952-451-4987The herpes virus spreads by person-to-person contact, usually during sexual activity. Your health care provider will talk to you about the right treatment for you. The virus can spread even if an infected person has no genital sores.
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- In most cases, the virus enters the body through mucous membranes.
- If you think you might have genital herpes, ask your provider if you can be tested for it.
- HSV-1 is a version of the virus that causes cold sores or fever blisters.
- This is the type of skin found in the mouth, genitals and anus.
- How often recurrent outbreaks happen varies widely.
HSV-2
You may have warning signs a few hours or days before a new outbreak starts. They may appear less often over time. Sores appear where the infection enters the body. Symptoms start about 2 to 12 days after exposure to the virus.
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They can still able to spread the virus. Genital herpes is a common sexually transmitted infection (STI). This is the type of skin found in the mouth, genitals and anus. In most cases, the virus enters the body through mucous membranes.
Symptoms
If you think you might have genital herpes, ask your provider if you can be tested for it. Recurrent outbreaks of genital herpes caused by HSV-1 are often less frequent than outbreaks caused by HSV-2. These types include herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) and herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1). After the first outbreak of genital herpes, symptoms often appear again. Condoms can help prevent the spread of a genital herpes infection. Genital herpes can often be spread by skin-to-skin contact during sexual activity.
Genital herpes
- Symptoms start about 2 to 12 days after exposure to the virus.
- They may have no symptoms or have very mild symptoms.
- If you are pregnant and know you have genital herpes, tell your health care provider.
- This virus dies quickly outside the body.
- A diagnosis of genital herpes may cause embarrassment, shame, anger or other strong emotions.
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Your health care provider can usually make a diagnosis of genital herpes based on a physical exam and a history of your sexual activity. If you think you have genital herpes or another STI, make an appointment to see your health care provider. If you are pregnant and know you have genital herpes, tell your health care provider. If you suspect you have genital herpes, or any other STI, see your health care provider.
Treatment depends on the severity of disease, the type of HSV, your sexual activity and other medical factors. Less often, a lab test of your blood may be used for confirming a starzspins casino diagnosis or ruling out other infections. Your gift can go 3X as far to shape the future of cancer care. It lowers the risk of passing the virus to your baby. People may be exposed to HSV-1 as children due to close skin-to-skin contact with someone infected. You’ll soon start receiving the latest Mayo Clinic health information you requested in your inbox.
You’ll usually have the most outbreaks the first year after infection. Some people infected with the virus may have very mild symptoms or no symptoms. People can have genital herpes for years without knowing it. The virus also can enter the body through skin that has tiny scrapes or tears. So it is nearly impossible to get infected by contact with toilets or other objects used by a person with an infection. Genital herpes is a sexually transmitted infection.