Wednesday, January 26, 2011

Genital Herpes Sores


Genital herpes sores are painful reddish blisters that erupt on the penis, on the vaginal lips, or inside the vagina. These are sure sort indication of presence of the HSV-I or HSV-II  virus inside one’s body, but the absence of this does not indicate the absence of the virus.

Genital herpes sores are symptoms of an infection by the herpes simplex virus HSV-I or HSV-II. HSV-I primarily causes cold sores but can also lead to isolated genital sores.  HSV-II  is generally associated with genital herpes sores--even though it also causes some oral sores.

These sores are not only painful but also embarrassing. People those who indulge in indiscriminate sexual contact must re-think the pros and cons. In addition, individuals suffering from genital herpes have the obligation to keep their partners safe from contacting the infection. An infected person will most likely infect his or her spouse even if no outbreak is present.



Genital herpes sores are characterized by the formation of painful fluid-filled sores on the genital organs of both men and women. People with genital herpes sores are at a higher risk of contracting the HIV virus during intercourse.These look like inflamed papules and vesicles, sort of like cold sores. 

The actual sores commonly appear within a week after infestation. When it affects men, the sores appear on the glans of the penis, the shaft of the penis and more rarely, on other parts of the genital area. When it affects women, the sores commonly occur on the pubis, labia, clitoris and vulva or anus.

Another type of genital herpes is called herpetic proctitis and it refers to the inflammation of the rectum and anus.

Genital Herpes Sores
 When one is infected, the herpes virus enters the cell, joins the DNA and stays inside the cell. In the process of cell division, the infected cells keep on multiplying and growing. On the other hand some cells explode as a result of weakening of the cell membrane and the protoplasm leaks. This creates the inflamed red blotches and slowly develops into blisters. The serum in the blisters is highly charged with the herpes virus and is highly infectious.

When you develop a sore, your immune system tries to heal it, so there are many immune cells concentrated in that spot. If HIV in semen, vaginal fluid, or blood comes in contact with a herpes sore, the risk for infection is high. Research shows that when the herpes virus is active, it may cause HIV to make more copies of itself than it would otherwise. The more HIV replicates, the more of the body's infection-fighting cells it destroys, eventually leading to aids (acquired immune deficiency syndrome). People infected with both HIV and the herpes virus may have longer-lasting, more frequent, and more severe outbreaks of herpes symptoms, because a weakened immune system can't keep the herpes virus under control as effectively as a healthy immune system can.

Scientists say this is because the immune-cell environment associated with genital herpes is a favorable environment for the HIV virus, even after healing has occurred and herpes has been treated with medications.

Most people who have herpes are  more susceptible to other infections. Cellulitis is an uncommon bacterial infection, may be developped to bacteria entering the genital herpes sores. Cellulitis causes a deep red rash and is often associated with tenderness and fever.

Genital herpes sores generally contain a transparent fluid which gradually turn cloudy  and yellow, like pus. These blisters subsequently dry up and form scabs, which  fall off after few days but do not leave any scars, so it becomes difficult to know by visual examination if any individual had been ever infected by genital herpes.


Signs Of Genital Herpes


Signs of genital herpes are sores, rashes, red bumps or itchy areas inside or around the vagina, on the penis or scrotum, on the perineum or near the anus and on the buttocks or inner thighs. An outbreak may appear on areas other than the genitals. The symptoms are sometimes so mild that they go unnoticed.

It is also important to know that blisters can occur inside the genitals, such as on the cervix for women and inside the urethra for men. Urination becomes  painful during an outbreak. The person infected may get flu-like symptoms including fever, headaches and muscle aches, or swollen lymph nodes in the groin.

Sores also may appear on other parts of the body where broken skin has come into contact with HSV-I or HSV-II. Over a period of days, the sores become encrusted and then heal without scarring.

Genital Herpes Simplex Blisters
Symptoms of HSV-I may include cold sores on the face and mouth. Many type 1 herpes virus infections occur during childhood when an infant or child is kissed by a relative or friend who has active HSV-I, or oral herpes or cold sores. Symptoms also may be mistaken for genital abrasions that could have been caused by vigorous activities like playing sports or sexual intercourse. Symptoms of herpes may be mild or nonexistent; therefore, many do not even know they are infected.

It is common for the blisters to open up, sometimes causing severe pain. The first outbreak of genital herpes usually lasts 10 to 20 days until healing is complete. During the first outbreak, many people have other genital herpes symptoms.

Some people have reported that they can tell when at outbreak is about to occur by a tingling sensation in areas which are then followed by the appearance of blisters or sores.



The majority of people with genital herpes experience mild and infrequent symptoms. Some people may experience more frequent and severe recurrent episodes. Other people could have symptoms which could be confused for blade burns, zits, insect bite, jock itch, hemorrhoids, in-growths of hairs or a yeast infection in the vagina. Subsequent to contracting the infection, the signs subside, however could keep flaring up now and then. Providentially, only the primary outburst is the most unpleasant one. There are few who would experience merely 1 or 2 outbursts of this disease during their life span. A tissue sample would be taken from the person's herpes sore to be microscopically evaluated. A blood analysis can be carried out for checking for the presence of the viral antibodies in the immune system that would be present in the case one has contracted genital herpes infection.

The risk of transmission from a mother to her baby is greatest for babies born to a woman with first episode genital herpes around the time of delivery. Neonatal herpes is potentially life threatening but occurs very rarely.

It is absolutely necessary to stop all sexual contact during an outbreak of symptoms. It is important to remember that the signs of genital herpes do not spell the end of a person's possibility for meaningful relationships. In addition, it is vital to remember that the uses of condoms are effective in greatly restricting the spread of the virus, although they are not foolproof. 
Genital Herpes Simplex Red Patches
If you have sex with many different partners without a condom (or if your partner does), you are at high risk of contracting an std, including genital herpes. However, since herpes can be spread by skin-to-skin contact or through oral sex, condoms do not always offer complete protection against the disease. Herpes can spread through sexual contact even if an infected person does not have an outbreak during the time of intercourse. So, if you have not been with your partner for a long time or are unsure about their sexual history, you may have an elevated risk of contracting genital herpes.

Knowledge of genital herpes symptoms in women, such as appearance of blisters on private parts, unusual vaginal discharge and muscle pain, will help in its early diagnosis and timely treatment. Genital herpes in men, if not treated in the initial stages, leads to several grave symptoms in the later stages of this infection.

Signs of Genital Herpes are just indications of a probable infection. The very worst thing you can do is refuse to seek medical help because you are embarrassed. This is a very common disease and is treatable. The patients must focus on a long term and herbal cures, even if the symptoms seem to be absent for sometime. It is a common belief that genital herpes cure is not possible. But, some Homeopathic and herbal medicines have provided efficacious results and the recurrences have never appeared after prolonged treatments.

For more information on Genital Herpes Symptoms click here.

For more information on Genital Herpes click here.
 
For more information on  Genital Herpes in Women click here.

Saturday, January 8, 2011

Genital Herpes in Women

Genital Herpes in women is a bit different from that in men. The cause of the diseases in both men and women is no different; it is the same Simplex II or   HSV-II. It is very difficult to make a comparison of the intensity of a disease basing on sexes, however, under general conditions a woman is the worst sufferer.

The uniqueness of genital herpes in women is purely due to the uniqueness of woman anatomy and physiology.

Men and women, in spite of all the similarities, have distinct dissimilarities in anatomy and physiology. When it comes to the comparison of genito-urinary systems and functions, the dissimilarities are striking. Genital Herpes being a disease primarily of the sexual system, manifests differently in different sexes.






Genital Herpes in women has the following characteristics.

  • Women are very prone to infection
  • The first outbreak is more painful
  • The time taken is more for symptoms to disappear
  • Subsequent attacks may come frequently
  • The suppressive treatment is least successful and dangerous
  • A cure takes more time

The purpose of this article is not to frighten the women with genital herpes, but to indicate the ordeal which lies ahead of them. With sufficient caution and correct type of treatment, they can easily get rid of this.

Women are very prone to infection
  
External Eruptions Around Vagina
 When it comes to automation and auto maintenance of any machine or system, there is nothing like a living body. Out of all the living body designs, human body is a wonderful design marvel, the acme of all creations in the living world. It is a perfect synthesis of the gross and the subtle, crudest of matter and the finest. And again when it comes to the body of a woman, it is the most complex. Reason of this complexity is the overwhelming number of automated systems, sub-systems, sub-sub-systems and their interdependence and co-ordination. Perhaps the greatest wonder is to replicate its own species. All these systems are hormone and enzyme controlled.

When we make a comparison of the male and female anatomy, particularly the reproductive system, the female system is more intricate and internal. The male penis is an external lump of flesh covered with skin, whereas the vagina is internally folded and lined with mucosal cells. All mucosal cells are provided with constant wetness and micronutrients to fulfill its function. As microbes need water or moisture to survive, the vagina becomes a potential fertile breeding ground for micro organisms and hence, naturally prone to microbe attacks. In the other hand, most part of the penis except the tip of the glans and the urethral opening is covered with skin. Skin, as it have a cutaneous cover at the periphery, the epidermis,  is naturally protected. The epidermis protects the dermis and the sub-cutaneous layer from the microbes. Hence, a woman becomes more prone to an infection of genital herpes than a man.

For preventing a virus attack, the vitality of emotion is as important as the vitality of body. Women in general are less vital emotionally, so more prone to an infection and recurrence.

The first outbreak is more painful

Internal Eruptions Inside Vagina
The symptoms of the first outbreak are  fever, head ache, loss of appetite, thirst and body/muscle ache, high colored urine, pain or burning in the urethra, swelling and tenderness of the lymph nodes in the groin area,  lot of lassitude and a debilitated  patient. In case of women, vaginal discharges are mostly observed with a feeling of misery. There are blisters inside and around vagina. Depending upon the physical and emotional state of the individual the intensity of the symptoms may vary. In severe cases of genital herpes in women there will be many blisters deep inside vagina. 


One of the very prominent aspects of  herpes blisters is these are very itchy. In case of eruptions around male genitals, the itching is manageable, but it is very difficult to manage an itch of  herpes on vagina or an "itchy clit". In the process of  itching the itch out, the patient injures the delicate tissue and opens up the scabs on the blisters, there by delaying the healing process.  Herpes ulcerations are a nightmare as far as itching is concerned.

HSV-II is a virus that finds itself taking up residence in the sacral ganglion at the base of the spine. From there, it recurs in the genital area in the form of blisters or pimple like pustules.  These blisters form and eventually break scabbing over until fully healed.  Breakouts do vary in length of time and severity usually lasting anywhere from 10-14 days.

The time taken is more for symptoms to disappear

The blisters in "herpes vaginale" or inside vagina mature, break and heal  slowly as the drying up process takes more time in moist areas. Same process of maturing of blisters is also applicable to eruptions around vagina, but it takes less time to heal.

Subsequent attacks may come frequently

Most women are very delicate physically and emotionally. So, it is very probable that they become susceptible to the virus with minor adversities in the external sphere. Due to frequent relapses the suppressive treatment is not very successful. On the other hand,  frequent intake of antiviral medication has its share of dangerous side effects too. Keeping the above in view, it becomes difficult for a woman genital herpes patient to get a lasting cure. 

Now comes the most important question ~ What are you searching for?


Are you searching for a solution or for information?


For a solution go to  Natural Treatments for Genital Herpes.



For more information go to