Category Archives: Effects

Herpes in Men

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Herpes in MenWhile genital herpes or an HSV-2 infection may be more common in women, this is because it is easier for an infected male to transmit the disease to female partners than it is for a female to give the disease to any male. The Center for Disease Control Statistics show that in the age group of 14 to 49 years old, one out of five women and one out of nine men have genital herpes.

To see the CDC fact sheet on genital herpes see here.

For oral herpes the statistics show that as many as 80% of the adult population in the United States may have oral herpes or HSV-1.

Oral Herpes in Men

Herpes simplex 1 or HSV-1 is commonly called oral herpes. The physical symptoms of this viral infection are often referred to as cold sores or fever blisters. In men and women these sores will often occur on or around the mouth. There is also a form of this disease called oral-facial herpes in which the blisters or sores will show up in clusters on the chin, cheek, or even in or around the nose.

Men can mistake the early stages of oral herpes for a pimple, razor burn, a small crack at the side of the mouth, or a bug bite. The sores can be an itchy or tingly red bump. They can look like small white sores or blisters. If you or your partner has open oral herpes sores around or in their mouth, oral herpes can be transferred to the genital area during oral sex.

Typically oral herpes symptoms will start as an aching pain or burning in the lip area. Men with oral herpes may also have swollen throat glands or swelling in other lymph glands. They can also experience a low grade fever or a sore throat.

In the beginning men may have oral herpes that looks like one single cold sore or a cluster of blisters with red and swollen skin surrounding the breakout area. Once they’ve appeared the sores will generally break open within a few days, leak a clear fluid, and then scab over. They will generally heal and disappear within about ten days. Oral herpes will go through dormant periods and then reappear at any time.

Stress, illness, or overexposure to sun can precipitate a flare up of oral herpes. Many men who have oral herpes have such mild symptoms that they don’t realize they have this viral illness.

Oral herpes is highly contagious during an outbreak. It can be transferred to anyone by kissing or coming into contact with someone who is infected. Many children get oral herpes from a quick and casual kiss from an infected relative.

Genital Herpes in Men

Herpes simplex 2 or HSV-2 is commonly called genital herpes. On men this type of herpes has physical symptoms that will often show up as small groups of blisters on their penis or scrotum. The small sores may also form on the anus, urethra, buttocks, thighs, and if you participated in oral sex with an infected person during an outbreak, you can get genital herpes sores around the mouth area.

Typically the small blisters will pop, leak a clear fluid and then form a scab a few days after they appear. Once the sores have scabbed over it will generally take them about ten days to heal completely.

Estimates are that over 90% of the men and women who have the viral infection known as genital herpes, don’t realize that they have the disease. Men will often mistake the symptoms for razor burn, pimples or ingrown hairs, bug bites, and even jock itch.

There are many signs and symptoms that can indicate that you have genital herpes, these include:

  • Itchy or tingly feeling in the genital area
  • Fever
  • Headache
  • Feeling like you might be coming down with the flu
  • Pain or burning during urination
  • Pain or burning sensation around the buttocks and anus
  • Raw or burning sensation on the skin that may feel as if you had rug burn, or like you have a slight sunburn around the genitals and buttocks.
  • Depression and irritability
  • Muscle aches
  • Tender or swollen lymph nodes around the genital area

The tingling or slight burning sensation in the skin can serve as an early warning sign that you are about to have an outbreak. You can start antiviral medication at this time to minimize the effects of the flare-up and to help you heal faster.

Summary

While there is no cure for herpes in men or women, there are things you can do to minimize the effect of the disease on your life and that will help you heal faster, keeping outbreaks to a minimum. Talk to your doctor about your herpes symptoms if you haven’t been diagnosed. The diagnosis will allow the doctor to prescribe anti-viral treatments that may help you minimize the symptoms of the disease and the frequency of outbreaks by as much as fifty percent.

Remember that both oral and genital herpes are highly contagious with skin-to-skin contact. Treating the disease properly will minimize the risk of passing this disease to someone else.

Herpes Outbreak

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Herpes OutbreakHerpes Simplex Type 1 and 2 are incurable viral infections which cycle through resting periods where there are no signs or symptoms of the disease, and flare-ups or outbreaks. Since there is no cure and you can be affected with outbreaks for the rest of your life, managing the outbreaks becomes a lifestyle if you want any control over your life and the disease.

Understanding Herpes Simplex Outbreaks

Herpes Simplex can go into a dormant or resting period where the organism attaches itself to the nerve cells. While resting there are no signs or symptoms. As herpes simplex can’t be cured, this dormant period doesn’t mean you no longer have the disease, it just means it isn’t currently active in your body. Not having symptoms or signs doesn’t mean you aren’t contagious; you can still spread herpes simplex even without visible signs of an outbreak. Some people can go for years without an outbreak and others may have them frequently.

Type 1 or HSV-1 Herpes Outbreaks

Oral herpes or Herpes Simplex type 1 is called this because the small fever blisters or sores typically form on the inside of the mouth, around the lips, or near the mouth. The outbreak can start with numbness or tingling in the area where small sores or blisters will develop. These blisters can develop into painful ulcers. They can ooze clear fluid, which is highly contagious, then will form a crust or scab and heal in about ten days. The ulcers are generally referred to as cold sores.

Other outward signs can be red and swollen gums, a white glaze on the tongue, as well as muscle aches, fever, general malaise or just not feeling well. You may also have swollen glands in your neck, be irritable, and have trouble eating. These signs of an outbreak can last for several weeks.

Illness like a cold or the flue, stress, hormonal changes in the body, and even things like getting a tooth taken out, can cause the virus to flare up and begin an outbreak.

Type 2 or HSV-2 Outbreaks

Herpes Simplex type 2 is also known as genital herpes. A genital herpes outbreak will generally start with an itchy feeling, tenderness, or pain in the genital area. The glands in the genital area can also be swollen and sore. You may experience a headache, fever, and generally feeling of sickness—kind of like coming down with the flu.

Men may get blisters on their penis. Women will generally have blisters around the vagina and in the cervix. You can also get blisters on the upper legs and the buttocks. These blisters will ooze a clear white fluid, form crusts or scabs and heal over within a couple weeks. Other, less common symptoms of a genital herpes outbreak include pain or burning while urinating and a clear discharge from the vagina or penis.

Just like HSV-1, the outbreaks may not have any recognizable symptoms. There are many people who have genital herpes and don’t realize they have it. The outbreaks may be so insignificant that the blisters or sores are mistaken for razor rash, ingrown hairs, or pimples. There may be no sign at all, or the symptoms may be severe during an outbreak.

Genital herpes cycles just like oral herpes, going through dormant and active cycles for the rest of your life. Typically the first outbreak of genital herpes is the most severe, however the signs, symptoms, and severity are very individual. When someone with herpes simplex type 2 is having an outbreak, they are very contagious.

For more pictures and more information on what a herpes outbreak might look like see here.

Lifestyle Changes to Decrease Frequency and Severity of Herpes Outbreaks

It is important to understand the role of your immune system and your body’s ability to fight stress which can lead to a herpes simplex outbreak. Stress and illness are the two main triggers for an outbreak.

If your body is healthy and you can handle stress without difficulty, you will find that you won’t have as many outbreaks. There are many things you can do to help your body handle outbreaks including:

  • Find a way to deal with stress. Whether it is deep breathing exercises, yoga, or a steady work out program, these activities can help you handle the stress in your life.
  • If you have painful or itchy genital herpes you can take a warm bath with Epsom salt. This can help you de-stress, as well as providing soothing relief.
  • You can apply ice directly to the area if it is sore or itchy.
  • Wear loose, cotton underwear during a genital herpes outbreak.
  • Wash the breakout area with lukewarm water and pat it dry. Keep your hands clean to keep the virus from spreading.

With an oral herpes outbreak you should refrain from kissing or any oral contact as you are contagious. With a genital herpes outbreak you should avoid sexual intercourse as you are contagious.

Genital Herpes And Pregnancy

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There are many things for new moms to think about but genital herpes and pregnancy should be at the top of their list.  First off, if you have been diagnosised with herpes or you believe that you could have it, the first and most important thing for you to do is to talk to your doctor about it. Be sure that he is aware of the condition so that he can provide you with proper care and treatment of herpes so that your baby is not affected by it.  Each year about 1500 babies are born with herpes and what is called newborn herpes.  The biggest concern that you should have is helping your baby to avoid this contraction.

Genital Herpes In Pregnancy

In some cases, though, rare, the mother to be will transfer herpes to the baby through the placenta.  This only happens if you get herpes during your pregnancy and have an outbreak because of it.  If you have never had oral herpes or genital herpes before your pregnancy, this is called a primary infection and therefore is a high risk scenario for the baby.  A baby born in this situation is likely to have very serious birth defects.  If this happens during the first trimester of your pregnancy, it is likely to cause an increased risk of miscarriage.  A primary infection that happens in the later two trimesters can lead to a preterm delivery of your baby, so it is still vitally important to monitor.

It is important to know that couples living with herpes will need to monitor their herpes outbreaks during the pregnancy.  In some situations, it may be necessary for your baby to be born through cesarean section instead of a normal vagina birth.  This happens, for example, if you are experiencing a herpes outbreak at the time of birth or just before.  Your doctor will need to make the decision about delivering baby.  If you have any type of sore on your vagina, cervix, or external genital area, it is likely that your doctor will want to consider an immediate cesarean delivery for the baby.  This may also be necessary if you have symptoms of herpes such as tingling, pain or burning that could be a sign of a pending outbreak.

Children with herpes can contract it in other ways, too.  For example, they may get it from sharing a toothbrush or an eating utensil with someone that has an active outbreak.  Couples living with herpes should pay close attention to the risks that are present for their baby and child.

As with others that have genital herpes , there are no cures for herpes but there are treatments for herpes.  These treatments may or may not be taken while you are pregnant.  Your doctor will need to determine if they are helpful or pose too much of a risk to you and your baby during this time.  In many cases, your doctor will advise you of this from the onset of your pregnancy. Currently a vaccine for herpes is being developed and perhaps this will lower the risk of children or baby’s getting the virus.

Pregnancy and herpes is an important topic for you and your doctor to discuss. Herpes and pregnancy can cause complications or it can mean nothing to your pregnancy.  All of this is based mostly on whether or you have a herpes outbreak and how often you do.  For many people, living a healthy, long life with herpes is possible.  It is simply important to take precautions when pregnancy and herpes is concerned.  Even if you do not know that you have herpes, but think you have symptoms of herpes, talk to your doctor as soon as possible.