|
Herpes
Is
Herpes Still Out There?
Absolutely.
With all this talk about HIV and hepatitis, its easy to forget
that there are lots of other STIs out there that have been
around for centuries. It is thought that herpes affects up
to 1 in 5 people, and that most are unaware that they have
the infection.
How
do I know if I have genital herpes?
Unfortunately
the vast majority of those with herpes have no symptoms. Many
find out they are infected when they unwittingly infect their
partner.
Symptoms
include
- Ulcers
on the genital area
- Pain
which can occur irregularly.
A
First Episode
- Can
develop up to 10 days after infection
- May
begin with a tingling or prickling of the skin followed
by reddening and small blisters
- The
blisters may break leaving painful ulcers
- The
glands in the groin region may become enlarged and the person
may feel generally unwell
- There
may be difficulty passing urine.
You
may never have another episode, or you may have frequent
episodes that have all or only some of the symptoms. Most
people
don't
even know they have the infection. If you think you might
be at risk contact your GP or Family Planning Victoria.
What
Can Trigger an Episode?
- Emotional
stress
- Physical
illness
- Skin
irritation
- Menstruation.
What
Tests Are There?
A
doctor will not normally check for herpes when swabbing
for STIs, so you may want to request the swab if you think
you
might be at risk of having the infection.
The
doctor will
- Take
a swab from any ulcers on the genitals; this will most
likely hurt.
- Possibly
take a blood test; they are only done in certain circumstances,
so talk to your doctor about this.
Neither
is 100%
effective, so it is best to discuss your results with
your GP.
How
Is An Episode Treated?
There
are medications you can get from your doctor and the sooner
you start your treatment the sooner your symptoms will clear
up.
If
you have symptoms you can use a local anaesthetic cream or
apply sponges soaked in salt water (one teaspoon of salt to
half a litre of water).
Can
I Prevent An Episode?
Again
see your doctor as there are medications that can prevent
recurrences in people who have frequent or severe outbreaks.
What
If I Want to Become Pregnant?
It
is very important to talk to your doctor if you are pregnant
and either you or your partner have genital herpes. Although
herpes is common, babies are rarely infected by birth in
Australia.
If you have an outbreak of herpes at the time of delivery
you may be given a caesarian.
If
you're pregnant and your partner has herpes and you don't
see your doctor for advice. The worst time to get herpes for
the first time is close to the time of delivery.
Page
maintained by:FPV Webmaster
Last updated:26/06/2006
© Family Planning Victoria |
