Genital herpes is a disease caused by the herpes simplex virus, otherwise known as HSV.
There are two types of this virus, the HSV-1 and HSV-2.
The first kind is usually oral herpes, which causes an infection of the lips and mouth.
Common symptoms of an HSV-1 infection are cold sores or fever blisters.
HSV-1 was not known to cause genital herpes in the past, however, with the rise of people who begin to have sex at a young age, that is slowly changing.
In general cases though, genital herpes is caused by the second kind of herpes virus, which is the HSV-2.
The HSV-2 virus lives in the nerves, and when active, it travels to the surface of the infected area such as the skin or mucous membranes, and it multiplies.
This phase is called 'shedding' because at this time, new viruses can rub off and infect another person.
After the shedding phase, the virus travels back down the never to a mass of nerve tissue called the ganglion, which is located at the base of the spine.
It is there that it lies dormant for a while.
Of the people aged twelve and above in the United States alone, about one-fifth are infected with the HSV-2 virus which causes genital herpes, but as many as 90% of those who are infected are undiagnosed and unaware of it.
Through some comparisons, experts have been able to estimate that some 50- 80 percent of twenty-sumthings up to forty sumthings have oral herpes.
The herpes virus infects more women than they do men - in fact, the ratio is one if four women compared with one in five men.
One of the reasons for this may be that the virus can infect a woman's genitalia far easily than it can infect a man's.
Genital herpes has also been found to be more common in black populations than it is among whites.
Genital herpes becomes more common as one ages, and those who have multiple sex partners are more at risk for infection.
The HSV-1 virus is most commonly passed from person to person via kissing, and can spread uncontrollably from the carrier's mouth to the victim's genitals in the time of the oral sex (fellatio, cunnilingus, analingus).
Once this happens, the one who catches the virus will then develop a case of genital herpes.
The HSV-2 virus on the other hand is most often passed from person to person via vaginal and/or anal sex.
However if the HSV-1 disease is able to infect the person's genitals and could cause genital herpes; HSV-2 can also be transferred from the genitals to the mouth, resulting in oral herpes.
The use of a latex barrier, for example a dental dam or a condom during the particular sexual play could protect you and your partner, but only if it is covering the area where the virus is shedding.
If your partner has visible sores in the genitals or on the mouth, you must refrain from sexual contact with them.
The HSV-2 virus cannot survive for long outside the human body, such as on a non-living object, so there is no real risk from getting the virus from toilet seats, pools, hot tubs, and the like.
Despite the fact that the virus cannot survive for long outside the body, it is highly contagious and can go on unnoticed, because symptoms of an infection are not always visible.
Medications can be used to reduce the duration and frequency of herpes outbreaks and help reduce the risk of transmission of HSV-2 to a susceptible person.
Visit a private STD clinic and consult with your health care provided.
Have a thorough discussion with your doctor.
Some questions might be asked during your office visit.
Take the time to go over the potential questions, so you can get most out of your visit.
Herpes - Caused by the virus called the herpes simplex, this type of STD has not only one but two types.
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