Student Wellness Center at OSU : Sexual Wellness : STIs : Genital Herpes

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Sexual Wellness

Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs)

Genital Herpes

Estimated number of new cases each year in the U.S.:

1 million

Statistics:

Approximately one out of five of the total adolescent and adult population, are infected with genital herpes.

Caused by:

Herpes is a sexually transmitted infection (STI) caused by the herpes simplex viruses type 1 (HSV-1) and type 2 (HSV-2). The two herpes viruses most often occur in their given "site of preference," which, for HSV-1, is above the waist (most often on the mouth in the form of cold sores or "fever blisters"), and for HSV-2, is below the waist (most often blisters on the genital area). When we talk about genital herpes, we are mostly talking about HSV-2.

Symptoms:

Most people with HSV-2 infection may never have sores, or they may have very mild signs that they don't notice or mistake for a rash or insect bites. Or, if signs and symptoms do occur, they can be quite pronounced, with small, painful blisters on sex organs.

Transmission:

HSV-1 and HSV-2 can be found and released from the sores that the viruses cause, but they also are released between episodes from skin that does not appear to be broken or to have a sore. A person almost always gets HSV-2 infection during sexual contact with someone who has a genital HSV-2 infection. Condoms do not completly reduce your risk because the condom may not cover the herpes sore(s), and viral shedding may still occur.

HSV-1 causes infections of the mouth and lips, so-called "fever blisters." A person can get HSV-1 by coming into contact with the saliva of an infected person. HSV-1 infection of the genitals almost always is caused by oral-to-genital sexual contact with a person who has the oral HSV-1 infection (i.e., cold sores). This method of transmission does happen, but it is less likely, since HSV-1's "site of preference" is the mouth.

Treatment:

No cure. Antiviral medications can shorten or reduce the chance of outbreaks, the virus stays in the body, and blisters can come back.

If Untreated:

Sores make those infected more susceptible to HIV infection if exposed. Genital herpes frequently causes psychological distress in people who know they are infected.

Risk Reduction:

Latex barriers reduce, but do not eliminate, the risk of transmission.
Limit the number of sex partners, and do not go back and forth between partners.
Practice sexual abstinence, or limit sexual contact to one partner you know is not infected.
If you think you are infected, avoid sexual contact and see a health care provider.

Source for information on this page: CDC Division of STD Prevention http://www.cdc.gov/nchstp/dstd/dstdp.html