Herpes genitalis is a prevalent sexually transmitted infection for which the herpes simplex virus (HSV) is the underlying cause. Open sexual contact is the primary means by which the virus is transmitted from person to person. After initial infection, the virus remains latent in the body and can reactivate multiple times within a year. Herpes genitalis can affect both men and women who have sexual contact with HSV carriers or herpes patients. Genital herpes can cause itching, sores, and discomfort in the genital region, but a person may experience no symptoms. In addition, a person with genital herpes can transmit the infection even if they do not have visible sores. [1]
Although there is no cure for genital herpes, certain medications can alleviate the symptoms and reduce the likelihood of transmitting the infection. Condoms can be extremely useful in preventing the spread of genital herpes. The sexually transmitted infection genital herpes can sometimes result in herpetic sores, which are excruciating, fluid-filled blisters that can break open when picked. Nearly 16 percent of persons between the ages of 14 and 49 are infected with genital herpes. The virus that causes genital herpes is transmitted primarily through anal, oral, and vaginal intercourse. Sexual health clinics can treat genital herpes patients more effectively than physicians. Moreover, HIV-positive women may experience more severe and prolonged herpes outbreaks than normal.
The symptoms of genital herpes may resolve on their own, but recurrence of sexually transmitted infections is quite common. According to statistics, approximately one in five women between the ages of 14 and 50 have genital herpes, while one in ten men have the infection. Medication and preventive measures can aid in preventing outbreaks and reducing the risk of disease transmission. The reason why genital herpes is more prevalent in women than in men is that a woman’s body makes her more susceptible to contracting the infection. A small fissure in the vaginal tissues can facilitate transmission of the herpes virus.
Herpes genitalis is also significantly more prevalent among African-American women. Every other African-American woman between the ages of 14 and 49 is infected with HSV-2, which causes genital herpes. Similarly to other sexually transmitted infections (STIs), genital herpes is transmitted through direct skin-to-skin contact. Symptoms of genital herpes may come and go, but the virus remains latent in the body even after all symptoms have subsided. People typically experience epidemics when the virus becomes active, but outbreaks become less severe and less frequent over time. Experts are still searching for the cause of the periodic activation of the virus that causes outbreaks of genital herpes in certain individuals.
