Female Genital Herpes - Symptoms and Treatments

Genital herpes is a type of viral infection caused by the herpes simplex virus. The infection can be really hazardous because it can be transmitted to your partner while sexual intimacy. What is worse about genital herpes is that visible symptoms do not appear much until the infection spreads to alarming levels. This is why early recognition is required, so that the condition can be treated immediately to prevent contagion. It is not known exactly what causes herpes, although it has been suggested that a virus subtype known as HSV-2 is responsible for causing it. Famvir and Valtrex are among the two safest pills available to treat this infection.

What are the symptoms of female genital herpes?

During the primary stage of female herpes, rashes or pimples may appear, often leaving you in intense pain and irritation. But the good news is that you only suffer the most in the beginning. Once treatment starts with Famvir, Valtrex or any other medicine, the pain goes away to a great extent. During the active phase of the infection, blisters appear in the genital region, followed by an itching sensation. They normally develop into a cluster of vesicles before they erupt, leaving sores on the skin. 

You may also have headache and swollen lymph nodes around the genital area during the primary phase of the outbreak. In case the herpes infection affects you internally, as in the inside of vagina, urethra or cervix, symptoms such as vaginal discharges, pelvic pain and painful urination may ensue.

You must always remember that both primary and secondary symptoms of female genital herpes may resemble those of other genital infections, including yeast infections and genital warts. So it is strongly recommended that you should seek the advise of a registered doctor or get a serologic test done.  

What are the treatments available to me?

Ideally treatments of female genital herpes should start before the primary outbreak. Symptoms such as tingling and irritation are most common in the areas that are about to be affected by the herpes virus. So they should trigger alarm for you to seek medical assistance as soon as possible. Famvir and Valtrex are the two most reliable antiviral medications available on prescription.

Famvir

Famvir is an antiviral drug that works within 24 hours from the outbreak of symptoms. It is available in doses of 125mg, 250mg and 500mg. If you experience periodic outbreaks of herpes, you may be advised by your doctor to take a lower dose of Famvir over a long time. The medicine works by changing to penciclovir, another antiviral medicine, as it enters the body. Penciclovir stops the HSV-2 virus from replicating and spreading to healthy cells around the infected area.

Valtrex

Available only in the strength of 500mg on valid prescription, Valtrex is a fast-acting anti-herpes medicine with valacyclovir hydrochloride as its active ingredient. On entering the body, Valtrex changes to an active ingredient called acyclovir. Acyclovir stops the infected cells from multiplying and affecting the healthy cells.