Genital Herpes
Genital herpes is a sexually transmitted disease. Most genital herpes is caused by the herpes simplex virus type 2. Many people do not show signs or symptoms, but when they do, blisters usually appear around the rectum and genitals. A person can have sudden outbreaks, and these outbreaks happen when the blisters bursts, leaving tender ulcers that can take between two to four weeks to heal. Genital herpes outbreaks happen less frequently as the years go on. Genital herpes is only treatable and there is no cure for it. About one in six people in the United States have genital herpes. The virus is caught when two people engage in sexual contact and one of them are infected with the virus. The infection is more common in women than it is in men. About one out of five women have genital herpes and about one out of nine men have the virus. The virus can be transmitted between people regardless if a person has visible sores or not.
Genital herpes does have some complications that include painful sores, and genital herpes can lead to much more serious infections. Genital herpes also can cause physiological distress in infected people. Treatment is available for people who have genital herpes and most medicine shortens or prevents outbreaks. Genital Herpes is usually diagnosed by visual inspection, as long as the outbreak is typical. A doctor can also diagnose genital herpes by taking a sample of the sores around the genital and/or rectum area. If somebody does not have visible sores or blisters, then doctors are able to perform a blood test to detect the virus. Sexual activity should be avoided when there are visible lesions around the genital area. Using condoms is an effective way of protecting oneself from contracting genital herpes, but the virus can still be transmitted to another person regardless if a condom is used or not.
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