As our
title suggests, the aim here is to give you the tools to (A) recognize the
symptoms of Genital Herpes, and (B) know where to access the care to treat it. Before
discussing the process of Herpes testing, a small amount of background is
necessary. There are two types of Herpes (otherwise known as the Herpes Simplex
Virus): HSV-1 and HSV-2. HSV-1 causes fever blisters, or cold sores, on the
lips and mouth, and is more an annoying infection than a disease. HSV-2 is
Genital Herpes.
However,
similar to HSV-2, Genital Herpes can lie dormant in the nerves, becoming active
when our immune system is low: in other words, when we are stressed, worried,
under emotional pressure, or simply not taking care of ourselves. One worrisome
aspect of the two different strains is that neither of them ever really goes
away. While the first is more a bother than anything else, there is one complication
that’s important to remember: if you have HSV-1(oral herpes), it can be
transmitted during oral sex to the genital area of your partner from your lips
or mouth. It is important to avoid intimacy during flare-ups of HSV-1.
Clearly,
the easiest way of being infected with Genital Herpes is by engaging in some
form of sexual contact with a person who already has the disease. Although some
people never develop symptoms, the clearest physical sign of Genital Herpes is
small, fluid-filled blisters around or on the penis, scrotum, vulva, or
buttocks. The blisters can also appear on the mouth if they’ve been spread
there during oral sex. When Genital Herpes is active, it
can be painful to urinate; the lymph nodes in the groin can be swollen; aching
muscles in the thighs, backside or knees, fever, and flu-ish feelings are also
common. As with HSV-1, the skin tingles at the place where the blisters will
appear. However, in Genital Herpes the blisters are much more painful, and the
virus leads to ulcers on the skin, which is a good reason for Herpes testing if
you think you have it!
The first type
of Herpes test takes place when one already has an outbreak of blisters, or
sores, on the skin on or around the genitals. The STD doctor at a clinic takes a very small sample of the liquid from
the blister, which is the most accurate way of seeing if one has Genital
Herpes. A blood test is another way of knowing if one has ever been infected
with the Herpes. It’s important to remember that a blood test can be positive
even if you have never had symptoms of Genital Herpes (HSV-2).
If a Herpes
test is positive, your doctor will advise you about medication against the
virus (acyclovir, for example), which will help stop the discomfort, and make
the virus go dormant again. Genital Herpes has aspects to it that make it not
as serious as some STDs, but it is much more serious than others. Some
complications are as follws: pregnant women who have an outbreak of Genital
Herpes at the time of giving birth can pass the virus to the baby. And, babies
infected during pregnancy may be born premature, or develop meningitis, for
example. In individuals who are HIV positive, the virus can affect other parts
of the body (the spine, lungs, eyes, or the brain).
It’s important
to stress that Genital Herpes, like HSV-1,
can’t be cured, which means that if you become infected, it’s vital for you to
take good care of yourself, because if you don’t, you can trigger another
outbreak. Also, using medication can reduce the risk of passing the HSV-2 virus
(genital Herpes) to another person.
Inform
yourself, and remember how important Herpes testing is in staying healthy. If
you live in NYC and would like to get STD testing by a board certified STD clinic, log onto genital herpes testing for more
information. STD Clinic of New York is located just blocks from Grand Central
Station and is therefore easily accessible by all means of public
transportation. To ask any questions, or to book a convenient appointment,
simply call 1-212-696-5900 to speak to a staff member.
