It is normal to be worried after finding out that you have genital herpes. But know that you are not alone. Millions of people carry the virus. Although there is no cure, genital herpes can be treated. Follow your health care provider's instructions for treatment and follow-up.
One type of herpes virus stays in the body by hiding within nerve cells. It can remain "asleep" (dormant) for a long time. The virus can "wake up" (reactivate) at any time. This can be triggered by:
- Fatigue
- Genital irritation
- Menstruation
- Physical or emotional stress
- Injury
The pattern of outbreaks varies widely in people with herpes. Some people carry the virus even though they've never had symptoms. Others may have only one outbreak or outbreaks that occur rarely. Some people have regular outbreaks that occur every 1 to 4 weeks.
To ease symptoms:
- Take acetaminophen, ibuprofen, or aspirin to relieve pain.
- Apply cool compresses to sores several times a day to relieve pain and itching.
- Women with sores on the vagin*l lips (labia) can try urinating in a tub of water to avoid pain.
Doing the following may help sores heal:
- Wash sores gently with soap and water. Then pat dry.
- Do not bandage sores. Air speeds healing.
- Do not pick at sores. They can get infected, which slows healing.
- Do not use ointment or lotion on sores unless your provider prescribes it.
Wear loose-fitting cotton underwear. Do not wear nylon or other synthetic pantyhose or underwear. Also, do not wear tight-fitting pants.
Genital herpes cannot be cured. Antiviral medicine (acyclovir and related drugs) may relieve pain and discomfort and help the outbreak go away faster. It may also reduce the number of outbreaks. Follow your provider's instructions about how to take this medicine if it has been prescribed. There are two ways to take it:
- One way is to take it for about 7 to 10 days only when symptoms occur. This typically shortens the time it takes for symptoms to clear up.
- The other is to take it daily to prevent outbreaks.
Generally, there are very few if any side effects from this medicine. If they occur, side effects may include:
- Fatigue
- Headache
- Nausea and vomiting
- Rash
- Seizures
- Tremor
Consider taking antiviral medicine daily to keep outbreaks from developing.
Taking steps to keep yourself healthy can also minimize the risk for future outbreaks. Things you can do include:
- Get plenty of sleep. This helps keep your immune system strong.
- Eat healthy foods. Good nutrition also helps your immune system stay strong.
- Keep stress low. Constant stress can weaken your immune system.
- Protect yourself from the sun, wind, and extreme cold and heat. Use sunscreen, especially on your lips. On windy, cold, or hot days, stay indoors or take steps to guard against the weather.
Preventing the Spread of Herpes
Even when you do not have sores, you can pass (shed) the virus to someone during sexual or other close contact. To protect others:
- Let any sexual partner know that you have herpes before having sex. Allow them to decide what to do.
- Use latex or polyurethane condoms, and avoid sex during symptomatic outbreaks.
- Do not have vagin*l, anal, or oral sex when you have sores on or near the genitals, anus, or mouth.
- Do not kiss or have oral sex when you have a sore on the lips or inside the mouth.
- Do not share your towels, toothbrush, or lipstick. Make sure dishes and utensils you use are washed well with detergent before others use them.
- Wash your hands well with soap and water after touching a sore.
- Consider using daily antiviral medicine to limit viral shedding and reduce the risk of passing the virus to your partner.
- You may also want to consider getting your partner tested even if they have never had an outbreak. If you both have the herpes virus, there is no risk for transmission.
Contact your provider if you have any of the following:
- Symptoms of an outbreak that worsen despite medicine and self-care
- Symptoms that include severe pain and sores that do not heal
- Frequent outbreaks
- Outbreaks during pregnancy
Herpes - genital - self-care; Herpes simplex - genital - self-care; Herpesvirus 2 - self-care; HSV-2 - self-care
Eckert LO, Lentz GM. Genital tract infections: vulva, vagin*, cervix, toxic shock syndrome, endometritis, and salpingitis. In: Gershenson DM, Lentz GM, Valea FA, Lobo RA, eds. Comprehensive Gynecology. 8th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2022:chap 23.
Whitley RJ, Gnann JW. Herpes simplex virus infections. In: Goldman L, Schafer AI, eds. Goldman-Cecil Medicine. 26th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 350.
Workowski KA, Bachmann LH, Chan PA, et al. Sexually transmitted infections treatment guidelines, 2021. MMWR Recomm Rep. 2021;70(4):1-187. PMID: 34292926 pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34292926/.
Updated by: John D. Jacobson, MD, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, Loma Linda, CA. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.
Related MedlinePlus Health Topics
FAQs
Genital herpes treatment
- salt baths.
- ice packs to the affected area.
- pain-relieving medication (such as paracetamol)
- antiviral medications (such as acyclovir, famciclovir and valaciclovir). These reduce the severity of an episode if taken early (as soon as any symptoms appear).
Millions and millions of people have herpes — you're definitely not alone. Most people get at least one STD in their lifetime, and having herpes or another STD is nothing to feel ashamed of or embarrassed about.
What's the worst thing about having herpes? ›
An initial genital herpes infection can be very painful, also cause fever, body aches and fatigue. Recurrent outbreaks tend to cause less severe symptoms. Rarely a genital herpes infection can cause inflammation of the membrane that covers the brain (meningitis).
Is my life over if I have genital herpes? ›
Genital herpes is essentially a minor, sometimes recurring, skin infection; 'cold sores' which occur on the genitals rather than the face. It does not cause long-term ill health or affect longevity of life. People who get genital herpes can and do lead perfectly normal lives.
What vitamins help clear genital herpes? ›
A study published in 2021 suggests that a vitamin B12 deficiency may increase the risk of reactivating the herpes virus. B12, one of eight B vitamins, may boost your immune system to keep the herpes virus at bay, and it also supports healthy cell growth essential for healing during an active outbreak.
What is the strongest treatment for genital herpes? ›
There are three major drugs commonly used to treat genital herpes symptoms: acyclovir (Zovirax), famciclovir (Famvir), and valacyclovir (Valtrex). These are all taken in pill form. Severe cases may be treated with the intravenous (IV) drug acyclovir.
Should I date a girl with herpes? ›
It's important to talk to your partner, educate yourself about herpes, and correct myths that may be causing undue alarm. Herpes may cause certain limitations in your sex life and intimacy, and you will need to be cautious. However, in most cases, herpes does not have to be a deal breaker.
How do I know who gave me herpes? ›
It is nearly impossible to know who gave someone herpes and when it happened. And just because you get this for the first time (and let's assume you are in a monogamous relationship and have been for some time), it DOES NOT mean that either of you were unfaithful.
Do you legally have to tell someone you have herpes? ›
You are not legally required to tell someone you have herpes or another sexually transmitted disease (STD). It is your private health information. However, if you have herpes and have sex with someone, your legal requirements to disclose this information could change.
Which is worse, HPV or herpes? ›
Health outcome: In general, both infections cause slight discomfort. HPV is more strongly associated with an increased risk of developing certain cancers, particularly cervical cancer. While herpes is not typically linked to cancer.
There are eight members of the herpesviridae family: herpes simplex virus-1 (HSV-1), HSV-2, varicella-zoster virus, Epstein-Barr virus, cytomegalovirus, human herpes virus-6, human herpes virus-7 and human herpes virus-8.
Can you spread herpes to other parts of your body? ›
The genital sores contain the herpes virus that can be passed to another person during sexual contact. A person with genital herpes can also spread the infection to other parts of his or her body by direct contact (i.e., by touching the sores and then touching other parts of the body).
Can you sleep with someone with herpes and not get it? ›
If you've had sex only once or twice, and if you used a condom each time, the risk is lower than if you've had unprotected sex for a long time. But you could have been infected during any one encounter. Even if you've never seen herpes sores on your partner's genitals or your own, you still might have it.
Do any famous people have herpes? ›
Earlier this week, news broke that 38-year-old “Confessions” singer Usher has genital herpes. Court papers obtained by RadarOnline.com revealed Usher Raymond IV paid a former sex partner to whom he transmitted the infection a cool $1.1 million in a 2012 court settlement.
How to tell someone you have herpes before sleeping with them? ›
For example, you could say, "Just so you know, my doctor called me yesterday with some test results, and said I have the virus that causes genital herpes." If you've never slept with the person before, it's not impolite to ask if they have any sexually transmitted diseases.
How should I clean my genital herpes? ›
Doing the following may help sores heal:
- Wash sores gently with soap and water. Then pat dry.
- Do not bandage sores. Air speeds healing.
- Do not pick at sores. They can get infected, which slows healing.
- Do not use ointment or lotion on sores unless your provider prescribes it.
Genital Herpes Overview
While there is no cure for herpes, the severity of the virus varies over the course of an infected person's lifetime. In fact, some people with the disease do not experience any symptoms for extended periods. They may still shed the virus, though, even when no symptoms are present.
How I stopped my genital herpes outbreaks? ›
Whether or not you take medicine to treat herpes, taking care of yourself by eating healthy foods, getting enough sleep, and avoiding stress might help keep future outbreaks from popping up. No one knows for sure what triggers genital herpes outbreaks.
What ointment is good for genital herpes? ›
Topical acyclovir is used to treat the symptoms of herpes simplex virus infections of the skin, mucous membranes, and genitals (sex organs). Although topical acyclovir will not cure herpes simplex, it may help relieve the pain and discomfort and may help the sores (if any) heal faster.
