Ways of Genital Herpes Transmission
As I've mentioned before, there are two herpes viruses: HSV-1 and HSV-2. These herpes viruses can be found in and released from the sores that the viruses cause. It's natural and quite understandable.
But the most terrible is that these herpes viruses also are released between outbreaks from skin that does not appear to be broken or to have a sore!
Generally, a person can only get HSV-2 herpes infection during sexual contact with someone who has a genital HSV-2 herpes infection. But keep in mind that transmission can occur from an infected partner who does not have a visible sore and may not even know that he or she is infected! In this case the infected partner can't warn about his or her disease!
HSV-1 can cause genital herpes, but it more commonly causes infections of the mouth and lips, so-called "fever blisters." HSV-1 herpes infection of the genitals can be caused by oral-genital or genital-genital contact with a person who has HSV-1 infection. Genital HSV-1 herpes outbreaks recur less regularly than genital HSV-2 outbreaks.
So HSV-2 herpes infection is much more dangerous.
Symptoms of Genital Herpes
Unfortunately, most people infected with HSV-2 are not aware of their genital herpes infection. However, if genital herpes signs and symptoms occur during the first outbreak, they can be quite pronounced.
The first genital herpes outbreak usually occurs within two weeks after the virus is transmitted, and the sores typically heal within two to four weeks. Other genital herpes signs and symptoms during the primary episode may include a second crop of sores, and flu-like symptoms, including fever and swollen glands.
However, most persons with HSV-2 genital herpes infection may never have sores, or they may have very mild signs that they do not even notice or that they mistake for insect bites or another skin condition.
Most people diagnosed with a first episode of genital herpes can expect to have several (typically four or five) outbreaks (symptomatic recurrences) within a year. Over time these recurrences usually decrease in frequency.
Photos: http://www.flickr.com/
