Sexually transmitted infections

Genital herpes in women

Genital Herpes Quick Facts
Don't give your new relationship a gift from the past
Important information to help you manage and stop the virus from spreading
Talking to your partner about genital herpes

Genital herpes quick facts

1. Up to 20 per cent of the Canadian population has genital herpes but 80 per cent don't know it.
2. There is no cure for genital herpes but treatment is available.
3. Genital herpes can be passed on to a partner even if no symptoms are visible—the virus may be active on the skin without causing signs or symptoms of an outbreak.
4. More than 86 million people worldwide are infected with genital herpes.
5. Since the late 1970s, the number of people with genital herpes in North America has increased by 30 per cent.
6. Only a health care professional can accurately diagnose genital herpes.

For more information, visit www.herpeshealth.com or call 1-866-252-4666.

Courtesy NewsCanada

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Don't give your new relationship a gift from the past

(NC)-Up to one in five Canadians has genital herpes—one of the most common sexually transmitted infections. And most do not know they have it, or even understand how it is spread.

"Genital herpes has no cure and can cause painful physical symptoms," says Dr. Barbara Romanowski, Clinical Professor in the Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of Alberta. "It is important that people understand genital herpes and how it is spread so they can protect themselves and their partner."

Genital herpes is spread through skin-to-skin contact during vaginal, oral or anal sex and many people mistake it for something else, like a yeast infection or jock itch. Sometimes their symptoms—which may include blisters, bumps or rashes in the genital area, or on the thighs or buttocks—are so mild they go unnoticed.

Though the disease is most contagious during an outbreak, it is also contagious between outbreaks. In fact, in up to 70 per cent of cases, genital herpes is transmitted between partners when no signs or symptoms are present.

Preventing genital herpes: what you can do to reduce your risk

A number of things that can be done to lower your risk of transmitting or contracting genital herpes:

• Avoid contact with lesions (sores) during outbreaks. People who have the virus should avoid sexual contact with the affected area from the time they first feel any symptoms until the sores have completely healed. Consider other forms of intimate behaviour during this time.
• Use condoms at all times. As genital herpes is often spread when there are no visible signs of an outbreak, using a latex condom can reduce the transmission risk.
• Consider antiviral therapy. The effect of condoms and suppressive therapy may be additive. Daily antiviral therapy has also been shown to cut the transmission risk by almost half when used in conjunction with safe sex practices. Because condoms do not always cover the entire area where the virus may be present on the skin (e.g., inner thigh), daily antiviral therapy may also be considered to ensure maximum protection. Results vary from person-to-person, but studies have also shown that suppressive therapy can significantly reduce the frequency of outbreaks and, in some cases, prevent them from recurring for up to one year.

Genital herpes can have a significant impact on a person's physical and emotional well-being but it can be controlled. If you or someone you know has genital herpes, visit www.herpeshealth.com or call 1-866-252-4666 for more information. Talk to your doctor to find out more about the new Public Health Agency of Canada clinical practice guidelines on managing genital herpes.

Courtesy NewsCanada

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Know the facts about genital herpes

(NC)-Finding out you have genital herpes can be very stressful and upsetting. Most people experience a number of recognized emotional stages, including:

• It's not true; this can't be happening to me (denial)
• There must be a cure (resistance)
• There are ways I can live with this and have a positive sex life (affirmation)
• I will control genital herpes and work with my partner through what we are experiencing (integration)

"It can take some time to accept and adjust to a diagnosis of genital herpes. Everyone is different. Most people experience some feelings of sadness, fear of being judged or rejected by a partner, depression and isolation when they are first diagnosed, but many of these feelings subside over time," says Dr. Barbara Romanowski, Clinical Professor in the Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of Alberta.

Although there is no cure for genital herpes, the good news is that there is an antiviral medication that can suppress the virus to reduce the risk of passing it along to others, speed up healing process and limit outbreaks.

Inform yourself about available therapies

Oral antiviral medications can be used in two different ways: when the outbreak occurs—episodic therapy; or continuously (every day for a period of time) to prevent an outbreak from happening—suppressive therapy.

Episodic therapy requires taking an antiviral medication, generally for a specific number of days during an outbreak, to help speed the healing of blisters and shorten the duration of pain and discomfort. It can also help stop some outbreaks from becoming full-blown if taken at the first sign of itching, tingling or numbness leading up to an outbreak, just before blisters or sores appear.

With suppressive therapy, medications are taken continuously for the period of time deemed appropriate for the person and his or her personal lifestyle needs. While suppressive therapy will not cure genital herpes and results vary from person-to-person, studies have shown that suppressive therapy can significantly reduce the frequency of outbreaks and, in some cases, prevent them from recurring for up to one year.

Using condoms can reduce the transmission of genital herpes and this effect may be additive when used in conjunction with suppressive therapy. Research on daily suppressive therapy with an antiviral medication has been shown to reduce the transmission of genital herpes to a partner when used in addition to safe sex practices.

Genital herpes can have a significant impact on a person's physical and emotional well-being—but it can be controlled. If you or someone you know has genital herpes, visit www.herpeshealth.com or call 1-866-252-4666 for more information. Talk to your doctor to find out more about the new Public Health Agency of Canada clinical practice guidelines on managing genital herpes.

Courtesy NewsCanada

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Talking to your partner about genital herpes

(NC)-Having genital herpes can be physically painful, but it also causes emotional distress and may have a negative impact on relationships, self-confidence and emotional well-being.

"Although telling your partner you have genital herpes can be a difficult situation, it is a crucial step that will help reduce the risk of passing the virus on and build trust in the relationship," says Dr. Barbara Romanowski, Clinical Professor in the Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of Alberta. "It might take a bit of time for your partner to adjust and accept the information but don't get discouraged: this reaction is normal and resources, like herpeshealth.com, can help you initiate the discussion."

Strengthen your relationship by telling your partner about genital herpes.

The following steps will help you plan for and engage in a discussion about genital herpes:

Step 1: Prepare yourself with answers and information

Learn as much as possible about genital herpes while preparing for the discussion, in order to be in a position to share information and answer questions. When you are both informed about herpes, you will be better equipped to make decisions about your relationship.

Step 2: Set the tone of the discussion

Choose a quiet time and place to introduce the subject and remember to remain calm. Focus on educating and correcting false beliefs.

Step 3: Be positive and focus on ways of managing genital herpes

Be prepared to listen. Some people may react strongly and others will remain calm. Whatever the response, the person telling his/her partner should try to remain flexible and understanding, as well as highlighting the positive aspects of the relationship without minimizing the partner's concerns.

It is important to tell your partner that genital herpes can be managed, but also inform him or her of the facts. Herpes can be spread during sexual contact. It is most contagious when sores or other symptoms are present, but it can spread between outbreaks too.

There are ways to reduce the risk of passing the virus on; most importantly, safer sex practices, including condoms in combination with continuous treatment known as antiviral therapy. Antiviral therapy will not cure genital herpes, but if taken daily, it can also help prevent outbreaks before they start and reduce their frequency. Reassure your partner that the outbreaks can be treated and even prevented.

Genital herpes can have a significant impact on a person's physical and emotional well-being but it can be controlled. If you or someone you know has genital herpes, visit www.herpeshealth.com or call 1-866-252-4666 for more information. Talk to your doctor to find out more about the new Public Health Agency of Canada clinical practice guidelines on managing genital herpes.

Courtesy NewsCanada