Vaginal herpes is a sexually transmitted disease caused by the herpes simplex virus 2 (HSV-2). The disease is transmitted through sexual contact with an infected person or with "sex toys" that have come in contact with the virus. Symptoms of vaginal herpes can vary, and although some symptoms that arise can be very uncomfortable, the majority of women infected are not aware that they are infected. Unfortunately, this means they are unlikely to seek immediate medical attention and are more likely to spread the virus to a sexual partner.
Early symptoms of vaginal herpes are simply signs that the body is working to find an infection. These symptoms appear within two weeks of transmission of the disease and can include, but are not limited to, burning or itching sensations in the genital area, pain or burning in the buttocks area, and swollen lymph nodes, particularly in those located near the genital area. A herpes outbreak can also cause flu-like symptoms including fever and headache, as well as unusual fatigue, depression, and irritability.
Vaginal herpes symptoms, if more severe, consist of skin lesions in the genital area, often deep inside the vagina, on the cervix, or in the urinary tract where they cannot be seen by the infected woman, but where they can be highly contagious to a sexual partner. These lesions are very small, not often bigger than 1-3 millimeters in diameter, and they do not always cause pain or discomfort for the infected woman. The cycle of symptoms typically lasts two to four weeks, with lesions in dry skin areas healing more quickly than those in moist areas of the body.
Symptoms of a vaginal herpes infection are typically worst during the initial infection. As time passes, infections should become both less frequent and less severe. Like many diseases, reduced immune system function due to stress, other infections, or even poor diet, can bring on vaginal herpes symptoms. Women infected with the herpes virus should take care to stay healthy and active to help ward off future vaginal herpes infections.
Pregnant women should talk to their doctors if they suspect they have been exposed to the herpes virus. Vaginal herpes can infect the baby as it passed through the birth canal during labor. Because babies' immune systems are not fully developed at birth, a herpes infection can be life threatening and can cause serious brain, skin and eye disorders.
If no active vaginal herpes infection is found in the birth canal prior to delivery, a vaginal birth may be safe. If the infection is present, a Cesarean section procedure is a way to prevent the baby's contact with the infection.
Women can protect themselves from vaginal herpes by abstaining from sexual contact with anyone showing symptoms of a herpes virus infection. Condoms are highly effective in preventing transmission of the disease, but are by no means 100% effective since condoms do not cover all skin areas that could be infected.
Some prescription medications as well as some natural remedies can help control herpes outbreaks and could reduce the time that vaginal herpes symptoms are present.
