Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) reached a concerning peak in 2021 among men and women of all racial and ethnic backgrounds. One of the most commonly diagnosed STIs is genital herpes, which is treatable, but not curable.
Once a person is diagnosed with herpes, they must deal with managing it long-term, and this means coping with challenging, painful flare-ups.
At Nu Wave Medical Center, Dr. Gurprit Sekhon tests for, diagnoses, and treats STIs competently and compassionately. She’s dedicated to providing you with education about herpes and its management, and to ensuring that you fully understand the treatment plan she creates for you.
There are two types of genital herpes, HSV-1 and HSV-2. HSV-1 causes fever blisters and cold sores in and around one’s mouth, while HSV-2 causes sores that become blisters in the genital, anal, and other areas.
In this post, we’re concentrating on HSV-2, which can be deceiving because most people experience either no symptoms or very mild ones when they’re first infected. Skin to skin contact and exposure to saliva and gential body fluids during sexual activity is how you contract genital herpes.
However, in the 2-12 days following infection, a person might notice:
Additionally during a person’s first outbreak, they may experience flu-like symptoms such as fever, body aches, headache, and swelling of the lymph nodes in the groin area.
Another complication of HSV-2 is that not only do sores develop in the location where the virus enters your body,but if you touch a herpes sore or blister and then touch another part of your body — from your eyes and buttocks to your mouth and vagina or penis and beyond — it spreads.
After you get HSV-2, you’re asymptomatic for periods of time, but flare-ups are to be expected, as the virus periodically “reawakens.”
It’s important to know what to expect from a flare-up if you’ve been diagnosed with gential herpes. Here are the important signs to watch for.
If you notice pain, tingling, or itchiness in the spot where you were initially infected, this points to a potential upcoming outbreak and is known as the prodrome.
Since the genital herpes virus is dormant and located in the group of nerves at the base of your spine, when it reactivates, it often travels on nerve paths that lead to your genitals, buttocks, and upper thighs (since these nerves are connected).
Unfortunately, this means you can develop blisters on your vagina or vulva if you’re a woman, on your scrotum or penis if you’re a man, and on the thighs, buttocks, and anus for men and women.
During a flare-up, sores emerge that ooze, crust over, and eventually heal, but they remain painful.
If you feel pain when you try to urinate, this can indicate that you’re experiencing a herpes flare-up.
This is actually good news for people coping with HSV-2. The symptoms of a flare-up are generally less severe than during your initial outbreak. Fortunately, they go away faster too, with sores typically healing in 3-7 days, as opposed to as long as four weeks.
The symptoms you don’t tend to experience during a flare-up include fever and swelling in the groin area.
Another fortunate thing about herpes flare-ups is that you can expect them to become less frequent over time, which is a relief.
If you’re diagnosed with herpes, Dr. Sekhon can treat you so outbreaks can become less uncomfortable and more manageable.
Cool compresses on your sores and over-the-counter pain relievers can be effective at-home treatments, and Dr. Sekhon can prescribe antiviral medications for relief. She also counsels patients on lifestyle habits they can practice to help prevent outbreaks, such as eating a healthy diet, getting enough rest, managing stress effectively, and protecting yourself from the sun, wind, and extreme temperatures.
Contact our Panama City Beach office to make an appointment with Dr. Sekhon by calling 850-493-6948.
