There are 2 forms of the herpes simplex virus (HSV)—HSV-1 is the virus that generally causes cold sores, and HSV-2 is the virus that commonly causes genital herpes. While most genital herpes is caused by HSV-2, it can be caused by HSV-1. What you may not know is that when it comes to oral sex, HSV-1 can infect the genitals. So if you or your partner has a cold sore at any stage—even the tingle—be sure to avoid oral sex.
How Many People Have Genital Herpes?
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), genital herpes is one of the most common sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) in the U.S., with a whopping 45 million people ages 12+ being infected. Or to put it more simply, 1 in 5 Americans has genital herpes. To break it down even more, women are twice as likely as men to have it. In fact, 1 out of 4 women have genital herpes versus 1 out of 8 men.
Symptoms Of Genital Herpes
Genital herpes often appears as one or two tiny blisters on or around your genitals. The blisters can break, leaving tender ulcers (or sores). If you've just had your first outbreak, you know all too well that it took somewhere between 2 and 4 weeks to heal. There is a little light at the end of the tunnel; the first outbreak is usually the most severe. And for some people, one outbreak is all they ever experience. Others don't experience their second outbreak until years later.
Two Important Facts About Genital Herpes: It's A Virus And It's Contagious
It's very important to seek treatment by a health care professional at the first sign of an outbreak. So if you think you might have genital herpes, make an appointment with your doctor right away.
All viral infections are contagious, and so are all STDs if contact is made directly with the infected area. With genital herpes, you don't have to have visible symptoms such as lesions to spread the virus to others.
Keep in mind, there is no cure for genital herpes, but there are a variety of treatment options available.