Vaginal Herpes

Genital herpes is caused by the herpes simplex virus. While there are two variants of the virus that cause genital herpes, HSV-2 is responsible for the vast majority of herpes cases. HSV-2 is transmitted almost completely exclusively through sexual contact. The disease is particularly contagious when the infected person is in the "shedding" phase of an outbreak, when the sores have scabbed over and are crusting.

The most recognizable symptom of genital herpes is the outbreaks which can occur as rarely as only once every several years or four times per year. During an outbreak, the infected person develops sores on their genitals, thighs, buttocks or anus. These sores eventually dry up and scab over, as mentioned before. Outbreaks occur when the herpes virus begins replicating in the nerve ganglia and parts of the virus move along the nerve to the skin or mucous membranes in the infected area.

Anti-viral drugs can be taken as suppressive therapy to help prevent herpes outbreaks. These drugs act to slow down the replication of the herpes virus when it is active, making herpes outbreaks less frequent and less severe.

While it is unknown why the disease becomes active at times and lies dormant at others, a number of external factors have been identified in recent studies to "trigger outbreaks." Identifying and avoiding these triggers may help reduce the frequency of herpes outbreaks.

There are several physical factors that have been found to contribute to herpes outbreaks. Fatigue is one of the most commonly recognized physical factors that contribute to herpes outbreaks, and the most easily remedied. By getting enough rest, you can possibly reduce the frequency of genital herpes outbreaks.

Exposure to strong sunlight has also been found to help trigger herpes outbreaks. People who suffer from frequent herpes outbreaks may want to stay out of the sun or wear clothing that reduces their exposure to the sun to help prevent outbreaks. In a recent study, more than two-thirds of a study group exposed to two hours of sun per day developed an outbreak within seven days. Subjects who used sunscreen did not develop an outbreak.

Weakened immune system functions may also contribute to a genital herpes outbreak, as a weakened immune system can allow more rapid replication of an active herpes virus.

Consuming alcohol has also been linked to more frequent outbreaks among people infected with genital herpes.

Prolonged periods of stress and anxiety have been found to result in more frequent outbreaks of herpes. Engaging in stress relieving activities, or taking medication intended to reduce stress and anxiety may help to reduce the frequency of genital herpes outbreaks. Conventional psychiatric therapy may also help to reduce stress and anxiety, and thus making genital herpes outbreaks less frequent.

Hormonal changes, such as those that occur in women before menstruation or during pregnancy, may also contribute to herpes outbreaks. It remains unknown what impact taking hormone altering drugs such as birth control will have on the frequency of herpes outbreaks.

There's quite a bit of debate concerning whether certain foods can trigger herpes outbreaks. There's little empirical evidence to support this theory, but anecdotal accounts suggest that chocolate, nuts, peanuts and wheat can contribute to a herpes outbreak. While it's not advisable for everyone to stop eating these foods, if you believe that they may trigger outbreaks, refrain from eating them for a while and see what happens. If you see a decrease in the frequency of your outbreaks, you may want to continue to exclude these foods from your diet.

By avoiding the potential triggers, people with herpes can reduce the frequency of their outbreaks. Combined with medical treatment, these practices may make herpes outbreaks rare occurrences. This can result in reduced pain, less of the emotional stress that derives from herpes outbreaks and a happier and healthier life.