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Where can I get more information about genital herpes?
You can learn more about genital herpes right here on famvir.com by visiting the following sections:
In addition, you can contact your healthcare provider or a healthcare provider with special training in genital herpes for more information.
You may find the following websites helpful as well:
National Institute of Infectious and Allergic Disease, National Institutes of Health
Center for Disease Control
American Social Health Association (ASHA)
Glossary Terms
Here is a list of terms and their definitions. You may find them helpful in understanding genital herpes.
Antibodies: Specialized proteins produced by your body. They circulate in the blood, looking for and attaching themselves to foreign proteins, microorganisms, or toxins to neutralize (inactivate) them.
Antiviral medication: A medicine that kills viruses or inhibits their ability to reproduce.
Asymptomatic: Occurring without any visible signs or symptoms.
Blister: An elevation of the skin that contains watery liquid.
Episodic treatment: Treatment to reduce your symptoms (e.g., burning, itching, and pain) and speed healing. Given as each outbreak of genital herpes occurs. See Patient-initiated therapy.
Genital area: Pertaining to reproductive organs (e.g., vagina, vulva, penis, scrotum, testicles).
Genital herpes: Occurs when the herpes simplex virus (usually herpes simplex virus type 2) affects the genitals (e.g., vagina, vulva, penis, scrotum, testicles).
Groin: The area marked by the lower abdomen and the inner part of the thigh.
Herpes simplex virus (HSV): A virus that can cause blisters on the skin or mucous membranes above the waist, on the mouth or lips, and below the waist, on the genitals.
Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1): A herpes virus that usually typically causes cold sores and fever blisters in and around the mouth.
Herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2): A herpes virus that usually causes genital herpes, which is characterized by sores in the genital area.
Immunity: The state of being immune; a condition of being able to resist a particular disease.
Latent: Existing in a hidden or dormant form. Present, or capable of living or developing in a host, without producing visible symptoms of disease.
Lymph nodes: Small bean-shaped organs located throughout the lymphatic system (a system of vessels that is part of the immune system). They store special cells that affect viruses.
Nerves: A bundle of fibers that uses electrical and chemical signals to send information from one body part to another.
Outbreak: As pertains to genital herpes, the virus becomes active and produces visible symptoms, such as redness and sores.
Patient-initiated therapy: Treatment in which the patient takes medication when he or she feels the warnings signs of an outbreak. See Episodic treatment.
Postherpetic neuralgia (PHN): The most common complication of shingles. It is when the pain associated with shingles persists even after the rash is healed.
Prodrome: The early stage of a herpes outbreak. It may involve symptoms such as itching, burning, or tingling in the area where sores usually appear. There may also be symptoms such as headache, fatigue, and muscle aches.
Sexually transmitted disease (STD): Any of the various diseases transmitted by direct sexual contact (e.g., gonorrhea, herpes, HIV, chlamydia, genital warts, and syphilis).
Spermicide: An agent that kills sperm.
Suppressive therapy: Daily continuous therapy that helps reduce the frequency of outbreaks.
Ulcer: A sore that involves loss of skin and often contains pus.
Viral culture test: Test used for detection of viruses in which the virus is grown in a specific environment.
Viral shedding: The period of contagiousness when a herpes simplex virus is reproducing and can be easily passed to other people by skin-to-skin contact. This can happen even without symptoms.
Separate genital herpes myths from facts
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