Genital herpes Dr Rob Hicks Thousands of genital herpes cases are diagnosed in the UK each year. We look at the best ways to prevent this sexually transmitted infection, the symptoms and how they can be treated.

In this article

What is it? What causes it?

Who's affected? What are the symptoms?

What's the treatment? Risks during pregnancy

Genital herpes is a sexually transmitted infection caused by the herpes simplex virus.

There are two types of this virus: 1 and 2. Type 2 is most commonly responsible for causing genital herpes, but can also cause cold sores. Type 1, which mostly causes cold sores, can cause genital herpes when transmitted through oral sex.

Genital herpes is spread through the skin during intimate sexual contact, such as penetrative or oral sex. Blisters or sores don't have to be present for the virus to be spread but, when they are, transmission is more likely.

Practising safer sex helps to reduce the risk of infection being passed on. It's also advisable to avoid sexual contact when blisters and sores are present.

Anyone who is sexually active can be infected with genital herpes.

The first attack of genital herpes is usually the most severe, and symptoms may include:

• Painful, fluid-filled blisters
• Tingling, itching, burning or soreness in the affected area
• Enlarged and painful lymph glands
• Pain on passing urine
• A flu-like illness
• Abnormal vaginal discharge for women

Symptoms disappear after ten to 21 days.

After the first attack, the virus hides in the nerve fibres, causing no symptoms. Some people never get another outbreak, others may find it recurs when they're stressed or run down. Recurrent attacks usually affect the same area, but are less severe.

Genital herpes will clear up without treatment. Antiviral medication can be used to help reduce the symptoms and the duration of the infection.

Painkillers, bathing in cool water, wearing loose-fitting clothing, applying an ice pack and drinking plenty of water all help to relieve symptoms, and anaesthetic ointment is sometimes recommended.

Antiviral medication is available on prescription to help prevent the herpes simplex virus from multiplying

Antiviral medication is available on prescription to help prevent the herpes simplex virus from multiplying.

You can find help by phoning directory enquiries and asking for clinics that deal with genitourinary medicine, sexually transmitted diseases or venereal disease.

Generally, if a woman develops genital herpes for the first time in the last six weeks of her pregnancy, she'll be offered a planned caesarean section. If it develops for the first time as she's about to give birth or go into labour, doctors usually recommend a caesarean to reduce the risk of the baby becoming infected during the birth.

Women who already had genital herpes before they became pregnant and have an outbreak around the time of labour may not be offered a caesarean as the risks of the caesarean may be greater than the risk of the baby becoming infected.

Sometimes women are advised to have antiviral medication to reduce the risk of herpes recurring just before or during childbirth.

This article was last medically reviewed by Dr Rob Hicks in April 2008