Genital Herpes in Women

Genital herpes is a sexually transmitted disease that is caused by herpes simplex virus (HSV), either type 1 or type 2. It is contracted during sexual contact with an already infected person. The source of transmission is the lining of the mouth, vagina, and genital skin, covered with mucus. Women are more susceptible to genital herpes infection. There are three major reasons behind it. The surface area of a woman's genitalia is greater in comparison to that of a man. Secondly, it also contains cells moistened with body fluids. Thirdly, certain hormonal changes that occur during menstruation sometimes weaken the immune system. It makes her body more prone to viral infections. The discomfort felt due to genital herpes infection varies from person to person.

Symptoms of Genital Herpes in Women

• Unusual vaginal discharge
• Itching or burning sensation in the genital area
• Pain in the legs, buttocks and genital area
• Feeling of pressure in the abdominal area
• Difficulty in urination
• Fever, headache, nausea, muscle and joint pain
• Swelling of glands in the groin area

All the above are followed by eruption of genital herpes lesions. The lesion appears as small red bumps that take the form of painful blisters. The size of blisters may range from tiny pimple like spots to coin like patches. The lesion bursts out, encrusts and then heals without leaving any scar.

The genital herpes symptoms in women generally start to appear within 2-10 days of viral infection. They may last for about 2-3 weeks. After invading the skin or mucous membrane, the genital herpes virus travels to the sensory nerves at the end of the spinal cord. It remains inactive at the nerve endings. The reason behind its dormancy is not exactly known. However, it is believed that the HSV waits for the favorable conditions like weakened immunity in the body. Under such conditions, it gets activated, replicates in the ganglia and travels along the nerves to the skin. On the skin, it multiplies and causes new lesions. The site is usually at or near the original herpes lesion. This is the reason why many patients suffer from recurring episodes of genital herpes infection.

Natural Treatments for Genital Herpes

• Wash the genital area with salt water on a regular basis. The salt and water should be in the ratio of one teaspoon to 500 ml.
• Increase your intake of vitamin C. It will boost your immunity, which in turn will strengthen your body to fight against such viral infections.
• Wear cotton undergarments. It will ease the discomfort and will help in herpes cure.
• Apply ice on the genital sores. It will relieve you from itching as well as the burning sensation.
• To bring down the pain in the genital sores, you may use over-the-counter pain killers like aspirin and paracetamol.
• Drink plenty of water. It will dilute the urine, and hence will ease urination.

The discomfort from genital herpes is manageable with the above mentioned home remedies. Still, medical diagnosis and treatment is very important for getting permanent relief. The diagnosis is made most accurately at the time of an active herpes infection, preferably during the first episode of the infection. It involves physical examination, swab test and medical history of the infected woman. Sometimes, the symptoms of genital herpes in women are without any visible signs or much discomfort. In such cases, blood test is conducted. The antibodies against HSV indicates the probability of genital herpes. Treatment of genital herpes involves determination of HSV presence and its complete removal from the body. For curing frequent occurrences of genital herpes infection, anti viral therapies are prescribed. For fast and permanent recovery, strictly follow the instructions of the doctor.