Vaginal herpes is a sexually transmitted disease that keeps affecting more and more women. It can cause a lot of pain and even death to newborn babies. However a vast majority of women seem unaware of the situation.
Why it is important to know about vaginal herpesFemale herpes symptomsHerpes and pregnancy
Herpes should be a major concern for women because studies have shown that they are four times more at risk of getting infected with herpes than men. This is because their genital surface area is bigger and often moist compared to men’s.
Women are also prone to hormonal changes during menstruation, which tends to wreak havoc in their immune responses and expose them to genital herpes.
During an outbreak, the ratio of women manifesting severe symptoms of genital herpes such as painful urination and discharge is 4 out of 5, but only 1 out of 4 in men. Also, during an initial outbreak, 7 out of 10 women suffer from flu-like symptoms along with herpes such as fever, headache, swollen glands, and painful joints.
Still another reason why you should guard yourself against herpes is that people with herpes are four times more likely to get infected with AIDS.
Condoms may partially protect against herpes, although oral sex is also another way you can get the herpes virus.
Most women manifest only minimal herpes symptoms. Red flags to watch out for are blisters on or around your genitals or rectum. When blisters dry out during the first outbreak, they leave tender ulcers or sores that usually take two weeks to a month before they heal.
Another outbreak of vaginal herpes usually appears after a few weeks or months, but this is usually less severe and with shorter duration than the first.
You may experience flu-like symptoms during the primary outbreak of genital herpes. Take note, though, that women who have herpes infection usually only notice mild signs which they usually mistake for insect bites or other skin problems. This is the reason why most people only recognize the symptoms of vaginal herpes years after the onset of infection.
The herpes virus stays in the body indefinitely, but herpes outbreaks tend to diminish over time. Those with frequent symptomatic outbreaks of genital herpes are prone to more shedding, and are at higher risk of infecting others.
Medical experts say that 20 to 25 percent of pregnant women have herpes and 2 percent acquire it during pregnancy. Women who get infected with the genital herpes virus at the later part of pregnancy have a higher risk of transmitting it to their infants.
It is also possible for women with herpes to give birth to uninfected babies, although every year, some 1,500 to 2,000 new mother-to-baby herpes infections are diagnosed. A continued rise in the number of cases has been noted, leading experts to believe that vaginal herpes among pregnant women is also on the rise.
A mother may pass on the herpes virus to her baby before, during or after delivery, although the most common is during childbirth. It is estimated that 1 to 2 percent of pregnant women with recurring herpes have asymptomatic shedding (without noticeable symptoms) during childbirth.
The transmission happens during the passage of the infant through the herpes virus infected birth canal during delivery. This is the reason why doctors usually recommend delivery via a c-section.
They may be rare, but newborns getting infected with the vaginal herpes virus suffer life-threatening and long-term complications including damage to the brain and nervous system. Some even die even after prompt medical treatment.
Early warning signs of herpes infections in babies include fever, listlessness, skin sores and lack of appetite. Seek immediate medical help and testing for your child if you notice these symptoms.
The best way to protect your baby is to remain symptom free and avoid sexual contact with your partner. If your partner is infected he should do everything he can to protect you from getting vaginal herpes.If either of you is infected you should learn how to prevent and cure herpes.
Vaginal herpes or Yeast infectionHave you ever wondered if your symptoms were caused by a virus or a fungi? Do you want to know how to make the difference?
