What happens if I don’t manage my genital herpes?

Genital herpes is caused by Herpes Type II, and can cause painful genital sores in many adults and can be much more severe if you have a suppressed immune systems. If a person with genital herpes touches their sores or the fluids from the sores, they may be able to transfer their herpes infection to another part of their or someone else’s body. This can be particularly problematic if it is a sensitive location such as the eyes. Transmission of herpes can be avoided by not touching the sores or fluids. If you do touch them, then immediately and thoroughly wash your hands as this will reduce the chances of a transmission.

Many people with genital herpes will have concerns about how it will impact their overall health, sex life, and relationships. It is best to talk to your health care provider about those concerns, but it also is important to recognise that while herpes is not curable, it is a manageable condition, and there are lots of creams to make outbreaks less severe and go away faster. Since a genital herpes diagnosis may affect perceptions about existing or future sexual relationships, it is important to understand how to talk to sexual partners about STDs.

If your partner tells you that they have genital herpes, then do not panic, it does not make them a bad person, they have just had sex with someone before they met you.  Talk to them about how to avoid transmission including wearing a condom and not having sex or touching them during an outbreak.

Better2Know has Herpes tests in all of its nationwide STD testing clinics.  There are different test depending on whether you have symptoms or not at the time of your test, but they are all accurate with results available within five days.