How long does it take genital herpes to go away

Herpes simplex virus (HSV) is a virus that causes infections. It is very contagious. There are two types of this virus. One type (HSV-1) usually causes sores around the lips or inside the mouth that are sometimes called fever blisters or cold sores. The other type (HSV-2) usually causes sores on the genitals (private parts). Either type can infect the mouth, genital area or another part of the body.

HSV spreads most easily when a person comes in direct contact with an infected person’s mucous membranes, saliva, or the oozing fluid from a sore. Mucous membranes are the moist skin that lines the inside parts of the body such as the mouth, nose and vagina. That is why it is extremely important not to kiss or have sex with anyone when herpes sores are present. However, HSV can be spread even when the infected person has no sores or obvious signs of infection. The herpes virus cannot live very long outside of the body. It is unlikely that you can get it from a toilet seat.

Symptoms of Herpes

Symptoms of herpes usually begin within 2 to 20 days after contact with the HSV virus. The skin becomes painful or it may itch, burn or tingle. Then one or more blisters appear. The blisters open and become sores. The sores turn crusty and heal slowly over 1 to 2 weeks. By 3 weeks, the sores have completely healed without leaving a scar. Sometimes flu-like symptoms, such as swollen glands, headache, body aches and fever also develop. For some, the symptoms may be so mild that the person does not get sores and may not even know that he or she is infected.

When the sores have healed and the skin looks normal again, the virus hides in the nerve cells under the surface of the skin. Once someone is infected with the herpes virus, he or she will have the infection for the rest of his life. The sores can come back at any time when you have a lot of stress, get too tired or have illness, irritated skin, sunburn or a poor diet. They can also come back during menstruation. Sometimes the sores can come back for no reason.

How Herpes is Treated

There is no cure for herpes.

• The health care provider may prescribe antiviral medicine to help speed up the healing process. It also shortens the time when the virus can spread from the herpes sores.
• Pain may be treated with medicine such as Tylenol (acetaminophen) or Motrin (ibuprofen) or by applying an ice pack wrapped in a towel to the affected area.
• If sores are in the mouth, avoid foods high in acid, like citrus fruits and juices.
• The infected area should be kept clean and dry.
• Wash hands often and avoid touching the sores to prevent spreading the virus.
• It is important to stay healthy by getting enough rest, having proper nutrition and exercise and managing stress well.

When to Call the Doctor

Even though HSV sores can hurt and be unsightly, most cases of herpes do not cause serious illness. The sores go away in a few days. Contact the health provider if:

Genital herpes is one of the most common sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). Herpes virus infections actually don’t often lead to a disease, though: Up to 90 out of 100 people who are infected will have either no symptoms or hardly noticeable symptoms. For this reason, experts increasingly refer to herpes as a sexually transmitted infection (STI). Once you have been infected with herpes viruses, they stay in your body for the rest of your life.

If symptoms arise, they can be painful and distressing. But there are treatments that can relieve the symptoms and shorten the outbreaks. If you’ve had herpes once, it usually keeps coming back. The good news is that herpes outbreaks become milder and less frequent over time.

But being diagnosed with genital herpes is still quite distressing for many people and brings up a number of questions: Where was I infected? How will I tell my partner – and who else should I even tell? Will I transmit the infection to my child if I’m pregnant? These are some of the questions you may be faced with after being diagnosed with genital herpes.

Symptoms

In genital herpes, the skin in the genital area can become inflamed and painful, and small blisters may develop. The blisters occur in small clusters, and can tear open and weep. They often form scabs when they heal. The skin may also itch or burn. Women often have pain when urinating (peeing).

The symptoms typically affect the penis, foreskin and scrotum in men, and the labia, vagina and cervix in women. The blisters may also occur in the anal region, on the buttocks or on the inner thighs. Some people notice that an outbreak is starting through a tingling sensation in their genitals or pain in their bottom, hips or legs.

The very first outbreak of genital herpes often causes more severe symptoms than later outbreaks. In addition to the typical skin problems, these include fever, headache, general exhaustion and muscle pain, and often swollen lymph nodes in the groin area. Further outbreaks are usually milder.

If you already have a different herpes virus in your body, you may already have a certain amount of immunity to herpes viruses. Then the symptoms may be milder during the first outbreak than in people who haven’t yet come into contact with the virus. If – on the other hand – your immune system is weakened, the symptoms could be more severe and last longer.

Causes

Genital herpes is caused by herpes simplex viruses. There are two different types:

• Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1)

• Herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2)

Genital herpes is mainly caused by HSV-2. Cold sores on lips are also caused by herpes viruses, but usually by HSV-1. Each virus can cause both cold sores and genital herpes, though. Whether you get genital herpes or a cold sore doesn’t only depend on the type of herpes virus, but also on where the viruses are inside the body.

Herpes viruses that have settled in nerve cell clusters (ganglia) at the lower end of the spine can cause genital herpes. If these viruses multiply in the nerve cell clusters and move along the nerves to the outer layers of the skin, they can lead to genital herpes.

Herpes viruses are transmitted by skin contact, especially during sex, including oral or anal sex. They can also be transmitted through shared sex toys. The herpes viruses can’t survive for long without being on skin. That's why they’re highly unlikely to be transmitted through things like towels, bedsheets or toilet seats.

Risk factors

The risk of women being infected by a male sex partner is considerably higher than the risk of men being infected by a female sex partner. Experts believe that the virus is most commonly transmitted by people who don't know that they have it.

You are more likely to get genital herpes if you have multiple sex partners or already have a sexually transmitted infection such as HIV. The risk also increases if you don’t use condoms for protection.

Not everyone who is infected by the herpes virus also goes on to develop genital herpes. No one really knows why some people do and some don’t.

There is hardly any research on possible triggers of recurring outbreaks of genital herpes. Some evidence suggests that constant emotional stress could make them more likely. Other possible triggers are thought to include sunlight, common colds, physical exertion, skin injuries, menstruation, and wearing clothes that are tight or made from rough fabrics.

Prevalence

Genital herpes is one of the most common sexually transmitted infections. It is estimated that 10 to 15 out of 100 people in Germany have the HSV-2 virus in their body. About 10 to 30% of those people develop genital herpes.

This is somewhat more common in women than in men. Women are more susceptible to infection because their mucous membranes are more sensitive.

Outlook

People may have their first outbreak of genital herpes months or even years after being infected by the virus. The first time you have genital herpes, it takes an average of 20 days for it to go away if left untreated. Later episodes are milder, though, and generally go away within 10 days. People who have had genital herpes once will usually keep getting it.

The type of virus will determine how often it recurs:

• HSV-1 causes an average of one further outbreak within one year in about 20 to 50% of people who have the virus.

• HSV-2 causes at least one further outbreak – but an average of four further outbreaks – within one year in about 70 to 90% of people who have the virus.

The outbreaks often become less frequent and less severe over time.

Effects

Genital herpes can lead to complications, especially the first time you have it. The possible complications include vaginal yeast infections (“thrush”), bladder problems with trouble urinating, and – in rare cases – meningitis. Complications are very rare in later outbreaks.

People who have genital herpes are at greater risk of being infected with other sexually transmitted infections such as HIV.

Pregnant women can transmit the herpes viruses to the child during birth. But this rarely happens. If a woman has an outbreak of genital herpes shortly before giving birth, a Cesarean section (C-section) is often recommended in order to minimize the risk of infecting the child.

In very rare cases, a herpes infection may lead to larger rashes elsewhere on the body or it may affect the eyes.

Diagnosis

In order to diagnose genital herpes, the doctor takes a sample of cells from the affected area of skin. This sample is tested for herpes viruses in a laboratory. Depending on the situation, the type of virus can sometimes be determined as well.

It’s often not possible to get a definitive diagnosis of herpes based solely on the symptoms and appearance of the skin. The typical symptoms don’t always occur. What’s more, genital herpes may occur at the same time as other skin conditions or sexually transmitted infections. Herpes symptoms are sometimes similar to those caused by yeast infections or chlamydia, or by other skin conditions such as psoriasis.

It is more difficult to diagnose a herpes virus infection in people who don't show any symptoms. Then a test for herpes antibodies can be used to check whether there are antibodies in the bloodstream. If HSV-2 antibodies are found, then the person could develop genital herpes. If there are HSV-1 antibodies, it's difficult to predict what part of the body might be affected if symptoms occur.

The tests usually can't offer any information about when you first became infected. But if someone has genital herpes for the first time and no antibodies are found, then they were probably infected recently.

Prevention

Because a lot of people have the herpes virus in their body, anyone who is sexually active can be infected with it. But the risk of infection can be reduced significantly.

People who have genital herpes are advised to avoid sex as soon as they notice signs that an outbreak is starting. This is because the risk of transmitting the virus is greatest during an outbreak.

But the virus can also be transmitted by people who don’t have any symptoms. Condoms can greatly reduce the risk of infection during symptom-free periods. They also protect against other sexually transmitted diseases.

If you have genital herpes, it’s a good idea to talk about it with your partner. If both of you have a blood test for antibodies, it's possible to find out whether your partner also has herpes viruses in their body, what type of herpes viruses you have – and whether there's a risk of infection. A partner who has HSV-1 could still become infected with HSV-2, for example.

People who have genital herpes can somewhat lower the risk of infecting others by taking antiviral medication. These medications include aciclovir, famciclovir or valaciclovir. They must be taken daily for a long period of time, though. If you already use condoms for contraception, it's not clear whether taking antiviral medications can lower the risk of infection even more.

Treatment

The very first outbreak of genital herpes can cause more severe symptoms than later outbreaks, and sometimes complications as well. So it’s normal to take antiviral medications containing the active ingredients aciclovir, famciclovir or valaciclovir the first time you have herpes. These tablets can reduce the severity of symptoms and shorten the length of the outbreak by a few days. Creams or ointments containing antiviral drugs aren’t effective against genital herpes.

In later outbreaks, the symptoms are typically less severe. Treatment is then not absolutely necessary. If you take antiviral medication for later outbreaks, you won’t need to use it for as long. It’s important to start the treatment within the first 24 hours – ideally, as soon as you notice the first signs of an outbreak. This is easier to do if you always have tablets at home or take them with you when you travel.

Preventive treatment with medication may be considered if someone has severe or very frequent herpes outbreaks. Then the medication is taken over a longer time period – during symptom-free phases, too. This can greatly lower the likelihood of outbreaks.

If genital herpes is causing severe pain, painkillers can help. Many women who have pain when peeing find that sitting in warm, shallow water (a sitz bath) can help.

There has hardly been any research on other treatments like laser therapy or applying warmth to the area, so it’s not clear whether they are effective.

Everyday life

Knowing that you have genital herpes can be very distressing. Many people find it hard to talk about it with their partner. Some are afraid that their partner will react with disgust or think that they have been unfaithful. Others may wonder whether they were infected by their partner.

Speaking openly about the disease can help – because it's often not really possible to tell who you were infected by, or when. After all, many people have herpes viruses in their body, and anyone who is sexually active can become infected. Also, the virus may remain inactive for months or years before causing an outbreak of genital herpes.

Further information

When people are ill or need medical advice, they usually go to see their family doctor first. Read about how to find the right doctor, how to prepare for the appointment and what to remember.

Sources

• IQWiG health information is written with the aim of helping people understand the advantages and disadvantages of the main treatment options and health care services.

  Because IQWiG is a German institute, some of the information provided here is specific to the German health care system. The suitability of any of the described options in an individual case can be determined by talking to a doctor. We do not offer individual consultations.

  Our information is based on the results of good-quality studies. It is written by a team of health care professionals, scientists and editors, and reviewed by external experts. You can find a detailed description of how our health information is produced and updated in our methods.

  How long does genital herpes take to heal?

  The average incubation period for an initial herpes infection is 4 days (range, 2 to 12) after exposure. The vesicles break and leave painful ulcers that may take two to four weeks to heal after the initial herpes infection.

  How long after genital herpes outbreak is it still contagious?

  Don't have sex until your sores are totally gone — at least 7 days after the sores heal and the scabs fall off. 2. Don't touch your herpes sores, because you can spread the infection to other parts of your body or other people. If you touch a sore or your genitals, wash your hands with soap and water right after.

  Can genital herpes go away completely?

  There is no cure for genital herpes. However, there are medicines that can prevent or shorten outbreaks. A daily anti-herpes medicine can make it less likely to pass the infection on to your sex partner(s).