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HIV & Herpes

There are several drugs used to treat herpes , all of which are antiviral medications . There are three major drugs commonly used to treat genital herpes symptoms: acyclovir (Zovirax), famciclovir (Famvir), and valacyclovir (Valtrex). Most people are treated with an antiviral medicine . An antiviral cream or ointment can relieve the burning, itching, or tingling. Prescription antiviral medication ( Acyclovir and Valacyclovir) helps decrease the severity and frequency of genital outbreaks.

Generic Genital Herpes Tablets Online

Treatment with antiviral medicines can help people who are infected by genital herpes outbreaks stay symptom-free longer. These medicines can also reduce the severity and duration of symptoms when they do flare up in a patient. Drug therapy is not a full cure, but it can make living with the condition easier of a patient. There are three major medicines mainly used to diagnose genital herpes symptoms: acyclovir (Zovirax), famciclovir (Famvir), and valacyclovir (Valtrex). These are all taken in pill form. Severe or serious cases may be treated with the intravenous (IV) drug acyclovir.

Genital Herpes Means

Genital herpes is a sexually transmitted infection (STI) that causes blisters and ulcers. Herpes is caused by the herpes simplex virus (HSV), which is transmitted through skin-to-skin contact. Herpes can affect various areas of the body but is most commonly found on the genitals, anus or mouth. The blisters heal with time (usually within 2-3 weeks), but the virus that causes them cannot be cured, and herpes outbreaks will often reoccur.

How A Person Get Infected:

Herpes is most infectious when you have blisters, but the virus can be passed on even when someone has no symptoms (normally immediately straight before or after an outbreak)Herpes is passed on though skin-to-skin contact, including vaginal, anal, or oral sex with a condom or dental dam. Its means the herpes virus can be passed on even if you don’t have penetrative sex, orgasm or ejaculate (cum). Herpes virus can be passed on by sharing sex toys that aren’t washed or covered with a new condom each time they are used. If a woman has genital herpes disease while pregnant you can pass the virus on to your unborn baby. Speak to your healthcare/physician provided if you’re pregnant and worried you might have herpes.

Prevention And Avoiding Of Genital Herpes

If either you or your partner has a herpes outbreak (or if you feel like you might be about dam every time you have vaginal, anal or oral sex will prevent the risk of herpes being passed on. Herpes can also be spread by sharing sex toys. To reduce your risk, either avoid sharing your sex toys or make sure that they are washed and covered with a new condom between each use. Use a new dental dam or latex gloves for rimming and fingering (exploring your partner’s anus with your fingers, mouth or tongue) or use latex gloves for fisting, especially if you get herpes on your hands. Taking about your sexual health with your partners, and letting each other know about any infections that you have, can help you make decisions about safer sex together. Reducing your number of sexual partners can help you lessen your risk of getting sexually transmitted infections, like genital herpes etc. If you are having sex with multiple partners, it’s even more important to use condoms and to have regular STI checks.

Condoms are the best way of protection against STIs and pregnancy. Other contraceptives including the contraceptive pill will not completely prevent herpes virus, and neither will PrEP.

Genital Herpes Symptoms, Tests And Treatments

The most common symptoms of herpes are small blisters that burst to leave red, open sore. You can get herpes blisters on your penis, vagina, and anus, throat, on the top of your thighs and buttocks or around your mouth (where they’re called cold sores).

Other symptoms can include: pain when urinating (peeing), tingling or burning around the genitals, feeling unwell, with aches, pains and flu, like symptoms, unusual vaginal discharge in women. Many people with genital herpes won’t get any symptoms, or may get symptoms for the first time months or even years after they were infected.

For most people, the blisters go away within one to two weeks. Although the outbreaks clear-up by themselves, the virus stays in the body of a person. This means that people usually get blisters again- which is called having a ‘recurrent outbreak’. Outbreaks commonly become shorter and less severe over time.

Tests: - if you think you have symptoms of genital herpes or have been at risk of infection, you should speak to a healthcare worker.

There are different tests available. If you have symptoms, the most common test is to take a swab from a blister. The fluid can be tested or examined for the herpes simplex virus. Some places may also offer blood tests to check for antibodies to the virus, but these are often not routinely available, so ask a healthcare worker if you’re unsure. If you have genital herpes you should be test for other STIs. It’s also advised that you tell your recent sexual partner/ so they can also get tested and treated. Many people who have genital herpes do not notice anything wrong, and by telling them you can help to prevent  the herpes virus being passed on.

Treatments:- There is no cure for the herpes simplex virus the blisters usually heal and go by themselves so you may not always need treatment. There are antiviral medicines for herpes, which can shorten outbreaks, relieve discomfort and stop symptoms from getting worse.

The antiviral treatment is most effective when you take it within the first five days of symptoms appearing. Avoid touching the blisters as this can also increase the risk of spreading the infection. If your herpes treatment requires you to apply cream to a sore, just gently pat the cream on, being careful not to rub around the surrounding area.

Genital herpes, HIV and Sexual Health

Genital herpes is most common co-infections for people living with HIV and can be a more serious condition if you’re HIV positive-meaning that outbreaks may last longer and blisters can be more severe or serious. If you’re having recurrent outbreaks of genital herpes, you should have an HIV test, as this may be a sign of a weakened immune system caused by HIV infection. Having an STI such as genital herpes can increase your risk of getting and passing on HIV, as the blisters and sore provide an easy way for HIV to get into your body and cause an infection. People living with HIV who aren’t on treatment or who have lower CD4 count are especially vulnerable to other infections, like herpes.

If you’re consuming antiretroviral treatment for HIV, it’s important to discuss with your healthcare or doctor how treatment for herpes may interact with your HIV medicines.