Although there is no cure for genital herpes, there are three common medicines that are used to keep it under control. The commonly used medicines are antiviral and can also be a preventative measure against spreading the herpes disease. They are valacyclovir, famciclovir and acyclovir. These can be very helpful but to be most effective they must be used along with safe sex methods. Always consult your physician to discuss the use of any of these medications.
If you think you may have herpes it is imperative to consult a health care professional quickly. The earlier the diagnosis happens the quicker the proper treatment can begin to make you feel better sooner. If the diagnosis reveals that there is a herpes virus present, tests need to be performed with a culture taken from the infected area for testing and also blood tests to confirm the type of herpes that may be present. The tests will be for hepatitis B, HIV, and syphilis. In the instance there is a lot of pain involved, a pain medication may be necessary.
If your first outbreak of herpes happens while you are pregnant, get to your doctor as quickly as possible to see what can be done to decrease the danger of infecting your baby. Give yourself extra care, work on treatment for any kind of infection and give special attention to the herpes treatment condition.
Don't let yourself get overwhelmed with all the information that is there to learn and the questions you may have. You will figure it all out in time. How you handle your disease will make more sense to you as you adjust to your condition. An open communication with your health care professional is important. Asking questions and learning as much as you can will help you and those who are directly involved in your life.
If your experience is with regular outbreaks of herpes, it is necessary to be fully aware of the different phases of the disease, especially the active times, when you need to avoid intimacy with others. Using dental dams and condoms is always necessary to help prevent the spread of herpes and other infections that are transferred during intimacy.
It is possible to transfer herpes even when no visible herpes symptoms are present so preventative measures are always necessary. Condoms, although a necessity and a great help, do not give total protection because not all of the skin is covered.