’s been common practice for the last 30 years.

The results of the study appear in the Jan. 8 issue of The Journal of the American Medical Association.

Researchers looked at 202 women who had HSV at the time of labor and gave birth at several hospitals in Washington State between 1982 and 1999. Of the infected women, 85 delivered by cesarean section and 117 delivered vaginally. Ten infants were infected with the virus.

But the researchers found that several factors appeared to reduce the risk of the mother passing the infection along to her child, and cesarean delivery was one of the biggest factors in preventing transmission. Only one baby who was delivered by C-section acquired HSV, compared with nine babies who tested positive for the virus after a vaginal delivery.

Study author Zane A. Brown, MD, of the University of Washington, and colleagues say women who had genital lesions at the time of labor were also less likely to transmit the virus to their infant, perhaps because these women were much more likely to have a cesarean delivery.

In fact, none of the 74 women who had lesions infected their infants, compared with 10 of the 128 women who were shedding the virus without lesions and infected their child.

Factors that increased the risk of transmission of the virus to the infant included the presence of HSV in the mother’s cervix, the use of invasive monitoring devices during labor and delivery, and premature delivery (before 38 weeks). Mothers who were under the age of 21 or were experiencing their first episode of HSV infection were also more likely to pass the virus along to their child.

Symptoms of oral herpes include cold sores or fever blisters near the mouth, and genital herpes can cause lesions in the genital area.

The risk of acquiring either type of HSV can be reduced by using a latex condom during sex and avoiding sexual contact with visibly infected areas of the mouth and genitals. But a person infected with HSV-2, the form that generally causes genital herpes, may still be contagious even if they do not have visible symptoms.

How Does Herpetic Eye Disease Develop?

Introduction to Herpes Viruses and the Eyes

Most people are surprised to find out that two types of herpes viruses — the one that causes cold sores and the one that causes chickenpox — can cause serious eye problems.

These two viruses are not the same virus that causes genital herpes, and herpetic eye disease is not a sexually transmitted disease.

One of the viruses that cause herpetic eye disease is called the varicella-zoster virus. It is the same virus that causes chickenpox and the nervous system disease shingles. When this virus affects the eye, it is called herpes zoster ophthalmicus.

The other virus that causes herpetic eye disease is called herpes simplex type 1. Herpes simplex type 1 is the same virus that causes cold sores on the lips and mouth. In the eye, it usually causes an infection of the cornea. This infection is called herpes simplex keratitis.

Like many viruses, the herpes simplex 1 and varicella-zoster viruses are present in most adults. The viruses in the herpes family usually live around the nerve fibers in humans without ever causing a problem. Occasionally, the viruses will start to multiply, or they will move from one area of the body to another, and that is when herpetic disease breaks out. This often happens when the immune system of the body is weakened by some other health problem.

Herpes Epidemic Rise

Herpes Epidemic Rise

Oral herpes, an infection caused by the herpes simplex virus, is estimated to be present in 50 to 80 percent of the American adult population.

Genital herpes, also caused by the herpes simplex virus, is estimated to be present in 20 percent, over 50 million people, and the majority of these cases may be unaware they even have it. Studies show that more than 500,000 Americans are diagnosed with genital herpes each year, and the largest increase is occurring in young teens. Genital herpes is an STD (Sexually Transmitted Disease) caused by the herpes simplex viruses type 1 (HSV-1) or type 2 (HSV-2). Although, most genital herpes is caused by type 2 (HSV-2).

There is no cure for herpes to date. Supporting your immune system should be your first goal. A weakened immune system is more prone to outbreaks. Efforts to develop a herpes vaccine by biotechnology companies are ongoing. Until an effective herpes vaccine or cure for HSV infection is found, the prevailing approach to treatment continues to be suppressive antiviral therapy. Links on this page go to products, services and publications that can help you cope with herpes in your life. aeura.com  herpes.com

Herpes Virus Linked to Cervical Cancer

Herpes Virus Linked to Cervical Cancer

Appears to Be ‘Accomplice’ With Other Virus

By Sid Kirchheimer
WebMD Health News

Reviewed by Ngozi A. Osondu, MD

Nov. 5, 2002 — Genital herpes increases the risk of cervical cancer — which kills thousands of women every year — by acting as an “accomplice” to another common virus that commonly causes this cancer.

Herpes simplex virus-2, the cause of genital herpes, was detected in nearly half of women with invasive cervical cancer — nearly twice as often as in women without signs of cancer, researches report in a study published in the Nov. 6 issue of the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.

But this doesn’t mean that all women with herpes simplex-2 (HSV-2) are at increased risk. In fact, those diagnosed with HSV-2 face no additional risk if they are not also infected with human papillomavirus (HPV).

“The message of this study is to reinforce the importance of getting regular Pap smear screenings at good laboratories, which detect the presence of papillomavirus,” says Mark Schiffman, MD, of the National Cancer Institute, who was not involved in the study.

“If you get regular Pap screenings and they produce normal results, then relax,” he tells WebMD. “Even if you have been diagnosed with herpes 2, it’s a minor player in the risk of cervical cancer and is only active when in conjunction with papillomavirus.”

There are nearly 100 different types of HPV, and together they infect about 24 million Americans. About one-third are transmitted through sexual contact without a condom or diaphragm and most are harmless, while others cause genital warts.

However, “there are 14 high-risk HPV types that have been clearly shown to cause invasive cervical cancer,” lead researcher Jennifer Smith, PhD, tells WebMD. These strains cause at least 90% of all cervical cancers, as well as other genital cancers.

In her study, researchers at the International Agency for Research on Cancer in France found that women infected with both HPV and HSV-2 were two to three times more likely to get cervical cancer. They studied nearly 2,400 women living in seven countries in Asia, Europe, and Latin America. Women of Asian descent have the highest frequency of cervical cancer.

“This study was done in countries that typically have very little in the way of formal Pap screening programs and management of minor abnormalities,” says Schiffman. “It’s an attempt by scientists to further determine how HPV uncommonly progresses to cervical cancer and to further clarify what is already one of the best understood cancers.”

Although among the more common cancers affecting women, when detected early — via a Pap smear — cervical cancer has a nearly 100% cure rate. Since 1955, its death rate has decreased by 74%, primarily because of increased use of Pap screenings. Most women have been advised to have at least one screening a year; those who have gotten “abnormal” results may require two or three per year. The American Cancer Society is expected to announce new recommendations by month’s end.

The herpes-2 virus is among several factors that work in conjunction with HPV in boosting cervical cancer risk. Previous studies indicate that using oral contraceptives for more than five years doubles the risk in those with HPV, while having more than seven births boosts risk four times. Other suspected co-factors include being sexually active in adolescence, smoking, and giving birth before age 20.

There is no cure for HSV-2, which also is spread through unprotected sexual contact and now infects an estimated one in five Americans older than age 12, according to the CDC. When active, it can trigger painful and highly infectious sores on the genitalia.

Another type of herpes simplex virus that causes cold sores on the mouth – HSV-1 – has not been implicated in the HPV-cervical cancer link, says Smith.

Why Most Regular Medications For Herpes Don’t Provide Long-Lived Results

Prescription or over the counter medicines may relieve the symptoms of herpes but they may irritate your genital area. Benzocaine and lidocaine are two numbing agents commonly used to reduce pain. But, the relief is only temporary.

Aeura treatments for the symptoms of herpes, Cold sores and shingles are formulated based on homeopathy. They are more effective than regular treatments. Since they use homeopathic medicine, they show little to no side effects. You can also be sure you won’t get an allergic reaction.

Aeura treatments for the symptoms of herpes such as The Herpes Formula have helped many sufferers to enjoy fast healing and reduce the number of outbreaks. There are no side effects involved, unlike when you use drugs. Like them, you can regain your confidence. You don’t have to hide when you have an outbreak. If you want to know if this is the suitable solution for you, click over to Aeura.com

The homeopathic ingredients have better penetrating power. Plus, they do not harm the host cells when they destroy the HSV 2 virus. You can then expect fewer outbreaks because you have treated the root of the problem.

Once again, it is unrealistic to cure yourself of genital herpes. But you don’t have to surrender your life to it. Even though you can’t clear yourself of the virus, you still have the hope of controlling it with the best natural treatment for the symptoms of herpes. With high potency, The Herpes Formula can kill the virus and reduce inflammation. If you are looking for natural treatment for the symptoms of herpes, then check out Aeura.com

Copyright 6/9/09

Herpes Cold Sores

Enjoy the Freedom aeura.com
What causes cold sores?

There are two types of HSV, type I and type II. In general, type I, also known as herpes labialis, causes infections above the waist, most commonly as oral “cold sores.” Type II infections occur mainly below the waist, leading to genital herpes. However, both types of HSVs are capable of infecting the skin at any location on the body.

Herpes infections, no matter where they occur first, have a tendency to recur in more or less the same place. Such recurrences may happen often (for example, once a month) or only occasionally (for example, once or twice a year).

What makes herpes (cold sores) recur?

After infection, the virus enters the nerve cells and travels up the nerve until it comes to a place called a ganglion. There, it lays quietly in a stage that is referred to as “dormant” or “latent.” At times, the virus can start replicating again and travel down the nerve to the skin, causing sores and blisters. The exact mechanism behind this is not clear, but it is known that some conditions seem to be associated with recurrences, including:

a fever, a cold, or the flu;

ultraviolet radiation (exposure to the sun);

stress;

changes in the immune system;

trauma to the skin; or

sometimes there is no apparent cause of the recurrence.

Who Is at Risk for Oral Herpes

Who Is at Risk for Oral Herpes Oral herpes is usually caused by HSV-1. The highest incidence of first infection occurs between 6 months and 3 years of age. The incidence in children varies among regions and countries, with the highest rates occurring in crowded and unsanitary regions. Studies suggest that by age 5 more than a third of children in low-income areas are infected compared to 20% of children in middle-income areas. However, by the time Americans of all economic backgrounds reach age 60, about 60 – 85% have become infected with HSV-1.