Healthier Scotland. Scottish Government

Genital herpes treatment

How is genital herpes treated?

Once you have been infected with genital herpes, the virus stays in your body and can cause symptoms to reappear from time to time.

Recurrent episodes of genital herpes with symptoms will clear up by themselves without any treatment, but there is also medication to help speed up the healing process. You should, however, always visit your GP or sexual health service to be sure that it is the herpes virus that is causing your symptoms.

The doctor may prescribe anti-viral tablets to speed up the healing process and reduce the severity of an episode. If you start taking the medication as soon as an outbreak begins, you may shorten or even stop the episode.

Some people experience frequent recurrences of genital herpes. In these cases, a longer course of tablets should prevent any recurrent episodes. Talk to your doctor or nurse at the sexual health service, or to your GP, about possible treatment options that may suit you.

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Can I prevent an episode of genital herpes?

Keep a record of when you have an episode of genital herpes. You may see a pattern developing, and be able to identify your trigger factors.

Many people find that episodes occur when they’re run-down, under stress, around the time of menstruation, or when the skin gets irritated due to friction or tight clothing.

Sunlight (or the use of sunbeds) may also bring on an episode. If you do see a pattern of trigger factors, try to adjust your lifestyle to avoid or reduce your exposure to them.

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How can I avoid passing on genital herpes?

If you have herpes, you can follow some simple guidelines to avoid passing the virus on to your partner(s), and to continue to have a healthy and happy sex life:

• learn to recognise the warning signs (tingling, itching or inflammation) that an episode is starting. Do not have sex at this time.
• do not allow anyone to come into direct contact with your sores or blisters.
• avoid kissing and oral sex when you or your partner has cold sores around the mouth – or you feel that sores may be developing.

You might want to talk things over in confidence with a trained volunteer who can provide advice on living with genital herpes.

Call the Herpes Viruses Association Helpline on 0845 123 2305.

Read more about better, safer sex

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Can using a condom protect against genital herpes?

Always use a condom to protect against genital herpes - the herpes virus can’t pass through a condom.

However, if the virus is present and active on the skin in areas around the genitals not covered by the condom, infection may still occur.

The best way to prevent all sexually transmitted infections including genital herpes, as well as to protect against HIV, is to practise safer sex.

This means using a condom for vaginal, oral or anal sex or a barrier (such as a dam) for oral sex on a woman or when licking or kissing the anus.

Read more about condoms

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