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Genital Herpes

Genital herpes is a sexually transmitted disease that affects up to one out of every five adolescents and adults in the US. Patients may acquire herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) or type 2 (HSV-2), most often as a result of sexual contact with a partner who is infected. This long-term infection often causes sores on the genitals, mouth or lips, and may be transmitted through genital-genital or genital-oral contact.

While herpes cannot be cured, there are several treatment options available to relieve symptoms and reduce emotional distress. Patients can still have sex and engage in relationships without infecting their partner. At Urgent Care Torrance, we understand your worries and frustrations in dealing with herpes and other STDs, and provide effective, compassionate care so that you can continue to live an active and healthy life.

Symptoms

Most patients affected with genital herpes experience little to no symptoms from this condition. When symptoms do occur, they often involve one or more blisters on or around the genital area. These outbreaks usually come and go over the course of many months or years, but the infection remains present in the body. Sores can also appear on the mouth or lips in patients with HSV-1, usually as a result of mouth-to-genital contact.

Some patients with genital herpes may also experience flu-like symptoms such as fever and swollen glands during the initial infection. Outbreaks may occur four to five times during the first year of infection, but tend to decrease in frequency over time.

In some patients, herpes infections can cause extremely painful genital sores that may interfere with the patient's everyday life. Symptoms are usually most severe in patients with suppressed immune systems and in babies that are infected while in the womb. Some patients with herpes may be more susceptible to HIV infection.

Diagnosis

Your doctor at Urgent Care Torrance can likely diagnose genital herpes by examining active sores and taking a small sample to be analyzed in a lab. If you are not experiencing any symptoms or are in between outbreaks, a blood test may be performed to confirm diagnosis.

Your doctor may also perform tests to detect other STDs, such as chlamydia, gonorrhea or HIV, as patients are often infected with more than one condition.

Complications

For most patients, genital herpes does not lead to any serious conditions, and instead remains a long-term manageable condition. However, this condition may put patients at an increased risk of contracting other STDs, developing meningitis or developing urinary bladder retention.

Women with genital herpes who are pregnant are at risk for infecting their baby with the disease, especially if herpes is contracted during the pregnancy. If an infection is active at the time a delivery, a cesarean delivery may be performed to reduce the baby's risk of infection.

Treatment

While there is no treatment currently available to cure genital herpes, antiviral medications can often help shorten and prevent outbreaks from occurring. These oral medications may include Zovirax, Famvir or Valtrex, and are taken only when experiencing symptoms for most patients, although they may be taken on a more regular basis to stop outbreaks from occurring.

Patients with regular symptoms from herpes may benefit from daily suppressive therapy to reduce their risk of spreading the infection to their sexual partner. Your doctor at Urgent Care Torrance will determine which treatment approach is best for you after evaluating your individual condition.

Prevention

Preventing herpes can be done by abstaining from sexually activity, getting tested with your partner and remaining faithful to your partner once you have been tested. Using condoms can also reduce your risk of developing herpes, but is not a surefire prevention method. It is important to notify any sexual partners you have of your infection in order to prevent infecting others, and to avoid sex during an outbreak. Open communication with your partner is also effective in maintaining a healthy sex life.

For your urgent care needs in Torrance and the South Bay, please call or visit us today!