Latest News:
Services for Young People
Confidential information and advice on sexual health
Nearest service to meC-Card Issue Points
Where you can register or collect free condoms, including using our new Click and Collect
Find the nearest to meHerpes
This is a virus there are two types of herpes simplex virus (HSV), type 1 and type 2. Both types are highly contagious. Type 1 is associated with the cold sores and Type 2 genital herpes
How you get it:
- Unprotected penetrative sex (vaginal or anal) and oral sex
- Other genital skin to skin contact.
- Even if someone with genital herpes doesn't have symptoms, it's possible for them to pass the condition on to a sexual partner
Symptoms:
- Not everyone will get symptoms. The first attack the person may feel very unwell with flu-like symptoms with painful blisters around the genital area. It may be very painful to pee.
- Recurrent infections although the initial symptoms of genital herpes clear up, the virus remains dormant (inactive) in a nearby nerve. The virus may be reactivated from time to time, travelling back down the nerve to your skin and causing recurrent outbreaks.
Treatment:
- If you don’t have significant discomfort or pain from herpes, no treatment is required.
- A course of antiviral tablets and/or ointment
If it’s not treated:
- There’s no cure, and the blisters may come back, but the first outbreak is usually the worst, and often they don’t come back at all.
