When you hear of the word herpes, what comes into your mind? Well, there’s more to it than just a sexually transmitted disease. In fact, it is classified into seven different types but the two most common are oral herpes and the genital herpes. Perhaps, you will be more surprised to learn that the blisters and the sores in your mouths are kinds of oral herpes. Surprising, right?
Of course, herpes can be bothersome and painful. But the funny part is that about fifty percent of those who have the disease are not even aware that they have it!
If that’s the case, then presumably, the same figures or more would account for those who have no knowledge about genital herpes treatment.
Is there a cure for this disorder? What are the different treatments available? Will it recur following treatment? These are just some questions that demand for answers. Thankfully, we have all the answers to all your queries in just a click away!
First and foremost, genital herpes treatment includes the taking of oral antiviral medicines. These medicines prescribed by doctors, are proven to control and prevent the recurrence of the disease. Be careful though because they may only be taken whenever symptoms appear.
This genital herpes treatment is called by another name – episodic therapy. However, if the medicine is taken daily for a certain period of time purposely to prevent the symptoms from appearing, this general herpes treatment is called suppressive therapy.
Episodic therapy
Do you have a fever and certain itchiness in your penis or vulva? Do you have chills? As soon as these symptoms have manifested, then what you need is episodic therapy. This kind of genital herpes treatment relieves symptoms. It works to prevent further outbreak. You can choose from any of these three antiviral medicines:
Aciclovir reduces the severity of the virus as well as shortens the time that it can be passed on to a sexual partner.
Valaciclovir, when given as a genital herpes treatment for episodic therapy helps the sores to heal and lessen the pain. Meanwhile, famciclovir reduces the outbreak period. Take your pick because all three antiviral medicines have been proven to shorten the period wherein the virus appeared on the genitals.
Suppressive therapy
Suppose there have been several outbreaks already? Would there be a remedy for that? That’s when another kind of genital herpes treatment comes in.
In suppressive therapy, the same antiviral medicines are taken for a longer period of time, ranging from 6 months to a year; it reduces the number of outbreaks.
Not too fast yet because suppressive therapy as a form of genital herpes treatment may only be administered if the frequency of recurrences is higher. Here’s another good thing about this therapy, it takes away discomfort and depression among patients.
Both suppressive and episodic therapies have been proven to have minimal side effect. Often, when these forms of genital herpes treatment are administered to a patient, it may cause headache, nausea or diarrhea. However, if side effects continue to be bothersome, your doctor is just a few numbers away.
