How can genital herpes be transmitted and prevented?
Genital herpes is very infectious and is spread by having sex of any type. The only proven way to prevent genital herpes being transmitted is to abstain from sexual contact completely or to be in a long-term relationship with a partner who has been tested and who is known to be uninfected. The relationship with this partner must obviously also be mutually monogamous. All other relationships must be handled with extreme caution.
Remember protect yourself – because if you don’t, who will?
HSV is transmitted from one person to another by skin-to-skin
contact. The virus is shed from the visible sores,
blisters or a rash during herpes outbreaks. However,
it can also be shed from the affected area even between
outbreaks of symptoms. HSV is transmitted to
the area of skin with which it comes into contact.
If you are suffering from these genital herpes blisters, then be careful not to touch them. If you do, then wash your hands well with soap and water as this kills the virus. Wash your hands after using the bathroom and remember to wash them again before touching or inserting contact lenses. You could spread herpes to your eyes.
According to the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, the Food and Drug Administration recently approved the medication Valtrex to be prescribed in preventing transmission of genital herpes. “It has to be taken continuously by the infected person, and while it significantly decreased the risk of the transmission of herpes, transmission can still occur”.
Genital herpes infection can also pose a serious problem for those living with AIDS, as well as those undergoing chemo or radiation therapy or taking high does of cortisone preparations. They may suffer the infection in various organs including the eyes, the mucous membranes, the esophagus, the liver, the brain or the lungs.
Vaccines against HSV are being produced but are still in the experimental stage with trials being conducted. These trials are designed to establish whether the experimental vaccines will prevent outbreaks of genital herpes in those people who are free of HSV and so obviously, these trials are lengthy and no conclusive results are yet available. These vaccines would not be a cure for genital herpes but a preventative measure. There is no cure for genital herpes, however you can manage the outbreaks and relieve the symptoms with the appropriate treatment.
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