Vaginal herpes outbreak or yeast infection?

Guest author from our community: Katie S.

When first experiencing symptoms of an STD, not everybody knows that it’s actually an STD that’s occurring in their bodies. When my body first started displaying herpes symptoms, I 100% mistook it for a yeast infection or UTI. My brain couldn’t even fathom the thought that it would be an STD. I’d had yeast infections before, and I figured that this must just be the worst one I’ve ever gotten. When I went to the clinic, expecting to walk out with an antibiotic, I was shocked to be walking out with Acyclovir for genital herpes. 

After getting home and looking up herpes, I realized why I was so confused. Vaginal herpes symptoms are very similar to yeast infection symptoms. They both can cause vaginal discharge and odor, burning, itching, irritation, redness, bladder infection like symptoms, swelling and blisters. Unlike yeast infections where itching in usually generalized throughout the vagina, a herpes outbreak will usually be in one or two designated areas. A herpes outbreak also consists of blisters that turn into herpes sores, that then crust back into healthy skin. During a herpes infection, flu-like symptoms may appear 24-48 hours before any itchiness is perceived especially during the first episode. This doesn’t happen with vaginal yeast infections.

It’s been 10 months now, and I’ve gotten pretty used to my herpes outbreaks. I’m very happy to say that none of them have been as painful as my first herpes outbreak. I take herpes medication whenever I feel any sort of itching, burning, or discomfort beginning in my body (also known as herpes prodrome symptoms). This helps to stop the outbreak, and make it less painful. My body has gotten used to the virus, and my brain has gotten used to the fact that it literally is just a skin condition that happens to be in a very private area. There’s no need to make it more than it is!

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Apr 23, Vaginal Herpes: What Women Should Know about Genital Herpes?

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?

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Vaginal Herpes - Symptoms, Mis-Diagnosis, Treatments and Childbirth

More women than men have herpes. Vaginal herpes is frequently mis-diagnosed, and therefore mis-treated, and there can be complications during childbirth. This article gives an overview of vaginal herpes, and what you can do to find relief and have a relationship with a good sex life.

Women are more susceptible to getting genital herpes than men. This is because their genitals have more areas with cells that are moist with body fluids than men do. This means that if a woman has intercourse with a man who has herpes, she is more likely to get it than a man who has intercourse with a woman who has herpes. For this reason, about 1 in 4 adult women have herpes, whereas for men it is about 1 in 5. Women suffer more with it too. For many women the first blisters are infectious and sore for approximately 3 weeks. For many men it is about a week less.

There are symptoms which occur before any blisters, rashes or sores appear. These symptoms are called prodromal symptoms and can include any or all of the following: Itching in the groin area, tingling or burning in the vagina, labia, anus, upper legs and buttocks, unusual vaginal discharges, swelling of the lymph nodes, feelings of pressure or bloating in the abdomen, urinary pain or difficulty urinating. There can also be flu like symptoms such as headache, nausea, fever, sore limbs, and muscle and joint pain.

After the prodromal symptoms, which can last 1 to 3 days, the actual herpes outbreak begins to appear. The outbreak can include sores or blisters that look like pimples, to larger sores, which burst and scab over as the outbreak continues. They can be alone or in clusters, and they can be on the genitals, anus, buttocks and thighs. Other symptoms can be an itching or burning rash, pain when urinating and vaginal discharge.

At this point most women will of course visit a doctor. Unfortunately vaginal herpes is often mis-diagnosed. For instance herpes blisters inside the vagina or on the cervix may be misdiagnosed as a yeast infection, or an inflammation of the cervix called cervictis. It can also be mis-diagnosed as pelvic inflammatory disease. Vaginal herpes can also be mis-diagnosed as a urinary tract infection or bladder infection. Vaginal herpes can produce symptoms on the cervix, but not on the outer vaginal area. This is especially true for outbreaks which come after the initial outbreak.

Herpes for a baby can be devastating and possibly fatal, but it is preventable. It is of course vital to be honest with your doctor about your herpes, even if you are not having an outbreak. Do not take it for granted that you are not having an outbreak. If your doctor knows you have herpes, then you will be monitored during your pregnancy, and checked again before delivery. If the herpes virus is not outbreaking at the time labor begins, a normal delivery is possible. If there is an active outbreak at the time of labor, the baby will be delivered by a caesarean section. This will keep the baby from getting herpes. This is why it is so very important to tell your doctor that you have herpes. It is simply not worth taking a chance. There is no need to feel any shame about telling your doctor. After all, 1 in 4 women have herpes, so you are not alone.

The psychological impact of vaginal herpes can be greater than the physical impact. Having herpes can include shame and depression, with a tendency to isolate. The good news is that herpes can be controlled or reduced, with the use of herbal formulas.

I help people prevent herpes outbreaks with a guaranteed herbal formula. I have had it for over 16 years, so I know what it is like. I answer herpes questions, free and confidential, through the email on my website: http://www.herpes-herbs.com/

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Vaginal Gel Intended to Cut AIDS Works for Herpes Too - ABC News

A vaginal gel that was originally created to protect  against the AIDS virus in women showed bonus results when  it proved even more effective in fighting the genital herpes virus, according to a new study from researchers at the National Institutes of Health, Gilead Sciences Inc. and universities in Belgium and Italy.

The New York Times reported that the microbicide gel reduced the risk of herpes infection among the 450 women  by 51 percent. The gel also reduced the risk of AIDS in healthy women by 39 percent. Given the prevalence of herpes and HIV around the world, doctors believe the surprising results could be an important advance in treatment and protection.

“This could be incredibly helpful,” Dr. Jeanne Marrazzo, a  herpes expert at the University of Washington’s medical school, told the New York Times.   ”Protection that a woman can control is the holy grail in this field. It’s hard for me to believe that something that protects against both HIV and herpes wouldn’t be appealing to a lot of young American women.”

But the gel would still take years to get to the consumer market, researchers say.

Genital herpes is not fatal, but it is painful and stamped with a heavy social stigma. About 20 percent of of sexually active adults worldwide have genital herpes, according to the World Health Organization and reported in the New York Times. It can be spread through skin-to-skin contact during sex, along with vaginal fluids and semen, even if neither partner shows the tell-tale sores.

The unexpected reduced risk of the herpes infection came from a 2010 trial conducted in South Africa, which found that the gel reduced the risk of AIDS infection by 39 percent.

“The tenofovir trial is being repeated to ensure that the results regarding HIV protection are real and are generalizable,” Justin O’Hagen, an infectious disease epidemiology doctoral student at Harvard School of Public Health, told ABCNews.com. Tenovir, made by Gilead — which participated in the microbicide study —   is used in tandem with other antiviral meds to fight  HIV.  ”Undoubtedly they will also collect further data on tenofovir’s effect on herpes so there will be even more publications on this, roughly in early 2013.”

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Tenofovir Vaginal Gel Protects Against Herpes - Medical News Today

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Anti-HIV drug, tenofovir, when formulated as a vaginal gel, was found to reduce herpes simplex risk in females, researchers from the USA, Belgium and Italy reported in the journal Cell Host & Microbe. The scientists explained that this is because of the higher concentrations that reach vaginal cells in the vaginal gel formulation, compared to the drug when taken orally.

The authors explained that tenofovir disables a DNA enzyme of the herpes virus - reverse transcriptase - thus stopping its spread.

This study was a collaboration between researchers from the Catholic University of Leuven (Belgium), the University of Rome (Italy), the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) (USA), and Gilead Sciences Inc.

A 2010 clinical trial found that tenofovir in vaginal gel form reduced the risk of HSV (herpes simplex virus) infections, as well as HIV infections in females. In this latest report, scientists say they can explain why.

Oral Tenofovir had been shown to undermine the reproduction of HIV. However, nobody knew it could block the genital herpes virus.

Leonid Margolis, Ph.D., NICHD, said:

"HIV infection is closely associated with herpes viral infection. When people with genital herpes are exposed to HIV, they are more likely to become infected than are people who do not carry the herpes virus. Human tissues convert tenofovir to a form that suppresses HIV. We found that this form of tenofovir also suppresses HSV. This discovery may help to identify drugs to treat the two viruses even more effectively."

Dr. Margolis explained that previously approved drugs which are found to have other therapeutic benefits, apart from those they were approved for, can save millions of dollars. A new compound has to undergo extensive testing for efficacy and safety before eventually coming onto the market several years and millions of dollars later. In the case of an already existing drug, most of the safety and other testing has already been done.

The scientist studied individual cells and groups of cells that had been infected with HSV. They found that tenofovir, in high concentrations blocked the virus' ability to reproduce.

Their study also showed that tenofovir does not damage cells, such as those that line the vagina. Vaginal cells are targeted by HIV and HSV.

Cellular enzymes convert tenofovir into another chemical form which suppresses both HIV and HSV. The new chemical form deactivates an enzyme that is crucial for the virus' reproduction.

They tested tenofovir in tissue samples, including tonsils and cervix. After 12 days they found that tenofovir-treated samples only had from 1% to 13% of viral levels compared to untreated samples. They also found that tenofovir blocked viral reproduction of both HIV and HSV simultaneously in infected tissue.

In laboratory experiments, they found that mice infected with the herpes virus had no herpes symptoms and lived longer when treated with tenofovir.

When tenofovir is taken orally, concentration levels in target cells are not high enough to affect HSV in any significant way, the authors explained.

Dr. Morgolis said:

"When using the gel, the amount of tenofovir on the affected tissues is about 100 times the amount in the body when taking tenofovir in pill form. That explains why its anti-herpes activity wasn't noticed before. Thus, under proper conditions, an anti-HIV drug becomes an anti-HSV drug."

Written by Christian Nordqvist
Copyright: Medical News Today
Not to be reproduced without permission of Medical News Today

Visit our sexual health / stds section for the latest news on this subject. "Topical Tenofovir, a Microbicide Effective against HIV, Inhibits Herpes Simplex Virus-2 Replication"
Graciela Andrei, Robert Snoeck, and Jan Balzarini (senior author), Joost van den Oord, Catholic University of Leuven; Emanuela Balestra, Carlo-Federico Perno (senior author), University of Rome; Tomas Cihlar, Gilead Sciences; and Andrea Lisco, Christophe Vanpouille, Andrea Introini, and Leonid Margolis (senior author) NICHD.
Cell Host & Microbe, Volume 10, Issue 4, 379-389, 20 October 2011 (10.1016/j.chom.2011.08.015) Please use one of the following formats to cite this article in your essay, paper or report:

MLA

Christian Nordqvist. "Tenofovir Vaginal Gel Protects Against Herpes." Medical News Today. MediLexicon, Intl., 21 Oct. 2011. Web.
30 Oct. 2011. APA

Please note: If no author information is provided, the source is cited instead.

posted by Sammy on 25 Oct 2011 at 9:51 pm

Women with herpes are unlucky to have herpes because it brings much trouble to their life; they are lucky at the same time because the virus will make them have less chance to have breast cancer.

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View the original article here

Tenofovir Vaginal Gel Protects Against Herpes

Anti-HIV drug, tenofovir, when formulated as a vaginal gel, was found to reduce herpes simplex risk in females, researchers from the USA, Belgium and Italy reported in the journal Cell Host & Microbe. The scientists explained that this is because of the higher concentrations that reach vaginal cells in the vaginal gel formulation, compared to the drug when taken orally.

The authors explained that tenofovir disables a DNA enzyme of the herpes virus - reverse transcriptase - thus stopping its spread.

This study was a collaboration between researchers from the Catholic University of Leuven (Belgium), the University of Rome (Italy), the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) (USA), and Gilead Sciences Inc.

A 2010 clinical trial found that tenofovir in vaginal gel form reduced the risk of HSV (herpes simplex virus) infections, as well as HIV infections in females. In this latest report, scientists say they can explain why.

Oral Tenofovir had been shown to undermine the reproduction of HIV. However, nobody knew it could block the genital herpes virus.

Leonid Margolis, Ph.D., NICHD, said:

"HIV infection is closely associated with herpes viral infection. When people with genital herpes are exposed to HIV, they are more likely to become infected than are people who do not carry the herpes virus. Human tissues convert tenofovir to a form that suppresses HIV. We found that this form of tenofovir also suppresses HSV. This discovery may help to identify drugs to treat the two viruses even more effectively."

Dr. Margolis explained that previously approved drugs which are found to have other therapeutic benefits, apart from those they were approved for, can save millions of dollars. A new compound has to undergo extensive testing for efficacy and safety before eventually coming onto the market several years and millions of dollars later. In the case of an already existing drug, most of the safety and other testing has already been done.

The scientist studied individual cells and groups of cells that had been infected with HSV. They found that tenofovir, in high concentrations blocked the virus' ability to reproduce.

Their study also showed that tenofovir does not damage cells, such as those that line the vagina. Vaginal cells are targeted by HIV and HSV.

Cellular enzymes convert tenofovir into another chemical form which suppresses both HIV and HSV. The new chemical form deactivates an enzyme that is crucial for the virus' reproduction.

They tested tenofovir in tissue samples, including tonsils and cervix. After 12 days they found that tenofovir-treated samples only had from 1% to 13% of viral levels compared to untreated samples. They also found that tenofovir blocked viral reproduction of both HIV and HSV simultaneously in infected tissue.

In laboratory experiments, they found that mice infected with the herpes virus had no herpes symptoms and lived longer when treated with tenofovir.

When tenofovir is taken orally, concentration levels in target cells are not high enough to affect HSV in any significant way, the authors explained.

Dr. Morgolis said:

"When using the gel, the amount of tenofovir on the affected tissues is about 100 times the amount in the body when taking tenofovir in pill form. That explains why its anti-herpes activity wasn't noticed before. Thus, under proper conditions, an anti-HIV drug becomes an anti-HSV drug."

Written by Christian Nordqvist
Copyright: Medical News Today
Not to be reproduced without permission of Medical News Today

Visit our sexual health / stds section for the latest news on this subject. "Topical Tenofovir, a Microbicide Effective against HIV, Inhibits Herpes Simplex Virus-2 Replication"
Graciela Andrei, Robert Snoeck, and Jan Balzarini (senior author), Joost van den Oord, Catholic University of Leuven; Emanuela Balestra, Carlo-Federico Perno (senior author), University of Rome; Tomas Cihlar, Gilead Sciences; and Andrea Lisco, Christophe Vanpouille, Andrea Introini, and Leonid Margolis (senior author) NICHD.
Cell Host & Microbe, Volume 10, Issue 4, 379-389, 20 October 2011 (10.1016/j.chom.2011.08.015) Please use one of the following formats to cite this article in your essay, paper or report:

MLA

Christian Nordqvist. "Tenofovir Vaginal Gel Protects Against Herpes." Medical News Today. MediLexicon, Intl., 21 Oct. 2011. Web.
30 Oct. 2011. APA

Please note: If no author information is provided, the source is cited instead.

posted by Sammy on 25 Oct 2011 at 9:51 pm

Women with herpes are unlucky to have herpes because it brings much trouble to their life; they are lucky at the same time because the virus will make them have less chance to have breast cancer.

| post followup | alert a moderator |

Please note that we publish your name, but we do not publish your email address. It is only used to let you know when your message is published. We do not use it for any other purpose. Please see our privacy policy for more information.

If you write about specific medications or operations, please do not name health care professionals by name.

All opinions are moderated before being included (to stop spam)

Contact Our News Editors

For any corrections of factual information, or to contact the editors please use our feedback form.

Please send any medical news or health news press releases to:

Note: Any medical information published on this website is not intended as a substitute for informed medical advice and you should not take any action before consulting with a health care professional. For more information, please read our terms and conditions.

View the original article here