Genital herpes such as vaginal herpes is caused by the Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV) which is from the same family of viruses that cause cold sores. Cold sores are generally caused by a type of Herpes Simplex Virus called Herpes Simplex Virus 1, and genital herpes such as vaginal herpes is usually caused by Herpes Simplex Virus 2. However, both types of herpes viruses can infect the genital areas, causing painful herpes sores and genital herpes or vaginal herpes.

There is no cure for genital herpes or vaginal herpes and often people will have recurring herpes outbreaks. During these herpes outbreaks the infected person will have sores and symptoms caused by herpes for a while, then the herpes virus will go into a dormant stage and the person will have no herpes symptoms again until the next herpes outbreak.

The number of herpes outbreaks and the amount of time between herpes outbreaks varies from person to person. Some people may have the herpes outbreaks frequently and others may have only one or two herpes outbreaks. It is still possible to transmit the herpes virus during the herpes dormant stages when a person has no symptoms of herpes.

There is no cure for herpes, but effective herpes treatments for herpes outbreaks do exist. To be effective these herpes treatments must be started immediately after herpes symptoms appear. Outbreaks of herpes sores may appear again and again throughout a person’s life. Medication can be taken to make these herpes outbreaks less common, and to treat the herpes sores themselves. Like these ways below:
1.)    Wear loose clothing during outbreaks of herpes
2.)    Drinking large amounts of fluids will decrease pain during urination, and urinating in the bath may be less painful during herpes attacks
3.)    Wash your hands with soap and water if you touch an infected area, and in particular, do not rub your eyes or touch your mouth after touching infected skin during herpes attacks
4.)    Avoid further infection during herpes attacks by keeping the infected area clean and dry. When drying actively infected areas, use a hair dryer or lightly pat the area dry
5.)    Epson salts in bath water can help clean and dry out herpes infected areas
6.)    Wash bath towels before reusing and wash underclothing frequently to avoid herpes
7.)    A healthy lifestyle including proper diet, adequate rest and low stress levels can improve your immune system, and reduce the likelihood of herpes outbreaks
8.)    If you think you have herpes, see a doctor immediately. Medication is available to help treat herpes infected areas and to reduce the pain of sores caused by herpes. This medication may be prescribed for herpes outbreaks as they happen, or it may be taken regularly to suppress the herpes virus and lower the chance of having herpes outbreak.

Though there is no cure for genital herpes or vaginal herpes, frequency and severity of herpes infections can be partially managed with medication for herpes. By themselves, Herpes Simplex Virus 1 and Herpes Simplex Virus 2 are generally not considered a serious health risk. However, in very rare cases, the Herpes Simplex Virus can cause serious illness. Herpes infected pregnant women can pass the herpes virus to infants during birth, causing lesions and possibly life-threatening infections of the central nervous system of the baby. In a very small number of cases herpes simplex virus can cause meningitis or encephalitis and herpes infection of the eye can cause scarring of the cornea and even blindness.

Because herpes viruses from vaginal herpes or genital herpes can cause sores on the penis or inside the vagina, it also increases the risk of transmission of HIV, the virus that causes AIDS. Herpes is a very serious disease. People affected with herpes, especially with vaginal herpes or genital herpes must consult doctors immediately at the sight of it. It is also important for herpes infected people to get support from their friends and family as well.

Herpes has various types and various herpes symptoms. For each kind of herpes, there are corresponding herpes signs and herpes symptoms. Herpes Simplex Virus infection causes several distinct medical disorders. Common herpes infection of the skin or mucosa may affect the face and mouth (orofacial herpes), genitalia (genital herpes), or hands (herpes whitlow). More serious disorders occur when the herpes virus infects and damages the eye (herpes keratitis), or invades the central nervous system, damaging the brain (herpes encephalitis). Herpes patients with immature or suppressed immune systems, such as newborns, transplant recipients, or AIDS herpes patients are prone to severe complications from herpes simplex virus infections. Herpes Simplex Virus infection has also been associated with cognitive deficits of bipolar disorder, and Alzheimer’s disease, although this is often dependent on the genetics of the infected person.

With these various herpes types and herpes symptoms, how does one diagnose herpes? Primary orofacial herpes is readily identified by clinical examination of persons with no previous history of lesions and contact with an individual with known Herpes Simplex Virus 1 infection. The appearance and distribution of sores in these individuals typically presents as multiple, round, superficial oral ulcers, accompanied by acute gingivitis. Adults with non-typical presentation are more difficult to diagnose. Prodromal herpes symptoms that occur before the appearance of herpetic lesions help differentiate herpes simplex virus symptoms from the similar herpes symptoms of other disorders, such as allergic stomatitis. When lesions do not appear inside the mouth, primary orofacial herpes is sometimes mistaken for impetigo, a bacterial herpes infection. Common mouth ulcers (aphthous ulcer) also resemble intraoral herpes, but do not present a vesicular stage.

Genital herpes can be more difficult to diagnose than oral herpes since most herpes simplex virus 2infected persons have no classical herpes symptoms. Further confusing diagnosis, several other conditions resemble genital herpes, including lichen planus, atopic dermatitis, and urethritis. Laboratory testing is often used to confirm a diagnosis of genital herpes. Laboratory tests include: culture of the herpes virus, direct fluorescent antibody (DFA) studies to detect herpes virus, skin biopsy, and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to test for presence of viral DNA. Serological tests for antibodies to herpes simplex virus are rarely useful to diagnosis and not routinely used in clinical practice, but are important in epidemiological studies. Serologic assays cannot differentiate between antibodies generated in response to a genital virus or an oral Herpes simplex virus infection, and as such cannot confirm the site of herpes infection. Absence of antibody to HERPES SV-2 does not exclude genital herpes infection because of the increasing incidence of genital herpes infections caused by HERPES SV-1.

Prevention of Herpes Transmission

Although herpes is a very dangerous and complicated disease, herpes can still be prevented and treated. Below are various ways on how to prevent herpes.

Barrier protection, such as a condom, can reduce the risk of herpes transmission.

For genital herpes, condoms are highly effective in limiting transmission of herpes simplex infection. The herpes virus cannot pass through latex, but a condom’s effectiveness is somewhat limited on a public health scale by their limited use in the community, or the base of the penis or testicles not covered by the condom may come into contact with free herpes virus in vaginal fluid of an infected female. The use of condoms or dental dams also limits the transmission of herpes from the genitals of one partner to the mouth of the other (or vice versa) during oral sex.

As with almost all sexually transmitted herpes infections, women are more susceptible to acquiring genital HERPES SV-2 than men. On an annual basis, without the use of antivirals or condoms, the transmission risk of HERPES SV-2 from infected male to female is approximately 8-10%.

To prevent newborn herpes infections, seronegative women are recommended to avoid unprotected oral-genital contact with an HERPES SV-1 seropositive partner and conventional sex with a partner having a genital herpes infection during the last trimester of pregnancy.

Additional information on genital herpes prevention can be found at the cdc website.

Choosing the right therapy for Herpes Simplex Virus depends on the site of the herpes infection and whether the attack is primary or recurrent. To be effective against recurrent Herpes Simplex Virus infection, treatment of herpes must be initiated in the first week of a primary herpes infection. Later herpes treatment has limited effect in preventing recurrent herpes infection.

Genital herpes is usually caused by Herpes Simplex Virus 2, but the percentage of genital Herpes Simplex Virus-1 case are rising, and new Herpes Simplex Virus 1 genital cases now equal or exceed those caused by Herpes Simplex Virus 2. Since there is no difference in herpes treatment, however, differentiating between genital herpes infections caused by Herpes Simplex Virus-1 or Herpes Simplex Virus-2 has little practical value.

Even if you don’t ever have herpes outbreaks, there may be some benefit to using daily suppressive therapy. This is because even people who have never had a herpes outbreak can transmit the herpes simplex virus to their partner.

Some people think they can only transmit herpes to their partner if they have a herpes outbreak, or in the prodromal period immediately before and then again right after a herpes outbreak. They’re wrong. Genital herpes can be transmitted at any time which is why some individuals who have many sexual partners or whose partners are not infected with the herpes simplex virus may decide to use suppressive therapy against the Herpes Simplex Virus even though they do not have any herpes symptoms.

Although herpes can be transmitted at any time, people with herpes are not equally infectious at all times. In general, a person is most infectious during a herpes outbreak, in the period immediately before and after a herpes outbreak, and in the first year after he is infected, but he still can transmit the herpes simplex virus at other times. Furthermore, some people don’t recognize when they are having a herpes outbreak. One study of 53 individuals who tested positive for genital herpes, but who had said they did not actually have herpes outbreaks, found that half them actually were having herpes outbreaks but didn’t realize it. However, even with that complication aside, six out of seven of the individuals who had no signs of clinical herpes were still found to be shedding herpes simplex virus.

Unfortunately, many patients and many physicians, are unaware of both the risk of asymptomatic herpes transmission and how effective herpes suppressive treatment can be in preventing it. If you are living with herpes and have one or more uninfected sexual partners, consider discussing the possible advantages of daily herpes suppressive therapy with your doctor. Condoms aren’t 100% effective at preventing the spread of herpes simplex virus, since it is transmitted from skin to skin. So remind him, or her, that 70% of new herpes infections are acquired from people who have no herpes symptoms at the time of herpes transmission and that herpes suppressive therapy has been shown to reduce the likelihood of herpes transmission by half or more.

Daily long-term preventive therapy, called herpes suppressive therapy, may be appropriate in certain patients to prevent severe long-lasting herpes recurrences, to reduce the risk of transmitting the herpes virus, and to improve quality of life. Acyclovir is the standard agent, but famciclovir and valacyclovir are also effective. In some studies, herpes suppressive therapy using acyclovir has reduced the frequency of herpes recurrence in 80% of patients and prevented herpes recurrence altogether in up to 30%. In one study of famciclovir, after a year, up to 80% of patients had no herpes recurrences. In others trials using valacyclovir, patients preferred herpes suppressive therapy and it was more effective than intermittent treatment.

If a herpes infection occurs during herpes suppressive therapy, healing time is quicker and symptoms of herpes are less severe. Herpes suppressive therapy may also reduce the risk for development of drug-resistant viruses compared to intermittent treatments.

Once the herpes disease is under control, some physicians gradually decrease the dose of the drug used in herpes suppressive therapy. In general, people stop taking herpes suppressive therapy after about two years. Some, however, stay on this herpes therapy for many more years.  The suppressive therapy herpes treatment is expensive. And, since the frequency of herpes recurrences diminishes over time without herpes suppressive therapy, lifelong use of drugs is not generally recommended. Some experts warn, however, that unless herpes suppressive therapy becomes widespread and prolonged, transmission of the herpes simplex virus will remain a major health problem and the prevalence of Herpes Simplex Virus-2 infection will not significantly decrease.

There are a number of herpes viruses which can cause the disease. Herpes simplex type 1 (HSV-1) generally causes mild outbreaks of cold sores on the mouth or lips. Herpes simplex type 2 (HSV-2) is more severe and causes genital herpes, though the mouth can also be affected.
Both herpes infections can cause painful herpes blisters which are highly infectious. Herpes blisters are contagious until completely healed, which can take from 2-4 weeks. There is a slight chance of transmitting the herpes infection after herpes blisters have healed, however the rate of transmission drops drastically at this point. In rare cases there are no symptoms.
Fortunately there are many herbal herpes remedies which are useful in boosting immunity, reducing stress, and providing topical relief from herpes outbreaks.

Herbal Herpes Remedies for Boosting Immunity

Echinacea is highly recommended as a preventive measure for those prone to herpes. This herpes remedy is taken daily for a period of three months, and thereafter, whenever there are periods of susceptibility in your life. If you are taking Echinacea tincture, the recommended dosage is one-fourth teaspoon, three times daily. If you are taking this herpes remedy in tea form, the recommended dosage is three to four cups daily. If you are taking Echinacea capsules, the recommended dosage is two capsules, three times daily.
Include pau d’arco as another one of the herpes remedies every day in the diet for three to six months. This herpes remedy may be used in tincture, tablet or tea form. Use the same dosages as recommended for Echinacea herpes herbal remedy. The following formula contains pau d’arco and is a good preventative tea.

Herbal Herpes Remedies: Immune Support Tea

4 parts pau d’arco
2 parts echinacea
1 part burdock root
Optional: cinnamon, orange peel, licorice root, or other tasty root herbs to taste.
Prepare an infusion using four to six tablespoons of the herb mixture per quart of water. Strain. Drink three to four cups daily.

Herbal Herpes Remedies:  Reduce Stress

Adaptogenic herbs and foods increase the body’s ability to respond to the stresses of the environment while calming and relaxing the nervous system. The following nervine adaptogens strengthen, nourish, and maintain the homeostatic mechanisms of the nervous system, enabling it to deal more effectively with stress.

Herbal Herpes Remedies: Less Stress Tea

4 parts nettle
3 parts oat straw
3 parts chamomile
1 part St. John’s wort
1 part skullcap
1 part passionflower
Prepare an infusion using four to six tablespoons of herb mixture per each quart of water. Drink freely throughout the day for several weeks and whenever there are high levels of stress in your life thereafter.

Treating Herpes Outbreaks

Some find that keeping the herpes sores moist prolongs the healing process, others find the comfort of salves and ointments very healing. Try both natural herpes remedies methods and see which works best for you.
If you find that your particular case responds better to an astringent, drying type medication than to a salve, make a St. Johns’ wort/lemon balm tincture. Apply this topically to the open herpes sores. But be careful; it will sting! Dilute it with water before applying.
Aloe vera gel soothes, dries, and effectively helps to heal herpes sores. Apply the aloe vera gel directly to the herpes sores. You can use the gel pressed fresh from the leaf of a plant, or you can buy aloe gel.
The Anti-Herpes Paste below makes an excellent poultice when applied directly to the herpes sores.

Anti-Herpes Paste

1 part goldenseal powder
1 part black walnut hull powder
1 part echinacea root powder
Mix the powdered herbs together, then moisten the mixture with a bit of St. Johns’ wort/lemon balm tincture.
Warm herbal baths are soothing and healing for herpes. You might wish to alternate both types or find the one that works best for you. The first is a soothing, relaxing bath that relieves the itching caused by genital herpes. The second bath is an astringent cleanser.
After bathing, gently but completely dry the groin area.

Herbal Herpes Remedies: Relaxing & Soothing Herbal Bath Blend

3 parts chamomile
1 part instant oatmeal (dry)
1 part hops
1 part comfrey leaf
2 parts calendula
1 part comfrey root
Mix these ingredients together and place a big handful or two in a large handkerchief or cotton bath bag. Tie it onto the nozzle of the tub and let hot water stream through it for several minutes. Adjust the temperature of the water, untie the bag, and let it float with you in the tub.

Herbal Herpes Remedies: Astringent Bath

1 ounce dry chaparral leaves
1-2 drops tea tree oil
4 tablespoons baking soda
Mix dry ingredients thoroughly, then mix in oil. Place mixture in a large cotton handkerchief or bath bag. Tie it onto the nozzle of the tub and let hot water stream through it for several minutes. Adjust the water temperature, untie the bag, and let it float with you in the tub.

Other Herbal Herpes Remedies Considerations

Include daily dosages of chlorophyll, wheat grass, and/or blue-green algae in your diet. Each of these substances strengthens the immune system and provides antiviral activity. They are also extremely cleansing and nourishing to the system.
Include B vitamin-rich foods in the diet such as whole grains, nutritional yeast, bee pollen, spirulina, blue green algae, seaweeds.
Add a vitamin B supplement to your daily diet.
Eliminate foods that might be agitating the condition. Sweets, both natural and otherwise, arginine-rich foods such as peanuts, chocolate, and soft drinks (especially those with cola), and stimulants can all activate the outbreak of herpes. Likewise, the lack of certain elements in the diet can exacerbate the situation. People prone to herpes need to include foods high in B vitamins, calcium, iron, Vitamin C, and lysine.

Herbal Herpes Remedies: Therapeutic Oils

Lemon balm has been shown to reduce the time it takes for blisters and sores to heal by 1/2, and to substantially reduce herpes recurrences.
Many people report great success with a therapeutic oil called H-Balm by Forces of Nature.
These oils are extremely potent and should be used only as directed.

	Nature’s Way Nettle Herb, Capsules 100ea
	Nature’s Bounty Natural Whole Herb Echinacea 400 mg, 100 ct. Bottles (Pack of 2)
	Jason Natural Cosmetics – Aloe Vera (Super Gel) 98%, 16 fl oz gel
	Forces of Nature H-Balm Extra-Strength 11 ml

Many are finding out that herpes viruses are much more prevalent and much more dangerous than anyone ever imagined.
Dr Robert Sinnott reported research has revealed a new clue to the mysterious connection between herpes viruses and connective tissue disease. He explains: “Herpes viruses have long been known to cause human diseases. But we’re finding out that they are much more prevalent and dangerous than anybody ever imagined.”

The herpes family of viruses includes Simplex 1, and Simplex 2. Researchers continue to identify new strains. All the known strains are highly infectious, and can be easily transmitted by hand-to-hand contact. Even touching a contaminated doorknob can lead to herpes infection.

Most people are infected by herpes viruses early in childhood – 99 percent of the population has at least one herpes virus. The most well-known is the virus that causes chickenpox. But there are many others that cause brief flu-like symptoms, and then seemingly disappear. The viruses don’t actually disappear at all – they just go “underground” in the tissues of the body. Researchers have discovered that these so-called ‘dormant’ viruses may actually be replicating at a very low level, causing cumulative damage that manifests itself in middle age. Many herpes viruses hide out in nerve tissue. People who have shingles often feel a burning pain in their nerves before the shingles appear. A certain group of herpes, viruses can hide in the connective tissue.
Until now, there are no existing herpes cures although there are ways to remedy the pain caused by the herpes virus. How about detox as a cure for herpes? If you’re a person infected with herpes, it is without a doubt that you’ve scoured the Internet as well looking for possible herpes cures and might have encountered a website called Resolve Herpes that claims that detox can cure herpes. But is it true?
The Resolve Herpes website claims that if you take their product (which appears identical to the product they are marketing to Resolve Arthritis), your body will become herpes virus free – and that you will be able to test for this 90 days after finishing the treatment.

Although Resolve Herpes is clearly trying to market their product as a way to cure herpes, they are very careful to only imply that their product is a herpes cure, without ever saying it. Why? To quote their own website:

ResolveHerpes is an all-natural product that has not undergone the immensely expensive and time-consuming process of obtaining FDA approval as a “drug.” So, like so many other all-natural products, ResolveHerpes is prohibited from claiming that it can “diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.”
That’s fortunate because there is no evidence that this product works. The company admits to have no peer reviewed research to support their website claims. They stated that they intend to publish a book about the product, but, unlike with research papers, in a book there is no review process to see if claims are supported.
Based on the current lack of evidence, it can be comfortably stated that:
1.    There is no evidence that Resolve Herpes works.
2.    There is no reason why a “detox” treatment should be able to cure herpes.
3.    Even if a mineral treatment did boost the immune system it would not cure herpes. Many people with healthy immune systems are infected with herpes. Their immune system may help keep their herpes infection under control and reduce the number of herpes outbreaks, but it does not cure herpes disease. Right now, doctors believe that once you are infected with herpes virus, you are infected for life.
People who want to believe that this medication can cure herpes will find a way to do so. There are after all many people desperately hoping for a herpes cure; these are people who look for any evidence at all that the claims could be true, while ignoring any evidence that it is not.
The Resolve Herpes advertisements imply it is a surefire cure for genital herpes, but there is no data to support its claim. Again, we stress that currently there is no herpes cure available. One day there may be a cure for herpes, but right now your best bet is to focus on managing the virus and figuring out the best way to live with your disease. If you have frequent herpes outbreaks, supressive therapy may be a good option, but if you really want to spend $300 on a more “natural” treatment consider using it to pay for yoga classes or some other stress-busting technique. There is actually a reasonable amount of peer-reviewed evidence suggesting that stress can make herpes outbreaks worse, and lowering your stress level would probably be a good idea even if it didn’t help you manage your infection.

Symptoms of a Genital Herpes Outbreak

How Long Until Genital Herpes Symptoms Appear?

What Can Happen When Infected with Genital Herpes Virus?

How Is Genital Herpes Prevented?

Herpes is one of the most feared diseases around. Herpes is a kind of sexually transmitted disease. Nobody is safe from this disease called herpes. Even pregnant women can have herpes. However, not because a woman has genital herpes, does not mean she cannot have children. Twenty percent to 25 percent of pregnant women have genital herpes. However, the herpes simplex virus does pose a risk to the unborn child in certain situations. Knowing more about the risks of genital herpes infections during pregnancy helps mother with herpes and their partners make informed decisions to protect themselves and their child from herpes. The herpes virus has several kinds of herpes infections.

The herpes simplex virus causes a variety of herpes infections and has specific herpes characteristics.
In addition to that, herpes has so many risk factors for infant herpes and herpes infections. The risk of transmitting the herpes simplex virus to a baby depends on several factors like the exposure of the infant to herpes lesions during delivery, also whether the mother with herpes has antibodies against herpes to the herpes simplex virus, and lastly whether the infant has time to acquire these antibodies for herpes before delivery. To illustrate how an infant’s herpes risk changes based on the above factors examples on herpes are given below. For example, a woman with herpes who experiences a first outbreak of genital herpes during the third trimester and who has not developed antibodies to the herpes virus by the onset of labor has a low percent chance of transmitting the herpes virus to her infant. Also, on the other hand, a woman who experiences a recurrent outbreak of genital herpes, because she already has antibodies to the herpes virus and has passed them to her unborn child has a 3 percent chance of transmitting the herpes virus to her infant.

The kind of herpes which is more dangerous for the infant is the herpes simplex type virus. The herpes simplex type determines the risk to the infant. A primary or recurrent HERPES SV-1 infection during labor is more easily transmitted to the infant but the disease is limited to the mouth, eyes, and mucous membranes. Primary herpes infection with HERPES SV-2 is more likely to affect the central nervous system causing seizures, meningitis, developmental delay, and death due to herpes. During delivery, herpes is also proven to be very dangerous. Currently all women with herpes who have an outbreak of genital herpes, primary or recurrent, should have a caesarean section to reduce the exposure of the infant to the herpes simplex virus.

However, even if herpes during pregnancy is dangerous, herpes can still be treated. Antiviral medications for herpes used against herpes viruses work by interfering with viral replication, effectively slowing the replication rate of the herpes virus and providing a greater opportunity for the immune response for herpes to intervene. All herpes drugs in this class depend on the activity of the viral enzyme thymidine kinase to convert the drug sequentially from its prodrug form to monophosphate (with one phosphate group), diphosphate (with two phosphate groups), and finally to the triphosphate (with three phosphate groups) form which interferes with viral DNA replication during herpes.

There are several herpes prescription antiviral medications for controlling herpes simplex outbreaks, including aciclovir (Zovirax), valaciclovir (Valtrex), famciclovir (Famvir), and penciclovir. For herpes Aciclovir was the original, and prototypical, member of this drug class; it is now available in generic brands at a greatly reduced cost. In herpes treatments, Valaciclovir and famciclovir—prodrugs of aciclovir and penciclovir, respectively—have improved solubility in water and better bioavailability when taken orally. Aciclovir for herpes is the recommended antiviral for suppressive therapy for herpes for use during the last months of pregnancy to prevent transmission of herpes simplex to the neonate in herpes cases of maternal recurrent herpes. The use of valaciclovir and famciclovir, while potentially improving herpes treatment compliance and efficacy, are still undergoing safety evaluation for herpes in this context during herpes outbreaks.

	Zovirax Cold Sore Treatment Cream 2g
	Viratrol Herpes Symptom Relief Medicine. All-Natural Homeopathic Medicine Quickly Relieves Herpes Symptoms on the Face or Body Including Cold Sores and Fever Blisters. Therapeutic Support for Clear Skin. 2 Bottles – Direct from Manufacturer.

Treatment with antiviral drugs can help people who are bothered by herpes outbreaks stay symptom-free longer. These drugs can also reduce the severity and duration of herpes symptoms when they flare up. Drug therapy is not a cure for herpes, but it can make living with herpes condition easier.
There are three major drugs commonly used to treat genital herpes symptoms: acyclovir (Zovirax), famciclovir (Famvir), and valacyclovir (Valtrex). These are all taken in pill form. Severe cases may be treated with intravenous (IV) acyclovir.
Formulas applied to the surface of the skin provide little benefit, and doctors don’t usually recommend them.

Genital Herpes Drug Medication #1: Famciclovir
Famciclovir is used to treat infections caused by certain types of viruses. It treats shingles caused by herpes zoster. It also treats herpes outbreaks of herpes simplex that cause herpes cold sores around the mouth, herpes sores around the anus, and genital herpes. In people with frequent genital herpes outbreaks, famciclovir is used to help reduce the number of future episodes.
Famciclovir is an antiviral drug. However, it is not a cure for these herpes infections. The herpes viruses that cause these herpes infections continue to live in the body even between herpes outbreaks. Famciclovir decreases the severity and length of these herpes outbreaks. It helps the herpes sores heal faster, keeps new herpes sores from forming, and decreases pain/itching. This medication may also help reduce how long pain remains after the herpes sores heal. In addition, in people with a weakened immune system, famciclovir can decrease the risk of the herpes virus spreading to other parts of the body and causing serious herpes infections.

Genital Herpes Drug Medication #2: Valtrex
Valacyclovir is used in children to treat herpes cold sores (herpes labialis) and chickenpox (varicella zoster). It is used in adults to treat herpes cold sores and shingles (herpes zoster). Valacyclovir does not cure these herpes diseases, but it may decrease pain and help herpes sores heal faster. Valacyclovir belongs to a class of medications known as antivirals.
Valacyclovir is also used to treat people with genital herpes who are currently having a genital herpes outbreak. It can also be used to prevent a herpes outbreak (suppressive therapy). This medication helps control herpes symptoms, but does not cure the herpes disease or prevent herpes infection of sexual partners.
If you are taking valacyclovir for treatment of genital herpes, it is important to follow safe sex practices to lower the chance of giving herpes to your partner, even if there are no herpes symptoms present. Always use a condom made of latex or polyurethane. When you have herpes symptoms or are experiencing a herpes outbreak, do not have sexual contact with your partner.

Genital Herpes Drug Medication #3: Zovirax
Acyclovir is used to treat herpes infections caused by certain types of viruses. It treats herpes cold sores around the mouth (caused by herpes simplex), shingles (caused by herpes zoster), and chickenpox.
This medication is also used to treat genital herpes outbreaks. In people with frequent herpes outbreaks, acyclovir is used to help reduce the number of future herpes episodes.
Acyclovir is an antiviral drug. However, it is not a cure for these herpes infections. The herpes viruses that cause these herpes infections continue to live in the body even between herpes outbreaks. Acyclovir decreases the severity and length of these herpes outbreaks. It helps the herpes sores heal faster, keeps new herpes sores from forming, and decreases pain/itching. This medication may also help reduce how long pain remains after the herpes sores heal. In addition, in people with a weakened immune system, acyclovir can decrease the risk of the herpes virus spreading to other parts of the body and causing serious herpes infections.

Side Effects of Herpes Medical Drugs and Follow-up Care for Herpes

Side effects with these drugs are considered mild, and health experts believe these drugs are safe in the long term. Acyclovir is the oldest of the three, and its safety has been documented in people taking herpes suppressive therapy for several years.
People taking herpes suppressive therapy should see their doctor at least once a year to decide if they should continue. You may find taking the pills every day to be inconvenient, the drugs may not work for you, or you may naturally have fewer herpes outbreaks as time goes on. Your doctor can help you make herpes treatment choices to suit your needs.

	Novitra Homeopathic Cold Sore Cream, Maximum Strength , .25 oz (7.1 g)
	Abreva Cold Sore/Fever Blister Treatment, .07-Ounce Tube
	Zovirax Cold Sore Treatment Cream 2g