Genital herpes is the most common sexually transmitted infection that shouldn’t be ignored. Worldwide, nearly 500 million people live with herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2), which is the cause of the most common sexually transmitted disease, according to estimates by the World Health Organization.
Additionally, people infected with HSV-2 are three times more likely to contract HIV and be exposed to this virus.
Initially, HSV-2 infection is mainly seen in adolescents or young adults, Dr. Milpied in an article in Le Parisien. Once inside the body, the virus hibernates. It can manifest itself in the form of pus, through small blisters that can also become wounds, located on or around the sexual organs.
Genital herpes is most commonly transmitted through sexual contact – vaginal, anal, or oral – with an infected person. This, however, can also be acquired by addressing:
- a herpetic lesion;
- saliva or skin in the mouth region of an infected person;
- secretions or skin from the genital area of an infected person;
- infected blood;
- needles and syringes shared with an infected person.
Transmission of the virus can also occur from the infected mother to the baby during delivery, causing a number of complications for the newborn.
Transmission to the baby occurs in 85% of cases, during its passage through the maternal genital tract in case of viral excretion, at the time of delivery, explains Dr. Milpied. This is why caesarean section is recommended to limit the baby’s risk of infection.
In some cases, genital herpes can go completely unnoticed because the infected person has no symptoms. But he is still susceptible to transmitting the virus to his partner during intercourse.
The diagnosis of genital herpes is made after a medical examination. Sometimes samples from the lesions are needed to confirm the presence of the virus. The doctor may prescribe antivirals to limit the duration and intensity of symptoms. But this type of treatment does not guarantee the complete elimination of the virus and the possibility of relapse.
