10 Herpes Symptoms in Women

By priscilla

Reviewed: dr. vanta

Article Sources

Article Sources

• 1. 'Genital Herpes,' Florida Department of Health, www.floridahealth.gov/diseases-and-conditions/sexually-transmitted-diseases/std-fact-sheets/Genital Herpes.html
• 2. 'STD Facts - Genital Herpes (Detailed Version).’ Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, www.cdc.gov/std/herpes/stdfact-herpes-detailed.htm
• 3. 'Herpes Simplex Virus.’ World Health Organization, www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/herpes-simplex-virus
• 4. Wald A;Selke S;Warren T;Aoki FY;Sacks S;Diaz-Mitoma F;Corey L; ‘Comparative Efficacy of Famciclovir and Valacyclovir for Suppression of Recurrent Genital Herpes and Viral Shedding.’ PubMed, U.S. National Library of Medicine, pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16540883

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Genital herpes is a sexually transmitted infection. It's caused by the herpes simplex virus, which finds its way into the body through breaks on the skin and mucous membranes. There are two types of herpes simplex virus, including herpes simplex virus-1, which typically causes cold sores, and herpes simplex virus-2, which typically causes genital herpes.

However, both can infect the genital areas or mouth. Contact between the genital area and a mouth with a cold sore could cause genital herpes. Likewise, kissing a person with a cold sore can lead to a herpes simplex virus infection.

Prevalence

Herpes is common. About one in six people aged 14 to 49 have been infected with herpes simplex virus-2, the primary cause of genital herpes.¹‘Genital Herpes,’ Florida Department of Health, www.floridahealth.gov/diseases-and-conditions/sexually-transmitted-diseases/std-fact-sheets/Genital Herpes.html Some estimates suggest that 572,000 people in the U.S. are infected by the virus every year.²‘STD Facts - Genital Herpes (Detailed Version).’ Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, www.cdc.gov/std/herpes/stdfact-herpes-detailed.htm

Herpes is more prevalent in women than men, and it spreads more readily from men to women than it does from women to men. According to estimates by the World Health Organization, or WHO, herpes simplex virus-1 infects about 67 percent of people aged 50 or younger, most whom are unaware that they have the virus.³‘Herpes Simplex Virus.’ World Health Organization, www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/herpes-simplex-virus