Herpes and Genital Wart: Things You Need to Know

Herpes on the genitals of men and women can be observed quite often. The viral infection is transmitted mostly through sexual contact. Up to 20% of adults have genital herpes. The reason for the growth cases is early sexual activity. But there may be other reasons as well.

Lesion of the mucous membrane of the genitals occurs after penetration into the body of the herpes virus of the second type. Sometimes the cause of genital herpes can be a third type but that rarely happens. The third type of virus triggers chickenpox and shingles.

Genital herpes can be caused by herpes simplex type 1 or type 2. The only difference is that, on average, type 1 is less likely to recur genital than type 2.

Modes of Transmission and Routes of Dissemination of Infection

All herpes viruses remain in the body. No drug or treatment can completely eradicate herpes virus from the human body. Therefore, the number of people who have the virus increases every year. Most do not notice that they have caught it as the virus stays dormant and does not cause any symptoms. You can catch herpes simplex through various sexual activities:

• Genital-to-genital contact if the partner has the virus on their genitals
• Through oral sex if the partner has a cold sore on the lip.

Once the virus enters the body, it can create blisters at the site of entry, but if the immune system is strong enough, the primary episode of genital herpes is asymptomatic (i.e. the person will not notice).

The recurrence of the disease is usually milder and on average becomes less frequent over time. The main causes for developing a recurrence:

• o Having a cold or other illness
• o Poor diet
• o Lack of necessary vitamins and minerals
• o Stress, depression, etc.
• o Tiredness, lack of sleep
• o Too much alcohol or smoking
• o Over-exhaustion from physical activities
• o Friction from sex or masturbation (use a lubricant if this happens to you)
• o The menstrual cycle for some women.

Incubation period and first symptoms

Symptoms, if you are going to get any, begin to show themselves about 2-15 days after infection (incubation period) with 4 or 5 days being the average. You may have a fever, and then slight burning and itching occur at the place where you were infected. Then blisters or lesions may appear in this area.

Treatment

Treatment of herpes is recommended to start as soon as the first uncomfortable symptoms appear. But you need to get a medical diagnosis. Only a sexual health clinic or some GPs can diagnose and prescribe treatment.

Treatment is not obligatory. All herpes simplex outbreaks (cold sores or genital herpes) will heal up by themselves.

You may be prescribed:

• o antiviral drugs
• o analgesics, such as ibuprofen, aspirin or paracetamol.

Genital Warts

This is a different virus that can affect the genital area. Genital warts are a direct result of Human papillomavirus (HPV). This infection is transmitted from one individual to another by sexual contact. It can be caught on:

• o the mucous membrane of the mouth
• o genital organs.

There are many different types of HPV and the ones that cause warts on the mucous membrane of the mouth and genitals are not the types that will cause warts on other skin areas. Also, the wart virus responsible for cancer of the cervix or the penis is a different type.

Treatment of Genital Warts

Genital warts will clear by themselves, but it may take several months. Treatments are only given to remove the warts. Treatments have good results, however, in a quarter of cases warts may recur within three to six months and can be treated again.

"STD Facts - Genital Herpes - CDC." Accessed December 27, 2018. https://www.cdc.gov/std/herpes/stdfact-herpes.htm.

"Genital warts - Diagnosis and treatment - Mayo Clinic." Accessed December 27, 2018. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/genital-warts/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20355240.