Genital Herpes In Women (cont.)
What is genital herpes?
Genital herpes, also commonly called "herpes," is a
viral infection by the herpes simplex virus (HSV) that is transmitted
through intimate contact with the mucous-covered linings of the mouth or the
vagina or the genital skin. The virus enters the linings or skin through
microscopic tears. Once inside, the virus travels to the nerve roots near the
spinal cord and settles there permanently.
When an infected person has a herpes outbreak, the virus travels down the
nerve fibers to the site of the original infection. When it reaches the skin,
the typical redness and blisters occur. After the initial outbreak, subsequent
outbreaks tend to be sporadic. They may occur weekly or even years apart.
Two types of herpes viruses are associated with genital lesions: herpes
simplex virus-1 (HSV-1) and herpes simplex virus-2 (HSV-2). HSV-1 more often
causes blisters of the mouth area while HSV-2 more often causes genital sores or
lesions in the area around the anus. The outbreak of herpes is closely related to the functioning of the
immune system. Women who have suppressed immune systems, because of stress,
infection, or medications, have more frequent and longer-lasting outbreaks.
It is estimated that as many as 50 million persons in the United States are
infected with genital HSV. Genital herpes is spread only by direct
person-to-person contact. It is believed that 60% of sexually active adults
carry the herpes virus. Part of the reason for the continued high infection rate
is that most women infected with the herpes virus do not know that they are
infected because they have few or no symptoms. In many women, there are
"atypical" outbreaks where the only symptom may be mild
itching or minimal
discomfort. Moreover, the longer the woman has had the virus, the fewer the
symptoms they have with their outbreaks. Finally, the virus can shed from the
cervix into the vagina in women who are not experiencing any symptoms.
Next: What are the symptoms of genital herpes? »
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