Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsPrevalenceRisk FactorsSymptomsDiagnosisTreatmentComplicationsPrevention
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Prevalence
Risk Factors
Symptoms
Diagnosis
Treatment
Complications
Prevention
There are two types of HSV that can cause genital herpes: HSV-1 and HSV-2. HSV-1 is more common in oral herpes (cold sores or fever blisters). HSV-2 is more common in genital herpes. HPV strains, such as HPV 6 and 11, also cause genital sores.
This article discusses what you need to know about female genital sores.
Verywell / Julie Bang
How Common Are Female Genital Sores?
Approximately 79 million people in the United States have HPV.
There are other rare causes, such asdonovanosis.
What Is a Sexually Transmitted Infection?
People with HSV who have no symptoms may unknowingly pass it to their partners.
When symptoms are present, they can include:
Fluid-filled blisters in the genital area may also appear with the initial outbreak and last anywhere from two to four weeks. The blisters will break open, release fluid, and crust over. This is when the infection is most contagious. It may be painful when urinating during outbreaks.
Secondary outbreaks don’t usually include flu-like symptoms, but blisters are likely to reappear.
Best At-Home Herpes Tests of 2021
There are a few ways to diagnose HSV and HPV. They include:
How Accurate Are Herpes Blood Tests?
There is no cure for HSV, but there are treatments that help manage it.
Antiviral medications used for genital herpes include Zovirax (acyclovir) and Valtrex (valacyclovir). These therapies may reduce transmission to partners. Your healthcare provider may recommend taking medication even when you’re not having an outbreak to reduce future outbreaks and transmission.
Self-care options at home include:
HPV may not need treatment if the immune system clears it on its own. However, medications applied to the skin or surgical removal are available if the appearance is bothersome.
Strains of HPV 6 and HPV 11 account for about 90% of all cases of genital warts.Keep in mind that HPV strains that cause genital warts are different from the strains that are associated with cervical cancer risk. PAP test screening does not identify HPV sores that appear on the labia and other genital surfaces that you can see.
Are HPV and Genital Warts the Same Thing?
The infection isn’t transmitted through breast milk, so breastfeeding is still an option. Yet it, too, has risks when breast lesions are present. People with breast lesions should not breastfeed or use milk from an affected breast. The other breast can be used if all lesions are carefully covered.
Having genital sores from an STI also puts you at higher risk of thehuman immunodeficiency virus(HIV). HIV can lead to acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) if left untreated.
Complications from high-risk HPV strains include cancers of the anus, vulva, vagina, and cervix.
Syphilis and PregnancySyphilis, another type of STI, also causes female genital sores. The sores can heal on their own within a few weeks but the syphilis infection itself will progress withoutantibiotic treatment. A pregnant person can pass the infection to the fetus (called congenital syphilis). This is a serious and potentially fatal infection.
Syphilis and Pregnancy
Syphilis, another type of STI, also causes female genital sores. The sores can heal on their own within a few weeks but the syphilis infection itself will progress withoutantibiotic treatment. A pregnant person can pass the infection to the fetus (called congenital syphilis). This is a serious and potentially fatal infection.
Is Vaginal Birth Safe for Women With Genital Herpes?
There are clinical trials underway with the goal of finding treatment to prevent genital STIs like herpes, but nothing is available yet. Questions remain about how long a vaccine to prevent herpes will last and if people will need booster shots.
Like the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine, which is currently available to preteens and adults, a future herpes vaccine will likely be most effective if administered to people before they have sex for the first time.
Progress in Developing a Herpes Vaccine
Summary
Although having STI-related genital sores can be worrying for you and your sexual partners, medication is available to help suppress outbreaks and improve your quality of life. If you have any concerns about your sexual wellness, contact your healthcare provider. They can offer prevention strategies and treatment options. Counseling might also be beneficial, as any diagnosis can be overwhelming to deal with alone.
9 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.Genital herpes.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Genital herpes.Cleveland Clinic.HPV (human papilloma virus).Roett MA, Mayor MT, Uduhiri KA.Diagnosis and management of genital ulcers.afp. 2012;85(3):254-262.Mount Sinai.Genital herpes - self care.Flores-Díaz E, Sereday KA, Ferreira S, et al.HPV-11 variability, persistence and progression to genital warts in men: the HIM study.J Gen Virol. 2017;98(9):2339-2342. doi:10.1099/jgv.0.000896James SH, Sheffield JS, Kimberlin DW.Mother-to-child transmission of herpes simplex virus.J Pediatric Infect Dis Soc. 2014;3(Suppl 1):S19-S23. doi:10.1093/jpids/piu050Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Herpes Simplex Virus and Breastfeeding.U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About syphilis.
9 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.Genital herpes.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Genital herpes.Cleveland Clinic.HPV (human papilloma virus).Roett MA, Mayor MT, Uduhiri KA.Diagnosis and management of genital ulcers.afp. 2012;85(3):254-262.Mount Sinai.Genital herpes - self care.Flores-Díaz E, Sereday KA, Ferreira S, et al.HPV-11 variability, persistence and progression to genital warts in men: the HIM study.J Gen Virol. 2017;98(9):2339-2342. doi:10.1099/jgv.0.000896James SH, Sheffield JS, Kimberlin DW.Mother-to-child transmission of herpes simplex virus.J Pediatric Infect Dis Soc. 2014;3(Suppl 1):S19-S23. doi:10.1093/jpids/piu050Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Herpes Simplex Virus and Breastfeeding.U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About syphilis.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.Genital herpes.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Genital herpes.Cleveland Clinic.HPV (human papilloma virus).Roett MA, Mayor MT, Uduhiri KA.Diagnosis and management of genital ulcers.afp. 2012;85(3):254-262.Mount Sinai.Genital herpes - self care.Flores-Díaz E, Sereday KA, Ferreira S, et al.HPV-11 variability, persistence and progression to genital warts in men: the HIM study.J Gen Virol. 2017;98(9):2339-2342. doi:10.1099/jgv.0.000896James SH, Sheffield JS, Kimberlin DW.Mother-to-child transmission of herpes simplex virus.J Pediatric Infect Dis Soc. 2014;3(Suppl 1):S19-S23. doi:10.1093/jpids/piu050Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Herpes Simplex Virus and Breastfeeding.U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About syphilis.
American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.Genital herpes.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Genital herpes.
Cleveland Clinic.HPV (human papilloma virus).
Roett MA, Mayor MT, Uduhiri KA.Diagnosis and management of genital ulcers.afp. 2012;85(3):254-262.
Mount Sinai.Genital herpes - self care.
Flores-Díaz E, Sereday KA, Ferreira S, et al.HPV-11 variability, persistence and progression to genital warts in men: the HIM study.J Gen Virol. 2017;98(9):2339-2342. doi:10.1099/jgv.0.000896
James SH, Sheffield JS, Kimberlin DW.Mother-to-child transmission of herpes simplex virus.J Pediatric Infect Dis Soc. 2014;3(Suppl 1):S19-S23. doi:10.1093/jpids/piu050
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Herpes Simplex Virus and Breastfeeding.
U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About syphilis.
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