5 Facts About Your Herpes Diagnosis

Sexually transmitted diseases, also known as STDs, are a common risk of intercourse, especially for those practicing unprotected sex. These viruses, parasites, and bacteria can infect you through different forms of sexual contact, and you may not even realize you have an STD until symptoms appear.

Herpes simplex, often known as HSV, genital herpes, or just herpes, is a common STD derived from a virus that isn’t curable but can be managed. If you’ve been diagnosed with herpes, there are some things you should know about what to expect from the illness and how to avoid spreading it to others. 

Residents of the Chicago, Illinois, area looking for treatment options for herpes or other STDs can find help from our Michigan Avenue Primary Care team. Let’s examine the basic facts about the illness, how it works, and what life with herpes looks like.

Defining herpes

Herpes is a contagious disease that often infects your mouth and genitals but can present in many different areas, including your skin, eyes, brain, spinal cord, and organs. 

During a herpes outbreak, you experience blisters filled with fluid that burst and crust at infection sites. Herpes has no permanent cure to date. There are two subtypes, HSV-1 and HSV-2, that are known to cause a variety of symptoms, ranging from acute to chronic. 

How herpes works

Herpes is spread through direct contact, such as skin, mucosal surfaces (oral, vaginal, or anal infections), or through saliva, semen, or vaginal discharge. When infected, it only spreads from the area infected, meaning oral herpes can only be spread from your mouth, genital herpes from your genital area, and so forth. 

Herpes can also spread from one area of one person to another area of someone else. Genital to genital, oral to oral, oral to genital, genital to oral, and skin to sore contact are all ways to get it. Once infected, there’s a 6-8 day incubation window for the virus, but it can take up to 26 days to appear.

Facts about life with herpes

Experiencing the symptoms for the first time can be alarming, and no one wants to deal with a lifelong condition, but the virus can be managed. Here’s what you should know about herpes:

1. It’s not life-threatening by itself

While herpes is an unpleasant condition, it doesn’t progress in severity over time. However, if it somehow infects your central nervous system, it can cause herpes simplex encephalitis, and having the disease increases your risk of other STDs.

2. Using protection helps reduce infection

Genital herpes can be prevented by using protection during sex. So, if you’re involved with someone who has herpes or you want to avoid giving it to someone else, using a condom is an effective way to do it.

3. Early testing is available to confirm the disease

While blood testing may not be the recommended option if you show no symptoms, STD testing is a good idea if you think you’ve been recently exposed to herpes. And it’s essential if your partner has it or you have multiple partners.

4. It can be passed on to your child

While herpes isn’t frequently transmitted in the womb, once your baby is born, the virus can be spread if you have it or someone else who has it comes in direct contact with your child.

5. There are treatment options to reduce outbreaks

Antiviral medications can be used to reduce the severity of your outbreaks and, in some cases, keep them from happening. Daily low doses of these drugs can help with persistent cases of herpes that come with numerous outbreaks.

Herpes, like any STD, may be unpleasant to deal with, but it’s most often not dangerous and can be managed with help. If you have the symptoms, feel free to contact our clinic, located in The Loop. You can also visit our urgent care center during operating hours, Monday through Friday, 8 am — 4 pm.