Genital Herpes Symptoms
The HSV virus causes lesions or sores that show up on the scrotum and penis for men, and around and even inside the vaginal area and cervix for women. Both men and women can also get lesions and sores in the urinary tract, on the thighs and buttocks and around the anal opening. Sores have also been reported on other body parts.
The symptoms of genital herpes can vary in severity and appearance. For some people the initial stages of genital herpes can cause one or more lesions and skin lesions that are very painful. The first outbreak of genital herpes typically occurs within two weeks after the virus is transmitted, and the sores usually heal within two to four weeks. Other signs and symptoms during the primary episode may include a second crop of sores, and flu-like symptoms, including fever and swollen glands.
If you’d like to see real, live pictures of genital herpes Click Here. But beware they are very graphic and most people will find them disturbing. Do not view if you are under the age of 18.
Treatments
There are medications available to treat genital herpes infections and prevent recurrent infections. However, none of the drugs get rid of the virus. Herpes cannot be “cured.” The decision to use one treatment over another for genital herpes depends on many factors that must be discussed with your health-care provider.
Initial or Recurrent Genital Herpes Outbreaks
One of the major factors determining treatment is whether a person has had a genital herpes outbreak in the past. The first episode of genital herpes is usually the worst and includes general symptoms that make a person feel unwell. Recurrent episodes of genital herpes are generally not as painful and do not last as long.
Valtrex
No matter how few outbreaks you get, each one can be painful and annoying. VALTREX is the first and only once-daily herpes medication clinically proven to reduce the number of outbreaks you get. In fact, many people on daily therapy with VALTREX may go a year outbreak-free.
A clinical study among people who had 6 or more outbreaks a year found that over half of those people were outbreak-free after taking VALTREX for 6 months. After a year, over one third were outbreak-free. Ask your health care provider if daily VALTREX is right for you.
Acyclovir
ZOVIRAX is the brand name for Acyclovir, a synthetic nucleoside analogue active against the herpes viruses. ZOVIRAX Capsules, Tablets, and Suspension are formulations for oral administration.
Each capsule of ZOVIRAX contains 200 mg of Acyclovir and the inactive ingredients corn starch, lactose, magnesium stearate, and sodium lauryl sulfate. The capsule shell consists of gelatin, FD&C Blue No. 2, and titanium dioxide. May contain one or more parabens. Printed with edible black ink.