About Genital Herpes


Are you concerned about genital herpes?
Your doctor can help answer any questions you may have, and inform you about the ongoing support available. Bring the list of questions to ask your doctor featured on this site to your next appointment.

Genital Herpes: Fast Facts

How is genital herpes transmitted?

To understand how and when genital herpes may be transmitted, it helps to learn about the action of the virus itself.

The herpes virus enters the body through the skin of the genital area and settles in a bundle of nerves at the base of the spine.2 There, it remains inactive (or "asleep") and does not cause symptoms until a trigger causes it to "wake up" 8 (To learn more about possible triggers, click here.) When this happens, the virus travels back to the skin's surface.2 From that point, two outcomes are possible - and both can cause the virus to be transmitted to your partner8,12 through direct contact with his/her genital, anal or mouth areas:11

  1. The virus causes blisters and sores, and can be transmitted - Fluid-filled blisters form and break, creating wet, open and painful sores. This is when symptomatic viral sheddingShedding of the active virus when there are signs and symptoms such as blisters and sores happens, and it's when the virus is most contagious and easily passed on through skin-to-skin contact.8

  2. The virus does not cause any symptoms, but can still be transmitted - Sometimes the virus travels to the skin and "sheds", but doesn't cause any noticeable symptoms.8 This is called asymptomatic viral sheddingShedding of the active virus when there are no signs or symptoms.10 It's important to know that when this happens, the virus is contagious and can be passed on to your partner even though you do not have any blisters or sores.8
    In fact, a clinical study showed that 70% of genital herpes transmissions occurred during periods of asymptomatic viral shedding.1

After an outbreak or a period of asymptomatic viral shedding, the virus returns to the bundle of nerves at the base of the spine and becomes inactive again4. Although your immune system can't get rid of the herpes virus, there are ways to help reduce the severity of your symptoms.1

Did you know?

Viral shedding (with or without symptoms) doesn't just occur in the genitals. It can occur anywhere from just below the waistline down to the upper thighs, including the buttocks.13-15

What else do I need to know?

Condoms may not be enough to reduce the risk of transmitting genital herpes to your partner, because they don't cover all areas where the virus can be active.6 Ask your doctor for more information on how you can help reduce the risk of transmission. If you're having an outbreak or just the onset of one, remember to refrain from all sexual contact (genital, oral or anal) until it's over and the sores have healed.1


References
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  1. Public Health Agency of Canada. Canadian Guidelines on Sexually Transmitted Infections; Genital Herpes Simplex Virus Infections. 2008 Edition. Available at http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/std-mts/sti-its/guide-lignesdir-eng.php. Accessed Sept. 27, 2010.
  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. Public Health Agency of Canada. Condoms, Sexually transmitted infections, Safer Sex and You. Available at: http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/publicat/epiu-aepi/std-mts/condom-eng.php. Accessed Aug. 16, 2010.
  4. Sacks SL. The Truth About Herpes. 4th ed. West Vancouver, BC: Gordon Soules Book Publishers Ltd.;1997.
  5. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. CDC Fact Sheet - Genital Herpes. Available at: http://www.cdc.gov/std/herpes/stdfact-herpes.htm. Accessed Aug. 16, 2010.
  6. Health Canada. It's Your Health: Genital Herpes. Available at: http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/hl-vs/alt_formats/pacrb-dgapcr/pdf/iyh-vsv/diseases-maladies/herpes-eng.pdf. Accessed Aug. 16, 2010.
  7. Whitley RJ, Kimberlin DW and Roizman B. Herpes Simplex Viruses. Clinical Infectious Diseases 1998;26:541-55.
  8. College of Family Physicians of Canada. Herpes - What it is and how to deal with it. Available at: Ask Your Family Doctor College of Family Physicians of Canada. Accessed Aug. 16, 2010.
  9. Public Health Agency of Canada. Genital Herpes: The Epidemiology and Control of a Common Sexually Transmitted Disease. Can J Human Sexuality 1997;6. Available at: http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/publicat/cjhs/cjhs5-eng.php. Accessed Aug. 16, 2010.
  10. Cusini M and Ghislanzoni M. The importance of diagnosing genital herpes. J Antimicro Chemo 2001;47(Topic T1):9-16.
  11. The Society of Obstetricians and Gynecologists of Canada. Sexually Transmitted Infections: What are they? Genital Herpes. Available at: http://www.sexualityandu.ca/teens/sti-1-3.aspx. Accessed Aug. 16, 2010.
  12. Department of Health and Human Services. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases: Genital Herpes. Available at: http://www.niaid.nih.gov/topics/genitalHerpes/understanding/Pages/symptoms.aspx. Accessed Aug. 16, 2010.
  13. Wald A, Zeh J, Selke S et al. Virologic Characteristics of Subclinical and Symptomatic Genital Herpes Infections. NEJM 1995;333(12):770-775.
  14. 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.
  15. Lautenschlager S, Eichmann A. The heterogeneous clinical spectrum of genital herpes. Dermatology. 2001;202(3):211-9.