Genital herpes
Genital herpes
Genital herpes is a sexually transmitted infection (STI) caused by the herpes simplex virus (HSV). There are 2 types of this virus, and both can affect the genitals.
It causes painful blisters and sores on and around the genitals, and it can sometimes cause problems if you catch it for the first time while pregnant.
Common Symptoms
⚠️ This symptom list is for educational purposes. Having these symptoms does not mean you have this condition. See a doctor for proper diagnosis.
Medicines Commonly Used
⚠️ These medicines are commonly used for confirmed diagnoses of this condition. This is NOT a recommendation or prescription. Treatment must be determined by your doctor.
No medicines have been linked to this condition yet.
When to See a Doctor
Speak to your GP practice or midwife if you're pregnant and think you have genital herpes.
Testing for genital herpes
If you think you might have genital herpes, you can get tested for free by contacting your GP practice for an appointment or booking an appointment at your local sexual health service. Your doctor or nurse may be able to diagnose it by looking at symptoms such as blisters, sores and ulcers.
If you have visible blisters, your doctor or nurse may take a swab for testing. This checks if it's herpes and what type. The swab can also test for another STI that causes blisters called syphilis.
The genital herpes swab tests are very reliable, though if the ulcer is too dry, it may be less likely to find a positive result.
Treatment
Genital herpes can be treated with antiviral medicine. Treatment can control the symptoms, but the infection may come back from time to time. When it returns, the symptoms usually clear up on their own without treatment. If flare-ups happen often, a longer course of tablets can be used to stop them. Talk to your doctor or nurse about which treatment suits you. Since there is no screening test for herpes, a partner should be tested only if they also have symptoms.
How genital herpes spreads
You can catch genital herpes:
- through skin to skin contact with the infected area, including vaginal, anal and oral sex
- even when there are no visible sores or blisters
- if a cold sore touches your genitals or face
- through kissing, if the other person has a cold sore
- by sharing sex toys with someone who has herpes
Herpes can sometimes spread even when your partner has no visible sores or symptoms, because the virus can become active on the skin without causing any blisters or sores. This is known as asymptomatic shedding.
This risk is higher in the first few months after infection and becomes unlikely after two years, though it stays more common in people who keep having frequent flare-ups.
In rare cases, herpes passes to a newborn during childbirth. This is only likely if the mother has her first episode after week 26 of pregnancy. If a woman has had herpes for more than three months, a normal delivery is expected even if symptoms are present at the time of birth.
Prevention
Practicing safer sex is the best way to lower your risk of STIs. This means using a condom for vaginal, anal and oral sex.
If your partner has herpes, avoiding sex when they have visible sores lowers your risk of getting herpes.
Other STIs
If you've been diagnosed with herpes, it's recommended that you get tested for all STIs, including:
- chlamydia
- gonorrhoea
- syphilis
- HIV
This matters even more if you have recurrent episodes.
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