Transmission of genital herpes | Genital herpes

Transmission of genital herpes

Herpes genitalis is primarily transmitted sexually through sexual intercourse and is therefore one of the so-called “Sexual Transmitted Diseases”, STD for short. The viruses enter the human body through tiny, often invisible injuries in the genital and anal mucous membranes and cause the infection there. Both symptomatic carriers, i.e.

those affected with the typical blisters and redness in the genital area, and virus carriers during a symptom-free phase, i.e. without visible genital herpes, can transmit the disease to their sexual partners. Although the risk of transmission is higher during an acute infection, many infections occur every year even during the symptom-free phase described above. Since the virus can only survive for a very short time outside the body, transmission is usually only possible through direct physical contact.

Alternative transmission routes, e.g. by sharing a toilet, are therefore considered rather unlikely. However, if genital herpes is not transmitted by the usual herpes simplex virus 2 (HSV 2) but by herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV 1), the exchange of saliva (kissing!) is theoretically sufficient. As a rule, however, HSV 1 does not cause genital herpes, but rather the much more common cold sore. Conversely, in rare cases HSV 2 can also cause cold sores.

How can genital herpes be prevented?

Herpes genitalis is one of the sexually transmitted diseases. Although the use of condoms considerably reduces the risk of infection, it cannot be considered a hundred percent prevention.Especially during an acute infection with many blisters, the condom is not sufficient as protection against genital herpes. During this phase of the disease, sexual contact should therefore be avoided to a large extent.

However, since infection is also possible during symptom-free intervals, there is ultimately no absolutely safe method of prevention. Especially with frequently changing sexual contacts, the risk of infection is relatively high, even with apparently healthy partners. If you live in a stable partnership, absolute openness and communication about a possible infection are essential.

An automatic treatment of your partner is not very useful, because he is almost certainly already infected. In summary, the use of condoms provides considerable protection against infection, but cannot completely minimize the risk. To prevent infection, sexual intercourse during acute genital herpes infections should also be avoided.