Vaginal herpes is a common symptom of Herpes Simplex Virus I or II infection, often transmitted sexually. There is no cure, but precautions such as condom use and antiviral drugs can reduce the risk of spreading the virus. A vaccine is being tested, but is not expected to be available for many years. Women who have herpes and are pregnant should discuss options with their doctor, as cesarean section may be necessary.
Vaginal herpes is a symptom of Herpes Simplex Virus I or II infection. The infection may initially appear as a single blister or small blaster rash and may be located on or in the vagina or any other part of the genitals. If present in the vagina, some women may not be aware that they are infected, but if they experience unusual itching or irritation and suspect that they have herpes, they should see a doctor for a confirmed diagnosis.
It so happens that vaginal herpes is common, and in fact women are much more likely to get this condition than men because they have more mucous membrane surface area around their genitals than men do. In most cases vaginal herpes is Herpes Simplex Virus II, called genital herpes. Yet it is also possible to get oral herpes on the vagina.
The disease in both cases tends to be sexually transmitted, and any sexual activity with a person with herpes can result in an infection. It is also possible to get the condition when a sexual partner does not show an active herpes infection. Contrary to popular belief in the past, the condition can be contagious at any time.
There is no cure for vaginal herpes, although several vaccines are being tested, one of which is specifically targeted at women. That doesn’t mean a herpes vaccine will be available anytime soon. Doctors still do not expect the release of a vaccine for many years. The need for a vaccine is seen as extremely important as estimates suggest that 25% of women in America have genital herpes.
Waiting for a vaccine and hoping vaginal herpes doesn’t show up isn’t a viable way to prevent it. The best precautions are not to have unprotected sex. Condom use is always important, and people shouldn’t have sex every time a partner has an active outbreak. A partner can also help by taking drugs such as acyclovir® which can reduce the number of outbreaks and reduce the risk of spreading the virus between active infections.
Because herpes is so contagious, many women who have it are concerned about having children. If they’re aware of the condition, women should discuss it with their doctors, but that typically doesn’t mean people can’t have children. Doctors can handle it in different ways. Sometimes antiviral drugs are given so that infection does not occur, but if herpes lesions are present during delivery, cesarean section is likely to be the safest option for the baby.
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