{"id":9515,"date":"2025-04-18T15:14:12","date_gmt":"2025-04-18T12:14:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/medilab.km.ua\/?p=9515"},"modified":"2026-06-18T14:38:34","modified_gmt":"2026-06-18T11:38:34","slug":"genital-herpes-is-a-virus-that-needs-to-be-known-for-its-ability-to-live-in-the-body","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/medilab.km.ua\/en\/genital-herpes-is-a-virus-that-needs-to-be-known-for-its-ability-to-live-in-the-body\/","title":{"rendered":"Genital herpes: what you need to know about the virus that lives nearby"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u00abIs it just a rash?\u00bb is the most common question in a dermatologist\u2019s office.<\/h2>\n

Often, genital herpes is not detected during an examination, but\u2026 at an unexpected moment: a slight burning sensation, a few blisters \u2014 and anxiety that is difficult to suppress. Feelings of shame, fear of your partner\u2019s reaction, searching for information on the Internet and uncertainty about where to start. But it is Knowledge is the best defense strategy<\/strong>. Genital herpes is not a rarity, not a sentence, and certainly not a \u00abshameful topic,\u00bb but specific viral infection<\/strong>, which can be controlled.<\/p>\n

What is genital herpes?<\/h2>\n

Genital herpes<\/a> is a sexually transmitted viral disease caused by the herpes simplex virus (HSV), most commonly type 2 (HSV-2), less commonly type 1 (HSV-1). It is characterized by the appearance of painful blisters and ulcers in the external genital area, as well as a chronic course with periods of exacerbations and remissions.<\/p>\n

How is the virus transmitted?<\/h2>\n
    \n
  • \n

    Sexually \u2014 the most common method of transmission<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  • \n

    Oral-genital contact \u2014 HSV-1 can get on the genital mucosa<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  • \n

    During childbirth - from mother to newborn<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  • \n

    Through damaged skin or mucous membranes - upon contact with the lesion<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    After the first infection, the virus remains in the body forever, remaining latent in the nerve ganglia.<\/p>\n

    \"Image<\/p>\n

    Symptoms of genital herpes<\/h2>\n

    Primary infection:<\/h3>\n
      \n
    • \n

      Blisters or ulcers on the genitals, perineum, anus<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

    • \n

      Burning, itching, pain during urination<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

    • \n

      Fever, general weakness<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

    • \n

      Enlarged inguinal lymph nodes<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

      Relapses:<\/h3>\n
        \n
      • \n

        Less intense, often just one or two elements<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

      • \n

        Can occur 1\u20135 times a year, sometimes more often when immunity is reduced<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

      • \n

        Duration - usually up to 7 days<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

        What causes relapses?<\/h2>\n
          \n
        • \n

          Stress<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

        • \n

          Menstruation<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

        • \n

          Hypothermia or overheating<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

        • \n

          SARS<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

        • \n

          Excessive sun exposure<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

        • \n

          Immunosuppressive therapy<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

          How is genital herpes diagnosed?<\/h2>\n
            \n
          • \n

            PCR<\/strong> \u2014 detection of HSV DNA in a scraping from a mucosa or ulcer<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

          • \n

            ELISA<\/strong> \u2014 determination of IgM (acute phase) and IgG (past or latent disease) antibodies<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

          • \n

            Virological culture<\/strong> \u2014 a less common method, but accurate<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

            How dangerous is the virus?<\/h2>\n
              \n
            • \n

              Risk of transmission to a partner even without visible symptoms<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

            • \n

              Relapses that disrupt quality of life<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

            • \n

              High risk of neonatal infection with primary infection during pregnancy<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

            • \n

              Possible complication of other STIs<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

            • \n

              Psycho-emotional stress that lasts for years<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

              How is genital herpes treated?<\/h2>\n
                \n
              • \n

                During exacerbation: Acyclovir, Valacyclovir, Famciclovir (oral or topical)<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

              • \n

                For frequent relapses: long-term suppressive therapy<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

              • \n

                In case of severe forms: comprehensive immune support, consultations with related specialists<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

              • \n

                Prevention: protection during sexual intercourse, awareness of both partners<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

                Is it possible to completely recover?<\/h2>\n

                No, the virus stays in the body for life. But with the right approach \u2014 control is possible<\/strong>, and the frequency of relapses may decrease until clinical manifestations disappear completely. Personal life does not end at this point - it simply begins to be guided by awareness.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

                \u00abIs it just a rash?\u00bb is the most common question in a dermatologist\u2019s office. Genital herpes is often detected not during an examination, but\u2026 unexpectedly.<\/p>","protected":false},"author":627,"featured_media":9516,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[234,233],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-9515","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-imunitet-ta-profilaktyka","category-rozshyfrovka-analiziv-ta-pidgotovka"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/medilab.km.ua\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9515","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/medilab.km.ua\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/medilab.km.ua\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/medilab.km.ua\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/627"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/medilab.km.ua\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=9515"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/medilab.km.ua\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9515\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":13446,"href":"https:\/\/medilab.km.ua\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9515\/revisions\/13446"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/medilab.km.ua\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/9516"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/medilab.km.ua\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=9515"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/medilab.km.ua\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=9515"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/medilab.km.ua\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=9515"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}