The causative agent of such an unpleasant disease as genital herpes is in the body of so many people. Infection occurs with unprotected sexual contact, from mother to baby during childbirth or through the household. The virus can be in the body for a very long time (often throughout life), without manifesting itself. The inflammatory process is activated in the presence of factors favorable to it.
Genital herpes is accompanied by very unpleasant symptoms, often recurs. This disease necessarily requires treatment. Only by contacting a doctor can relapse of genital herpes relapse. How to treat genital herpes in women? This will be discussed in the article. We also consider further the causes of the activation of the virus, the transmission of HSV, the symptoms and manifestations of the disease, diagnostic procedures and preventive measures.
Pathogen
The causative agent of genital or genital herpes is the herpes simplex virus, which we will further call HSV. Currently, the medical community knows eight types of disease. Genital herpes in women and men causes only the first two types of HSV, that is, HSV-1 and HSV-2. As a rule, the disease is caused (in 80% of cases) by the second type of virus, the cause of the remaining 20% is HSV-1 or a combination of both forms. In addition, HSV-1 usually causes only the first manifestation of the disease, while relapses are associated with the activity of the second type of virus.
Usually, genital herpes in women affects the perineum, anus and external genitalia. In fewer cases, manifestations of the disease affect the cervix and vagina. With a complicated course of the disease or in especially neglected situations, the inflammatory process can go to the fallopian tubes and uterine body. The peak incidence occurs in the age group of women from 21 to 25 and from 34 to 38 years.
The presence of the herpes virus in the body does not mean that there will be a pronounced clinical picture of the disease. In most cases, a woman is a carrier of HSV and does not suspect that she has a disease. Herpes can occur secretly, dwell in the mucous membranes and nerve nodes for almost decades. HSV is often present in the body of the carrier (carrier) throughout life.
Disease prevalence
Doctors say that almost ninety percent of the population is infected with viruses of the first and second types. HSV enters the body, and then remains there for life. The pathological process is activated in the presence of factors favorable to it, which will be discussed later. Actually, the manifestations of herpes are found only in a small part of the carriers of the virus. According to statistics, in the United States, three percent of the population at least once in a life went to the doctor with symptoms of genital herpes. But medical examination showed that every fifth virus is infected with the second type of virus.
Herpes Transmission Routes
Genital herpes is mainly transmitted through sexual contact, that is, due to sexual contact with a carrier of HSV without the use of barrier contraception. In this case, the partner may not have any external manifestations of herpes. Virus transmission can occur during vaginal contact, as well as during anal or oral sex. Women with many sexual partners, often changing them, young girls who began to have sex early, are at risk for herpes.
In some cases, but extremely rarely (2 incidents per 100 thousand births, according to European medical statistics), the virus transmits from the mother to the baby as it passes through the birth canal. At the same time, abrasions through which the virus was transmitted will most likely be noticeable on the woman’s vaginal mucosa and the baby’s head. Perhaps infection through interaction with the body fluids of the patient, that is, blood, lymph and sperm. In this regard, gynecologists, venereologists and medical laboratory workers are at risk.
Self-infection of the patient is possible when he constantly touches rashes, for example, on the lips, and then touches the intimate area with the same hand. This is a very rare case of infection, but you also need to know this infection option. In addition, infection through the household way, that is, through public toilets, the common use of certain items (bedding, soap, towels, washcloths) is sometimes possible. The likelihood of infection increases many times if a woman has cracks, wounds or ulcers on the genitals.
Thus, the most common causes of genital herpes in women are promiscuous sexual intercourse, frequent change of partners and refusal to use contraception (it is important to mention that it is possible to protect against genital herpes in general and genital herpes in particular, and this is not only possible, only contraception, that is, condoms, not birth control pills or a spiral). Infection is possible in more than 50% of cases if the partner is a carrier of HSV-1 or HSV-2.
Risk factors
Herpes symptoms most often affect women who are at one or more risk factors. Under the influence of the following factors, the virus can activate and cause an obvious clinical picture:
- decreased immunity for any reason;
- several sexual partners;
- unprotected sex with a new partner;
- malnutrition;
- nervous experiences, frequent stresses;
- inadequate hygiene;
- hypothermia or overheating;
- critical days;
- chronic lack of sleep;
- taking certain medications;
- any surgical intervention on the genital area;
- transferred abortion;
- the presence of concomitant gynecological diseases.
Primary acute form
Genital herpes in women occurs in three clinical forms. The most severe course and vivid symptoms are characteristic of the primary acute form. As a rule, the disease is localized in the perineum, on the external genitalia, in the vagina, on the cervix or in the urethra. Most often, genital herpes appears in women on the clitoris and labia minora, gradually covering all the genitals. With oral sex, damage to the mucous membrane of the oral cavity and upper respiratory tract is possible.
The incubation period of genital herpes in women lasts five to eight days from the time of infection. After this time, signs of infection appear. What does genital herpes look like in women? This rash, vesicles, which then turn into sores that heal for a month or more.
The manifestations of genital herpes in women in acute form include:
- The appearance of numerous or single bubbles filled with a clear liquid. They appear on the swollen or reddened mucosa. The diameter of such bubbles is usually about three millimeters. At this stage, they are painless, do not cause discomfort.
- After a few days, the bubbles burst, and small ulcers form in their place. Typically, sores have a depth of one millimeter and an irregular shape.
- After a couple of days, the lesions become covered with a yellowish crust. If a secondary bacterial infection appears, then the ulcers can fester or significantly increase in size.
- In the event that there are no purulent complications, the sores heal in the next two to four weeks. They leave no traces. Large and purulent ulcers can heal for a long time - up to several months.
Bursting of the vesicles is usually accompanied by burning, severe pain, itching, discomfort in the genital area, heaviness in the lower abdomen - all these are signs of genital herpes in women. Against this background, symptoms of general malaise often appear. How is genital herpes in women? Common symptoms include:
- an increase in body temperature to 37 degrees Celsius;
- migraine, insomnia and general weakness;
- swollen lymph nodes in the groin.
Manifestations of the disease in different representatives of the fair sex, as a rule, are individual. Some deviations are possible, but the clinical picture in most cases allows you to clearly establish the disease.
Symptoms of genital herpes in women disappear as soon as the ulcers heal. But the virus has the ability to exist in the body for a very long period of time, so in most cases the acute form becomes chronic, which recurs from time to time.
Chronic herpes
Approximately 60-65% of women who have had acute genital herpes relapse. The first recurrence of the disease occurs within a year after an acute inflammatory process. Exacerbations with a severe form of the disease can occur monthly, with a mild - about once every three years. Doctors distinguish three types of chronic herpes , depending on the frequency of relapses:
- Calming down. It is characterized by an ever-increasing duration of remissions and the subsidence of clinical manifestations in the acute phase. This is the most favorable option for the development of herpes.
- Arrhythmic. The duration of remission is from two weeks to six months. The more often relapses of genital herpes occur, the symptoms are usually weaker, but after a long remission a very pronounced clinical picture is observed.
- Monotone. In this case, the duration of remissions is the same, for example, herpes can reappear after each menstruation and subside at its end. This is the most severe form that has been treated for years.
Atypical form of the disease
Atypical herpes is characterized by a weak severity of the symptoms of the disease. Usually it affects not only the external, but also the internal genital organs, that is, the uterus and appendages. We can assume the presence of atypical herpes in the presence of symptoms of gynecological diseases, the causative agent of which cannot be identified using various diagnostic methods. The same can be said of situations where treatment does not bring a visible result for a long time.
Symptoms of genital herpes in women, if we talk about the atypical form, are usually not very pronounced. There are no characteristic vesicles and sores with this form. Vaginal discharge in this case is abundant, watery, also characteristic:
- weak swelling of the genital organs;
- very small bubbles;
- burning and severe itching in the perineum;
- discomfort
Main manifestations
So, the main symptom of genital herpes are vesicles and sores on the genitals. What does genital herpes look like in women? You can see the photo of the rashes below. So, for example, healing ulcers look. In addition, discomfort, itching and burning in the perineum, swelling, are characteristic, often the general symptoms are also added: fever, weakness, insomnia.
When symptoms of herpes appear, you must immediately go to the hospital. First, you should visit a gynecologist to exclude other pathologies of the intimate sphere, allergic reactions and non-infectious diseases. Be sure to take tests, because just a visual examination is categorically not enough. Only after studying the results of the tests, the doctor will be able to diagnose and prescribe the appropriate treatment.
Accompanying illnesses
Often, the fair sex complain of the occurrence of herpetic cystitis. At the same time, a woman more often begins to feel the urge to the toilet “a little”, experiencing severe pain and burning when urinating. In addition, herpes often provokes the appearance of colpitis, viral endometriosis, cervical leukoplakia.
Colpitis (or vaginitis) is an inflammation of the vagina, which is accompanied by abnormal discharge from the vagina, itching, discomfort in the perineum, which intensify during critical days, a feeling of dryness can join. Endometriosis is called uterine inflammation, which is manifested by pain in the lower abdomen during menstruation. Usually gives discomfort to the lower back or sacrum. Leukoplakia is a mucosal lesion, the main danger of which is the possibility of malignant degeneration of keratinization foci.
Often occur with herpes urethritis and cystitis. These diseases of the excretory system are characterized by frequent urges to urinate, pain during this process, discomfort and severe burning, the appearance of an impurity of blood in the urine. In women, cystitis often accompanies primary infection with genital herpes.
If during the diagnostic procedures the doctor identifies several diseases against the background of genital herpes, treatment will be carried out common to all pathologies.
Herpes and pregnancy
If a woman is infected with the herpes virus and carries a child, the probability of infection of the fetus is extremely small, but still exists. But the possibility can reach 50% or more if the future mother is diagnosed with acute primary herpes. Infection, as a rule, occurs when a child passes through the birth canal. By the way, cesarean section does not exclude the probability of transmission of the virus to the newborn.
Infection of a child can lead to severe damage to the central nervous system, skin and eyes. Probably a complication of encephalitis. In the later stages, herpes in the acute course threatens with a miscarriage or spontaneous spontaneous abortion. Herpes can be the cause of the birth of a disabled child (this is the second reason that leads to the development of malformations in the fetus, after rubella).
Genital herpes during pregnancy is rarely treated with medication. If there are no obvious manifestations, the doctor may recommend therapy after the birth. In any case, the approach to pregnancy management for women with herpes should be very careful.
Herpes Diagnosis
Treatment of genital herpes in women should begin immediately after the diagnosis of the disease. For this purpose, a gynecological examination is carried out, as well as other diagnostic procedures, the purpose of which is to confirm or refute the diagnosis. External manifestations of genital herpes (the photo was presented above) are similar to the symptoms of some gynecological diseases, so just examining an experienced gynecologist is not enough. Even if the specialist is highly qualified.
The most reliable methods that will help to determine the disease and begin treatment of genital herpes in women are gene diagnostics and virological research. In the first case, the presence of DNA virus is determined in the patient's secretions. The ability of this test to detect the presence and type of virus reaches 100%, so the study is very informative.
In virology, the contents of the vesicles are placed in a special environment where further virus propagation occurs.
Among the auxiliary diagnostic methods, the definition of antibodies in the blood and the RIF reaction can be listed. True, many people have antibodies, so their presence in the body does not directly indicate the presence of herpes or the fact of infection through sexual contact. But the determination of the presence of antibodies is a very important method in some complex cases or during pregnancy, when it is necessary to find out the features of the pathology.
Disease treatment
How to treat genital herpes in women? Therapy will not lead to the complete disappearance of the virus, but will effectively and quickly eliminate the manifestations of the disease, reduce the frequency and complexity of new complications. Treatment of genital herpes in both women and men involves the use of special drugs and antiviral chemotherapy.
Studies have proven the high effectiveness of four drugs: Acyclovir, Valaciclovir, Famacyclovir, and Penciclovir. In Russia, there are only the first three of them. Most often, Acyclovir is used in the treatment of genital herpes in women. The sooner treatment is started, the greater efficacy you can expect. Maximum efficiency is achieved if therapy is started immediately before the appearance of rashes or on the first day.
How to cure genital herpes in a chronic course? If relapses often occur, then a long-term treatment course of several months can be prescribed. This will reduce the relapse rate by three quarters and reduce the painfulness of the symptoms. Treatment is complex and very long, so the decision to prescribe drugs is made by the attending physician, depending on many factors. , , , .
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Possible complications
Genital herpes in women (photos of symptoms were presented above) in the absence of treatment or untimely therapy threatens quite unpleasant consequences. A woman will not only infect her sexual partner, but also cause significant harm to herself and her health. Genital herpes can go to the cervix and the uterus itself, leading to infection of internal organs and systems. Some women also experience psychological problems and turmoil in their sexual lives. That is why the psychological support of women during the treatment of genital herpes is important. Patient reviews confirm that sometimes they needed not only medical treatment to eliminate the symptoms, but also a consultation with a psychologist.
Prevention
To reduce the likelihood of the disease, it is recommended to abandon the installation of the spiral as a contraceptive, to prevent abortion (and if necessary, carry out the procedure with gentle methods, medically, which is only possible until the eighth week of pregnancy), use condoms. It is advisable to have a permanent partner who does not have diseases. It is also necessary to regularly carry out hygiene procedures, take care of your health, and if you suspect a disease, immediately consult a gynecologist. It is important to remember that preventive examinations are recommended to take place once every six months, at least.
Genital herpes in men
Of course, not only in women can occur genital herpes. Men are also susceptible to this disease. Symptoms are still the same: vesicles and sores, pain and burning in the affected area, severe itching, possibly general malaise. Relapses are usually easier than the first manifestation. In a strong half of humanity, genital herpes can lead to pathologies such as urethritis, which is manifested by soreness and impaired urination, the appearance of an impurity of blood in the urine, and cystitis. The last disease is characterized by frequent urge to the toilet “a little”, soreness and discomfort when urinating. A feature of the course of herpes in men is the subsequent progressive development of prostatitis.