Read up on Herpes, genital treatment options at Consumer Reports Health.

Herpes, genital

Key points about treatments

There are good treatments for genital herpes that can help your symptoms and reduce the number of attacks you get. Having treatment can also reduce the chance that you'll infect your partner.

Genital herpes is a lifelong infection. There are treatments that can help your symptoms (attacks), but they can't get rid of the herpes virus from your body.
Your symptoms of genital herpes, such as painful sores or ulcers, usually clear up on their own within a few weeks.
During mild attacks, you could try simple treatments such as salt water baths and painkillers (such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen).

Source:
British Association of Sexual Health and HIV.
2007 National guideline for the management of genital herpes.
Available at http://www.library.nhs.uk/GuidelinesFinder (accessed on 23 May 2008).

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Taking antiviral drugs can help clear up your symptoms more quickly.
Taking antiviral drugs even when you don't have symptoms can reduce the number of attacks you have.
If you have an attack of genital herpes symptoms in late pregnancy, doctors recommend you have your baby by cesarean section. They think this reduces the chances of passing on the infection to your baby. But we don't know for certain if it's necessary.
Picking up the infection for the first time in late pregnancy can be dangerous for your baby. If your partner has genital herpes and you aren't yet infected, ask your doctor about how to protect yourself and your baby.

Sources for the information on this page:

British Association of Sexual Health and HIV.2007 National guideline for the management of genital herpes.Available at http://www.library.nhs.uk/GuidelinesFinder (accessed on 23 May 2008).

This information was last updated on Jun 08, 2008

This information is for educational use only, and is not a substitute for prompt professional medical advice. Readers should always consult a physician or other professional for advice and treatment.
© BMJ Publishing Group Limited 2009. All rights reserved.

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