About Genital Herpes
The herpes virus in your    body
What are the signs and    symptoms?
Outbreaks
Who gets genital herpes?
Am I at risk?

Are you concerned you may have genital herpes?
The only way to know for sure is to see a doctor.
To help you overcome any hesitation or embarrassment, here’s what to expect when you visit the doctor – and some questions to ask the doctor so that you get the answers and advice you need.

Genital Herpes: The Facts

Who gets genital herpes?

Anyone can become infected with genital herpes.
Genital herpes is the leading cause of genital ulcer disease in the world2,11 and is so common that about 1 in every 5 North Americans over the age of 12 is infected with the virus.3 Just knowing that genital herpes is as common as it is helps put the disease in perspective.

Most people with genital herpes are not even aware they have been infected because they have few, mild or no symptoms.2,3 What’s more, genital herpes often goes undiagnosed and untreated because symptoms are mistaken for another condition.2,12

In women, genital herpes may be mistaken for:5

  • Yeast infection
  • Vaginitis [?]
  • Urinary tract infection
  • Hemorrhoids
  • Heat rash
  • Urethral syndrome [?]
  • Allergy to condoms, spermicide, pantyhose
  • Irritation from a bicycle seat, shaving, douching

In men, genital herpes may be mistaken for:5

  • Folliculitis [?]
  • Jock itch and normal itching
  • Zipper burn
  • Hemorrhoids
  • Allergy to condoms
  • Insect or spider bite
  • Irritation from tight jeans, sexual intercourse, bicycle seat

References

 

1. Whitley RJ, Kimberlin DW and Roizman B. Herpes Simplex Viruses. Clinical Infectious Diseases 1998;26:541-55.

2. Gupta R and Wald A. Genital Herpes: antiviral therapy for symptom relief and prevention of transmission. Expert Opin Pharmacother 2006;7(6):665-675.

3. Aoki FY. Canadian Guidelines on Sexually Transmitted Infections 2006 Edition, Health Canada.

4. Sacks SL. The Truth About Herpes. 4th ed. West Vancouver, BC: Gordon Soules Book Publishers Ltd.;1997.

5. Ebel C, Wald A. Managing Herpes: How to Live and Love With a Chronic STD. Research Triangle Park, NC: American Social Health Association;2002.

6. Ribes JA, Steele AD, Seabolt JP et al. Six-Year Study of the Incidence of Herpes in Genital and Nongenital Cultures in a Central Kentucky Medical Center Patient Population. J Clin Micro 2001;39(9):3321-3325.

7. Patrick DM, Dawar M, Cook DA et al. Antenatal seroprevalence of herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) in Canadian women. Sex Transm Dis 2001;28(7):424-428.

8. Mertz GJ, Benedetti J, Ashley R et al. Risk Factors for the Sexual Transmission of Genital Herpes. Annals of Internal Medicine 1992;116:197-202.

9. Wald A, Zeh J, Selke S et al. Virologic Characteristics of Subclinical and Symptomatic Genital Herpes Infections. NEJM 1995;333(12):770-775.

10. Wald A, Zeh J,Selke S et al. Genital Shedding of Herpes Simplex Virus among Men. Journal of Infectious Diseases 2002;186(Suppl 1):S34-S39.

11. Corey L, Wald A, Patel R et al. Once-Daily Valacyclovir to Reduce the Risk of Transmission of Genital Herpes. NEJM 2004;350(1):11-20.

12. Cuisini M and Ghislanzoni M. The importance of diagnosing genital herpes. J Antimicro Chemo 2001;47(Topic T1):9-16.

13. Steben M, Sacks SL. Genital herpes: The epidemiology and control of a common sexually transmitted disease. Can J Hum Sex 1997;6(2):127-134.

14. Wald A, Langenberg AGM, Link K et al. Effect of condoms on reducing the transmission of herpes simplex virus type 2 from men to women. JAMA 2001;285(24):3100-3106.  
 
15. van der Laar MJ, Termorshuizen F, Slomka MJ et al. Prevalence and correlates of herpes simplex virus type 2 infection: Evaluation of behavioural risk factors. Int J Epidemiol 1998;27(1):127-134.
 
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