|
|
 |
|
|
Talking to Your Doctor About Genital Herpes
Many people find that genital herpes, like any STD, is a difficult subject to talk about with their healthcare provider. It is important to try and be open and honest with your healthcare provider about the severity of your herpes symptoms and outbreaks. Be sure to tell your doctor if you'd like to try a medication that will help you stop or shorten a recurrent genital herpes outbreak with just a single day of treatment. Take at the first sign or symptom. The effectiveness of FAMVIR has not been established when treatment is started more than 6 hours after the onset of symptoms or lesions. Ask your doctor if Single-Day FAMVIR is right for you.
Below is information that can help you have a better discussion with your doctor.
When you talk to your doctor about genital herpes:
 |
Be open and honest. There's very little you can tell your doctor that your doctor hasn't heard from other patients. |
|
Take the time to tell your doctor about all your genital herpes symptoms and how severe or uncomfortable they are. |
|
Discuss finding a herpes treatment that helps you manage your outbreaks. Ask if Single-Day FAMVIR is right for you. |
Tell your doctor:
|
Whether you have been previously diagnosed with genital herpes |
|
How long it's been since your first outbreak |
|
How many outbreaks you've had in the previous 3 months |
|
If you'd like to treat each outbreak episodically (as it happens) rather than suppressively (taking medication every day) |
You may also want to ask your doctor if you can stop or shorten your outbreaks.
If you are already taking medication to manage your genital herpes symptoms and you are not satisfied with your current treatment, make sure you mention this.
Facts About Genital Herpes and FAMVIR
|
1 in 5 people has genital herpes. |
|
Doctors are trained to diagnose herpes and help patients manage outbreaks. |
|
Single-Day FAMVIR is the first and only herpes medicine proven to stop or shorten a recurrent genital herpes outbreak with just a single day of treatment.
Take at the first sign or symptom. The effectiveness of FAMVIR has not been established when treatment is started more than 6 hours after the onset of symptoms or lesions. |
|
People can take Single-Day FAMVIR to treat herpes each time they have an outbreak. This is known as episodic treatment. |
|
People can also take FAMVIR every day to suppress most outbreaks. This is known as suppressive treatment. |
Discussing Your Genital Herpes Symptoms
There are a wide range of symptoms a person may experience during an outbreak. Talk to your doctor about the symptoms you have experienced. Be sure to mention the severity and frequency of your outbreaks.
These are some common symptoms of a genital herpes outbreak:
|
Itching or tingling in or around the genital area |
|
Burning in or around the genital area |
|
Aches or pains in or around the genital area |
|
A rash, bumps, blisters, cuts, or sores in or around the genital area |
|
Vaginal or penile discharge |
|
Burning and/or pain when urinating |
|
Flu-like symptoms, such as headache, fever, and swollen glands |
The Warning Signs of a Genital Herpes Outbreak
Many people can recognize their individual early warning symptoms of a genital herpes outbreak. Common early warning symptoms may include, pain, burning, itching, tingling, or tenderness. Taking a full course of Single-Day FAMVIR as soon as you begin to feel or see these symptoms can stop the virus from reproducing and may stop a full-blown outbreak. The effectiveness of FAMVIR has not been established when treatment is started more than 6 hours after the onset of symptoms or lesions.
Ask your doctor for enough Single-Day FAMVIR so you always have it on hand should you feel or see an outbreak coming.
Print this page to take on your doctor visit
Get information to help you live with genital herpes
|
 |
|
|
|
