What causes genital herpes?

If you are wondering what causes genital herpes and how you can avoid it the answer is easy. A specific type of virus, namely the herpes simplex virus, typically causes genetal herpes.

There are two kinds of this virus namely the type 1 or HSV1 virus and type2 or HSV2 virus. HSV is an abbreviation for Herpes Simplex Virus.

How does it act?

The HSV1 and HSV2 virus strains reside in all human beings inside the nerves. In uninfected individuals they remain in dormant form but when they become active they start infecting the person. So, what causes genital herpes?

Once these viruses get active they will travel into the skin surface where they replicate themselves or multiply manifold. The process is called shedding and studies on genital herpes reveal that this is the most infectious stage.

During this stage there are more chances that other individuals will start contracting genital herpes. Therefore, it is necessary to exercise caution at this stage. Once the virus finishes the shedding process it moves down into nerve ganglion where it again reaches its dormant state.

How does it spread?

Both HSV2 as well as HSV1 type viruses spread through contacts where fluids are secreted from either genitals or the mouth. Thus, kissing, oral sex like analingus, fellatio, cunnilingus, vaginal or anal sex can cause fluids from the infected individual to transfer to another uninfected person.

It is the HSV1 virus, what causes genital herpes, cold sores and genital herpes is caused by the HSV2 virus. Both these strains of viruses can be seen in rashes, sores around the mouth, blisters present near the anus, vagina, penis, buttocks, thighs, cervix, urethra or even inside the vagina.

Initially, the genital herpes infection is in the form of blisters red in color and later on these rupture to result in sores. These sores are highly contagious and any fluid from these sores can quickly transfer the genital herpes infection to an uninfected individual.

Symptoms involved

Even before the person with genital herpes pain sees visible signs such as blisters and sores, he or she will experience genital itch, fever, flu-like symptoms, burning during urination, excess discharges from the vagina, tingling sensation around the groin and genitals etc.

These are sure signs that the person maybe contracting genital herpes and hence proper consultation with a professional health care provider is essential. Proper medication and timely treatment can go a long way in curtailing the extent and severity of genital herpes infection.

Wrong diagnosis

Because so many of the symptoms associated with genital herpes infection are similar to other kinds of diseases, many times wrong diagnosis may take place. For example, excessive discharge produced from the vagina during genital herpes can often be similar to a yeast infection or even cervicitis or an inflammatory condition inside the pelvis.

Often, the flu-like symptoms associated with a genital herpes infection can be dismissed as conventional flu. This is why proper tests from a health care professional who is trained to diagnose genetal herpes is essential.

You need to be sure whether you have genetial herpes or not because otherwise, you risk infecting your partner. This applies more when you are in a steady relationship because even a simple act of kissing could infect your partner.

Considering what causes genital herpes is a virus and that this is a lifelong condition, you really do not want to infect someone you are close to!