HSV Testing, Symptoms, and Tips to Stay Healthy

Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV) is of two types: HSV-1 and HSV-2. The former causes oral herpes, also called fever blisters or cold sores. They usually form around the mouth or on the lips. The latter causes genital herpes, which is highly contagious and spreads easily through unprotected sex.

Any kind of sex – oral, vaginal, and anal – is risky, inform doctors.

What’s worse?

Simply touching your infected partner’s genitals can infect you. Also, condoms and dental dams do not offer 100% protection against this virus.

Symptoms

• Swelling, itching, and tingling sensation at your genitals.
• Painful blisters or sores on your genital area and/or anal area.
• Painful urination.
• Painful sexual intercourse.
• Abnormal discharge from vagina.
• Discharge from penis.
• Flu-like symptoms such as fever, muscle aches, headache, and swollen lymph glands.

It takes around 2 to 20 days for the virus to show symptoms on your body. If you think you are exposed to the virus, but still don’t have symptoms, you must walk in your nearest STD clinic for HSV testing to make sure. This is for you and your partner’s safety.

How dangerous is herpes to health?

According to doctors, herpes won’t kill you nor would it pose any major health risk. However, herpes is incurable. This means, once you contract the virus, you will carry it for the rest of your life.

Herpes can affect your sexual life. It may dishearten you because you and your partner may not be able to enjoy sex like before. You must be careful every time you get intimate with your infected partner.

But that doesn’t mean it is the end to a fulfilling sexual life.

In case you or your partner develop symptoms, you must immediately contact your nearby STD clinic and consult a doctor. They will test you and give you appropriate treatment. Both you and your partner must undergo a test.

Herpes is incurable, but the outbreak can be managed through appropriate medications. Once both of you are treated, you can resume your sexual life after consulting with the doctor.

Factors that increase risk of getting herpes outbreaks

• Weak immune system
• Illness or surgery
• Hormonal changes
• Sex with an infected partner

An infected mother can infect her unborn child. Such a child may get serious medical conditions like eye problems, brain disorders, and skin issues.

Testing is important

Never ignore blisters around your genitals, warn doctors. Ignoring only makes matters worse. The smart thing to do is undergo a test and take appropriate treatment as fast as possible.

Apart from this, eat healthy to strengthen your immune system. A strong immunity helps to fight off infections. Post pandemic, we all know how deadly viruses can be, right?

Why let a mere virus play spoilsport to your sexual life?

Eat healthy, practice monogamy, have safe sex with multiple partners, and undergo timely testing whenever you believe you are exposed to a virus. These are a few of the small but significant steps you can take for a healthy sex life. Time to ask, “where is a herpes testing facility near me.”