Herpes

What is herpes?

Herpes is a very common sexually transmitted infection that’s passed from one person to another through skin to skin contact and unprotected sex.

Herpes is caused by the simplex virus (HSV), of which there are two main versions: HSV-1 and HSV-2.

Both versions of the virus cause blisters and sores. When the blisters and sores occur around the mouth, the infection is referred to as oral herpes. But when they occur around the vagina, anus and penis, it’s referred to as genital herpes.

HSV-1 is usually associated with oral herpes, and HSV-2 is usually associated with genital herpes, but both versions of the virus can occur in both places. For example, you can get HSV-1 on your genitals if someone with a cold sore gives you oral sex, and you can get HSV-2 on your mouth if you give oral sex to someone with HSV-2 on their genitals.

Who gets herpes?

Herpes is spread by skin-to-skin contact, and the risk of getting it is increased by having unprotected sex.

Many people get genital herpes from having unprotected vaginal or anal sex with someone carrying the infection. Oral herpes is mostly spread by oral sex and kissing someone who’s infected.

People often get herpes from someone who doesn’t know that they’ve got it, because it doesn’t always cause symptoms. And once the herpes virus is in your system, it can’t be removed, but the symptoms can be treated.

You can’t get herpes from toilet seats, swimming pools or by hugging someone.

Women who get herpes when they’re pregnant are likely to give birth to a healthy baby.^[1] There’s a small risk that herpes during pregnancy can cause the baby to contract neonatal herpes. This can be serious, but there’s antiviral treatment that can be given to the baby to treat the infection.

A baby is less likely to contract herpes if its mother has had it before.

How common is herpes?

Herpes is extremely common across the world. 3.7 billion people under the age of 50 are estimated to have the HSV-1 virus, and 491 million people aged 15-49 are thought to have the HSV-2 virus.^[2] Genital herpes is most common in people between the ages of 15-30 due to an increase in sexual activity between these ages.

What causes herpes?

Herpes is caused by the herpes simplex virus (HSV). Once the virus is in your body it stays there indefinitely. It can stay dormant for long periods of time, but once it’s reactivated it can cause a breakout. People with the virus commonly experience up to six breakouts of it every year.

The HSV virus enters the body through the skin and travels to the nerves. It does not cause any damage to the nerves, and symptoms are seen on the skin in the form of blisters and sores.

What are the symptoms of herpes?

Most people don’t know that they have herpes because it doesn’t always produce obvious symptoms. Analysis shows that 70% of infections occur from sexual contact with someone who doesn’t know they’ve got the virus.^[1]

Symptoms usually occur between two and 12 days after the virus has been contracted.

Symptoms of oral herpes (HSV-1) include:

• blisters and sores around the mouth (cold sores)
• itching and burning around the mouth

Symptoms of genital herpes (HSV-2) include:

• blisters and sores around the genitals and anus
• swelling in the groin area
• pain when urinating
• fatigue
• fever

During a breakout, itching and burning are usually felt before blisters appear.

The symptoms are more severe the first time you get the virus and tend to be mild or absent during breakouts.

Women are more likely to contract the virus and are less likely to contract HSV-2 (genital herpes) if they already have HSV-1 (oral herpes).^[1]

Can herpes lead to other problems?

Pregnant women can pass herpes to their baby and this causes neonatal herpes.^[2] This is a rare condition, but can be fatal. It’s treated with antiviral medication.

Having genital sores can also increase your chances of getting other STIs due to the open sores and blisters coming into contact with other infections.

In rare cases, blisters around the genital area can cause inflammation in the tubes that carry urine out of the body and this can cause urine to collect in the bladder. This will need to be taken out of the body through a drain (catheter).

In very rare cases the HSV infection can lead to meningitis as the infection can cause inflammation in the fluid around the brain and spine.