Your guide to treatment for genital herpes

Genital herpes doesn’t always cause symptoms, but when it does, you can develop painful fluid-filled blisters around your genitals. This is known as an outbreak. It can develop from two forms of the herpes simplex virus (HSV): HSV-1 and HSV-2. Genital herpes is usually due to HSV-2, but HSV-1 can also cause it.

There’s no way to cure genital herpes, but with the proper treatment, you can prevent outbreaks and reduce the chance of transmitting it to your sexual partners. Antiviral medications are the primary treatment method.

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How is genital herpes treated?

When you have a herpes outbreak — that is, you notice symptoms or blisters or sores around your genitals — it will usually go away on its own in around 19 days. However, it’s important to seek treatment, particularly during your first outbreak.

The primary treatment for genital herpes is antiviral medications in tablet form that you take by mouth. They can help manage your symptoms and reduce the length of an outbreak by up to 4 days. The most common antivirals are:

• acyclovir (Zovirax)
• valacyclovir (Valtrex)
• famciclovir (Famvir)

Treatment is most effective if you start it within 1 day of experiencing symptoms. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), acyclovir is the general preference over the other options. Treatment should last for 10 days, regardless of whether you notice improvements before this time.

Creams or ointments are not effective for treating herpes outbreaks. However, some numbing creams like lidocaine (Lidoderm) may help with pain in the area.

If you have frequent, recurrent outbreaks, doctors might recommend you undergo suppressive therapy. This is long term, daily use of antivirals that can reduce the frequency of recurrent outbreaks by up to 80%. It’s considered safe and effective, and it can improve quality of life in people with frequent outbreaks.

The majority of people with genital herpes will show no symptoms or very mild ones. However, if you receive a diagnosis of genital herpes, it’s important to still seek treatment to reduce the chance of outbreaks.

If you need help covering the cost of medications, the free Optum Perks Discount Card could help you save up to 80% on prescription drugs. Plus, you can now get them delivered to your home in as little as 3 days. Search for your medication here.

Is there a cure for genital herpes?

There is currently no cure for genital herpes. However, you might have fewer outbreaks over time, and they might be shorter and less severe. You may not need to take medication for mild future outbreaks.

Experts are currently researching the possibility of a vaccine for herpes, but no vaccine is available yet.

Preventing transmission of genital herpes

If you’re not currently showing any symptoms of herpes — that is, you don’t have a current outbreak — you’re much less likely to pass on the virus to your sexual partner. However, it is still possible due to a process known as shedding, so it’s important to follow safe sex practices.

If you have a current outbreak, avoid sexual contact altogether. This is when the risk of transmission is highest. When you don’t have an outbreak, using condoms can help greatly reduce the risk of transmission. This is also the best way to prevent getting herpes from others.

Suppressive therapy can also help prevent transmission of genital herpes between sexual partners. For example, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), daily valacyclovir can decrease the rate of transmission between heterosexual couples and people with multiple sexual partners.

If you don’t have any symptoms, you likely don’t need a herpes test.

Living with genital herpes

There are other ways you can make living with genital herpes a little easier. Make sure you keep your genital areas clean and dry, especially during an outbreak, and avoid touching any sores or blisters you may have.

It’s also difficult to predict when an outbreak might occur. Some people may experience recurrent outbreaks, but others may never have another outbreak. Up to 90% of people will never have symptoms at all.

Many people find a diagnosis of genital herpes distressing, particularly people with symptomatic herpes. The CDC recommends counseling as part of the treatment regimen for the condition. The aim of this is to make sure you’re highly informed about your condition to reduce any anxiety about it.

Counseling can provide information about the effectiveness of treatment, the risk of transmission, and how to prevent transmission to your sexual partners.

While it may be difficult, it’s important to have an honest discussion about your condition before sex with any potential sexual partners. You can still have sex if you have genital herpes, but avoid sexual contact during outbreaks and always use a condom.

Know that genital herpes is very common — almost 12% of people ages 14 to 49 years are estimated to have the virus. And many more may have it without knowing if they never show symptoms. There’s no need to feel ashamed of your condition.

Online care for genital herpes

If you think you might have herpes or you know you have had exposure to HSV, contact a doctor immediately for diagnosis and treatment. After receiving a diagnosis in person, you may consider using online care services for refills of your medication for future outbreaks.

Online care services, including Optum Perks Online Care, may make getting treatment easier. With these services, you can submit an online form answering a few questions about your symptoms, and a US-licensed healthcare professional will respond soon after to prescribe a treatment plan.

Summary

Genital herpes may not always cause symptoms, but if it does, it will cause blisters or sores around your genitals. During an outbreak, the condition is most transmissible.

Antiviral medications are the treatment of choice for genital herpes. It can help reduce the length of an outbreak and the risk of transmission. Usually, you will only take these during an outbreak, particularly the first outbreak. You may also try suppressive therapy, where you take antivirals daily for a long-term period.

It’s important to be honest about your condition with any sexual partners. Don’t have sex during an outbreak, and use condoms at other times to prevent transmission.

Download the free Optum Perks Discount Card to save up to 80% on many prescription medications. Plus, you can now get them delivered to your home in as little as 3 days. Search for your medication here.