Myths vs facts on genital herpes (HSV-2) & cold sores

Herpes Myth: Only certain sorts of people get herpes.

Fact about herpes: No, it is very common and anyone who has ever had sex can get genital herpes. It’s not about being clean, dirty, good or bad – it’s about being normal and sexually active.

Herpes Myth: Herpes isn’t that common, and I am unlikely to get it.

Fact about herpes: Herpes is very common and may be caused by both herpes simplex type 1 and herpes simplex type 2 (HSV-1 or HSV-2). HSV-1 causes “cold sores” on the mouth, and up to 80% of the population has this virus. However, it may also be transmitted to the genitals through oral-genital sex and about 40% of genital herpes is caused by HSV-1. Up to 22% of sexually active adults have genital herpes caused by HSV-2. Most people with herpes will not have symptoms and therefore will not be aware they have it. 75% of people who have genital herpes get it from partners who are entirely unaware that they have it themselves.

Herpes Myth: Herpes “cold sores” on the mouth are not the same as genital herpes.

Fact about herpes: Cold sores on the mouth or face are caused by HSV-1 and are commonly transmitted to the genitals (causing genital herpes) through oral-to-genital sex. Up to 40% of genital herpes is caused by HSV-1.

Herpes Myth: Herpes can only affect the genital area.

Fact about herpes: HSV-1 typically affects the mouth area. HSV-2 and HSV-1 affect the genitals, pubic area, buttocks, back of the thigh or inner thigh. Herpes can also occur in other parts of the body, although this is less common. On the fingers, it is known as herpes whitlow.

Herpes Myth: People always know if they have genital herpes.

Fact about herpes: No, 80% of those with genital herpes do not know they have it, as they may have no or very mild symptoms.

Herpes Myth: People with herpes are always infectious.

Fact about herpes: A person with herpes is not always infectious but the herpes virus is occasionally shed from the skin when symptoms are not present. Most of the time when you don’t have herpes symptoms you are not infectious.

Herpes Myth: When you have an STI check or a cervical smear, it always checks for herpes.

Fact about herpes: Routine sexual health (STI screens) checks and cervical smear tests do not screen or test for herpes. Tests for herpes can only be done if a person has symptoms and a swab is taken directly from the lesion.

Herpes Myth: People with herpes cannot have children.

Fact about herpes: Herpes does not affect fertility, and expectant parents with genital herpes can have normal pregnancies and vaginal delivery. Herpes can be passed on to babies, but this is rare. If you are pregnant and you or your partner has herpes, tell your health care professional.

Herpes Myth: Herpes causes cervical cancer.

Fact about herpes: Herpes is not associated with cervical abnormalities or cervical cancer. These are caused by HPV (human papillomavirus), which is not herpes.

Herpes Myth: Herpes is passed through blood.

Fact about herpes: Herpes is not present in the blood. People with genital herpes can still donate blood. Genital herpes is only passed through direct skin-to-skin contact, both orally and genitally.

Myth: If you have herpes you should always wear condoms in long-term monogamous relationships.

Fact about herpes: In long-term relationships, most couples choose not to continually use condoms, and understand that getting herpes is just a part of life. (Your partner may already have herpes without being aware of it). Whilst some people may experience troublesome herpes symptoms from time to time, for the majority, herpes is not symptomatic or causes only mild symptoms. Herpes medication is available for those that need it.

Myth: If you have genital herpes you can’t have (receive) oral sex.

Fact about herpes: Herpes transmission to the mouth from the genitals is uncommon.

Myth: I can pass herpes to myself from my mouth to my genitals if I accidentally touch myself.

Fact about herpes: Once you have herpes at one site, it is rare to then get the same type at another site. This is because your body develops antibodies which prevent this from happening.

Myth: It’s risky living in the same house as someone who has genital herpes.

Fact about herpes: The herpes simplex virus (HSV) is not spread through sharing communal facilities. When the herpes virus leaves living skin cells, it dies. People with genital or facial herpes are able to use the same showers, toilets, washing machines, and swimming pools as anyone else, without the worry of passing on the herpes infection.

Winning the War in Your Mind

The emotional impact of being diagnosed with genital herpes is often much worse than the condition and it doesn’t deserve the upset it causes.
 

Free Download Resources on Genital Herpes

You can also download our guides in pdf form:

  Genital Herpes – The Facts – our comprehensive pamphlet covers FAQs, herpes and relationships, pregnancy, facial herpes and more. 

  Genital Herpes – Myths Vs Facts 
  Summary of Genital Herpes Guidelines 

New Zealand Residents Only

If you would like to get a print copy of the information booklets, fill out the form on the consumer request for printed materials page (it contains sections on Genital Herpes – The Facts, Herpes and Relationships, Herpes and Pregnancy, Facial Herpes).

What is Herpes? | Genital Herpes vs Oral Herpes

In This Section

• Oral & Genital Herpes

• What are the symptoms of herpes?

• What does genital herpes look like?

• Should I get tested for herpes?

• How do I get treatment for herpes?

• How is herpes prevented?

• Living with herpes

What is herpes?

Herpes is a common virus that causes sores on your genitals and/or mouth. Herpes can be annoying and painful, but it usually doesn’t lead to serious health problems.

Herpes is a common infection.

Herpes is a super-common infection that stays in your body for life. More than half of Americans have oral herpes, and about 1 out of 6 Americans has genital herpes. So chances are a few people you know are living with herpes.

Herpes is caused by two different but similar viruses: herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) and herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2). Both kinds can make sores pop up on and around your vulva, vagina, cervix, anus, penis, scrotum, butt, inner thighs, lips, mouth, throat, and rarely, your eyes.

Herpes is spread from skin-to-skin contact with infected areas, often during vaginal sex, oral sex, anal sex, and kissing. Herpes causes outbreaks of itchy, painful blisters or sores that come and go. Many people with herpes don’t notice the sores or mistake them for something else, so they might not know they’re infected. You can spread herpes even when you don’t have any sores or symptoms.

There’s no cure for herpes, but medication can ease your symptoms and lower your chances of giving the virus to other people. And the good news is, outbreaks usually become less frequent over time, and even though herpes can sometimes be uncomfortable and painful, it’s not dangerous. People with herpes have relationships, have sex, and live perfectly healthy lives.

What’s the difference between genital herpes and oral herpes?

Because there are 2 different kinds of herpes simplex viruses (HSV-1 and HSV-2) that can live on many body parts, lots of people are confused about what to call these infections. But it’s actually pretty simple:

• When you get either HSV-1 or HSV-2 on or around your genitals (vulva, vagina, cervix, anus, penis, scrotum, butt, inner thighs), it’s called genital herpes.

• When you get either HSV-1 or HSV-2 in or around your lips, mouth, and throat, it’s called oral herpes. Oral herpes sores are sometimes called cold sores or fever blisters.

HSV-1 usually causes oral herpes, and HSV-2 usually causes genital herpes — each strain prefers to live on its favorite area. But it’s totally possible for both types of herpes simplex to infect either area. For example, you can get HSV-1 on your genitals if someone with a cold sore on their lips gives you oral sex. And you can get HSV-2 in your mouth if you give oral sex to someone with HSV-2 on their genitals.

How do you get herpes?

Herpes is easily spread from skin-to-skin contact with someone who has the virus. You can get it when your genitals and/or mouth touch their genitals and/or mouth — usually during oral, anal, and vaginal sex.

Herpes can be passed even if the penis or tongue doesn’t go all the way in the vagina, anus, or mouth. You don’t have to cum to spread herpes. All it takes is some quick skin-to-skin touching. You can also get herpes from kissing someone who has oral herpes.

The skin on your genitals, mouth, and eyes can be infected easily. Other areas of skin may get infected if there’s a way for the herpes virus to get in, like through a cut, burn, rash, or other sores. You don’t have to have sex to get herpes. Sometimes herpes can be passed in non-sexual ways, like if a parent with a cold sore gives you a peck on the lips. Most people with oral herpes got it when they were kids.  A mother can pass genital herpes to a baby during vaginal childbirth, but that’s pretty rare.

You can spread herpes to other parts of your body if you touch a herpes sore and then touch your mouth, genitals, or eyes without washing your hands first. You can also pass herpes to someone else this way.

Herpes is most contagious when sores are open and wet, because fluid from herpes blisters easily spreads the virus. But herpes can also “shed” and get passed to others when there are no sores and your skin looks totally normal.

Most people get herpes from someone who doesn’t have any sores. It may live in your body for years without causing any symptoms, so it’s really hard to know for sure when and how you got it. That’s why so many people have herpes — it’s a pretty sneaky infection.

Because the virus dies quickly outside the body, you can’t get herpes from hugging, holding hands, coughing, sneezing, or sitting on toilet seats.

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Herpes simplex virus type 1 and 2 (HSV 1/2), qualitative determination of DNA from the urogenital tract – Family clinic near the house

PCR can detect even a small amount of viral particles in biological material. It allows you to identify herpes viruses, regardless of the duration of infection, even at a time when antibodies have not yet formed.

The most common are the 1st and 2nd types of herpes. Both are contagious and contribute to the appearance of small bubbles (vesicles) on the mucous membranes, which burst, forming open sores. In HSV-1, blisters appear around the mouth and in the oral cavity, while HSV-2 usually affects areas in the genital area.

Herpes simplex virus can be transmitted through skin contact when there are vesicles on the skin, and sometimes when there are no visible lesions on the skin. HSV-2 is often referred to as a sexually transmitted disease, but HSV-1 herpes infection can also occur, for example, through oral sex. According to WHO, from 50% to 80% of the adult population of developed countries is infected with herpes type 1 and about 20% – type 2. Because type 2 symptoms are subtle, 90% of those infected with it may be unaware of their infection.

In the case of a primary infection, painful blisters usually develop at the infection site after two weeks, which usually disappear after four weeks. They appear on the genitals, around the anus, on the buttocks or on the thighs, after which they can burst. You may also experience flu-like symptoms, such as chills and a sore throat.

However, herpes vesicles do not always form. Sometimes the manifestations of the disease are so mild that they go unnoticed or are mistaken for something else, such as insect bites or allergies. After the infection enters the body and spreads, the herpes virus is in a latent form. With stress or other diseases that lead to a decrease in immunity, it can be activated again. In most cases, herpes simplex is not dangerous to health, but it can cause serious illnesses: neonatal herpes (if a child becomes infected during childbirth from a mother infected with genital herpes) and encephalitis. They can lead to serious incurable neurological diseases and even death. The following factors increase the risk of contracting herpes:

diseases that suppress the immune system (eg HIV/AIDS),
organ transplant.
Currently, there is no cure for herpes, however, there are antiviral drugs that suppress its spread, as well as shorten the duration of the acute phase of a viral infection and alleviate the symptoms of the disease.

What is research used for?

To detect genital herpes infection in men and women and monitor its treatment.
To test a woman for herpes before and during pregnancy (if there is a risk of infection).
When is the test scheduled?

If necessary, confirm or deny the fact of genital herpes infection.

Prerequisites for preparation before taking biological material

Do not take material for examination earlier than 24 hours after sexual intercourse.
Samples should not be taken for examination earlier than 24 hours after ultrasound with a vaginal probe.
Do not take material for examination earlier than 24-48 hours after colposcopy.
It is not recommended to take the material during menstrual bleeding.
It is not recommended to perform douching the day before and on the day of sampling
biological material.
It is recommended that specimens be taken no earlier than 10 days after the use of antibiotics and topical antiseptics, and no earlier than 1 month after
the use of oral antibiotics.
Examination of women should be carried out in the first half of the menstrual cycle, not earlier than the 5th day. Examination in the second half of the cycle is acceptable, no later than 5 days before the expected start of menstruation. In the presence of pronounced symptoms of inflammation, the material is taken on the day of treatment.
The patient is advised to refrain from urinating for 1.5-3 hours before taking a scraping from the urethra (for women – 3 hours, for men – 1.5-2 hours).

90 045

Reference values: negative.

Positive result

The body is affected by the virus.

Herpes simplex virus 1,2 type (Herpes simplex virus, HSV), antibodies …

There are two types of herpes simplex virus – the first (most often leads to the development of oral herpes) and the second (most often causes genital herpes) . They both cause an infection characterized by vesicle formation, flushing, hyperthermia, and edema at the site of disease. On average, symptoms persist for 1-3 weeks. The clinical picture in women is often more pronounced than in men.

Herpes simplex virus: description

Almost all people in the world at least once met with herpes simplex virus type 1. And since the pathogen remains in the form of an opportunistic form in the body forever, most of those infected suffer from oral herpes or other pathologies caused by HSV-1 several times during their lives. It is most often transmitted through the household, when using personal hygiene items. Sometimes HSV-1 also causes genital herpes.

And the herpes simplex virus type 2 is much less common and more often sexually transmitted, tk. the main place for the development of the infectious process is the mucous membrane of the genitourinary system and external genital organs. In rare cases, a household route of infection is also possible. Genital herpes caused by herpes of the second type refers to STIs – sexually transmitted infections. After recovery, the pathogen remains in the body in the cells of the nervous system. The main route of transmission is sexual (during traditional, anal or oral intercourse). That is, if there was oral or anal contact, a herpes infection will develop on the oral mucosa or on the lips, as well as in the anus. Often the disease is transmitted from a sick mother to a child during childbirth. Men are most often the only carriers of the disease. HSV-2 is sometimes the cause of cervical cancer.

Both herpes simplex viruses are transmitted only from person to person, provided that the infected person has close contact with a healthy person. And besides the described ways of transmission of infection, you can add – transplacental and blood contact. Infection of the fetus during pregnancy can lead to serious consequences ranging from developmental anomalies to miscarriage/preterm birth.

Study Features

Herpes Simplex Virus, Type 1 and Type 2 or HSV ½ IgG antibodies are specific immunoglobulins produced by our immune system in response to presence in the human body herpes simplex virus type 1 or 2. They begin to be produced on average 10-14 days from the moment of infection and continue to be in the body for a long period. With the re-development of pathology, the number of antibodies increases again.

When and why to test for herpes simplex virus

The test is ordered for:

• screening before and during pregnancy – carried out together with testing for other TORCH infections;
• diagnosis of intrauterine infections;
• diagnosis of genital or oral herpes;
• differential diagnosis with a number of other STIs and infections in general;
• diagnosis of encephalitis.

Test indications are:

• manifestations of genital herpes – soreness and formation of vesicles on the penis or vulva, subfebrile temperature and general weakness, pain during intercourse and scanty spotting;
• manifestations of oral herpes – the appearance of vesicles with transparent contents on the lips and oral mucosa, with possible pain in the places of their formation and an increase in body temperature up to 37.7 degrees;
• preparation for pregnancy – should be done by both a man and a woman;
• HIV;
• congenital or acquired immunodeficiency;
• manifestations of fetoplacental insufficiency – the development of intrauterine infection;
• Obtaining questionable test results for IgG or IgM antibodies to HSV-1 or HSV-2.

Referral for research is issued by: neonatologists, pediatricians, urologists, dermatovenereologists, obstetrician-gynecologists and gynecologists.

Preparation rules

To obtain reliable results, it is required to refuse before the study:

• meals 8-12 hours before;
• alcohol consumption in 24 hours;
• abuse of fatty and fried foods, overeating in 1 day;
• physiotherapeutic procedures for 2 days;
• emotional and physical loads in 24 hours;
• smoking in 1 hour.

It is allowed to drink clean water without gas right before the test.

For analysis, venous blood is taken, and its serum is evaluated.

Interpretation of herpes simplex virus test results

A positive result indicates:

• acute infection;
• recurrence of infection;
• chronic course of the disease;

A negative result indicates:

• too short or too long a period after infection;
• no disease.

A doubtful answer is also possible due to the fact that a minimum number of days have passed from the moment of infection.

The results of the study are not a final diagnosis, they require additional consultation with a doctor and other methods of research.

Important notes

False-negative results are possible in immunodeficiency states, when the immune system is not able to produce enough antibodies and during antiviral therapy, which requires the consultation of the attending physician in order to take a break in taking medication at the time of the study.