What are sexually transmitted infections? 165
Genital Herpes
Genital herpes is an STI caused by a virus. Small blisters appear on the genitals.
Genital herpes is spread from person to person during sex. Occasionally genital
herpes appears on the mouth from oral sex. (This is different from the kind of
herpes that commonly occurs on the mouth, which is not spread by sex.)
The herpes virus produces sores that can come and go for months or years. There
is no cure for herpes, but there is treatment that can make you feel better.
Signs:
• a tingling, itching, or hurting feeling of the skin in the genital
area or thighs
• small painful blisters that can look like drops of water on the
skin. They burst and form painful, open sores.
The first time you get herpes sores, they can last for 3 weeks or more. You can have
fever, headaches, body aches, chills, and swollen lymph nodes in the groin. Though
the sores go away, the infection does not. But the next outbreak will be milder.
Treatment: Use acyclovir, see page 333.
herpes
Pregnancy and herpes
A pregnant woman who is infected with herpes and has sores at the time
of the birth can pass the virus to her baby. This can cause dangerous
problems for the baby, especially if it is the mother’s first outbreak.
The risk to the baby is less if the mother has had herpes before.
If you have herpes sores, try to give birth in a hospital. Doctors may do
an operation to get the baby out (a c-section, see page 244) so the baby
does not get infected from the sores, or may give the baby medicines
when it is born.
Genital Warts (HPV)
Genital warts are caused by a virus called human papilloma virus (HPV). They look
like warts on other parts of the body. It is possible to have HPV and not know it,
especially when the warts are inside the vagina or inside the tip of the penis. And
some people with HPV never get warts. Warts may go away without treatment, but
this can take a long time. Usually they continue to get worse and should be treated.
HPV is passed very easily from one person to another during sex.
IMPORTANT If warts on the genitals are not treated, some can cause cancer of
the cervix. If you have genital warts, try to have a Pap test (see page 131) to see if
your cervix has any signs of HPV or cancer.
A Health Handbook for Women with Disabilities 2007