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HIV and Genital Herpes
People who have genital herpes may be more likely to acquire HIV than those who don't have the virus. Genital herpes and HIV can both be sexually transmitted. During an outbreak of genital herpes, CD4 cells, which fight against the herpes infection, are found at the base of the herpes sore. These cells are the main cells attacked by HIV. Therefore, if you have GH sores and are exposed to HIV during sexual contact, HIV can find an easy entry into the body.
People with HIV are immunocompromised, which means that their bodies have a hard time fighting against diseases like genital herpes. Because of this, HIV-infected people are more likely to have more severe, painful outbreaks. Recurrent outbreaks may affect large areas of skin and may take longer to heal. Genital herpes may make people with HIV more infectious to others. The herpes simplex virus may also spread to areas of the body besides the skin. In people with HIV, genital herpes may also enter the rectum, the uterus in women, or the epididymis (a tube that connects the sperm duct to small tubes leading from the testicle) in men.
FAMVIR is a prescription, oral antiviral medication that may help reduce the duration of your symptoms and discomfort. FAMVIR is approved to treat recurrent genital or orolabial (cold sores) herpes in people infected with HIV. In the clinical study with HIV-infected patients, FAMVIR was initiated within 48 hours of lesion onset.
Read stories about people living with genital herpes
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