Genital herpes (HSV) treatment

Your MinuteClinic provider can discuss your symptoms and refer you for screening. They can help you with treatment and give you prevention advice.

1. You may have to answer a few questions about symptoms to help us prepare for your visit prior to scheduling your appointment.

2. Check-in varies depending on how you scheduled your appointment.

   If you made your appointment online
   Check in using the email or text message we sent to confirm your appointment. If you prefer to check in using the electronic kiosk, make sure you have your confirmation code.

   If you made your appointment in the clinic
   Sign in at the electronic kiosk.

   If you made a MinuteClinic Virtual Care® appointment

   To join your virtual visit, use the link in the email or text message we sent you to confirm your appointment. Please join 15 minutes before your scheduled visit time. You will need your date of birth and zip code to join the visit.

3. When it's time for your appointment, a provider will call your name.
4. Your provider will conduct a thorough examination based on your reason for the visit, presenting symptoms and health history. Charges will be based on examination and services provided during the visit.
5. At the end of your visit, you will be provided with a visit summary, a receipt and educational material about your diagnosis. At your request, we can send your primary care provider information about your visit.

Typically, the virus spreads through unprotected sex. You can become infected when you come into contact with:

• Herpes lesions
• Genital secretions
• Mucosal surfaces
• Oral secretions

After the initial infection, the virus lies dormant in your body and can reactivate. Outside the body, the virus quickly breaks down.

Two kinds of herpes simplex virus infections can cause herpes:

• HSV-1: This type is commonly associated with cold sores or fever blisters around your mouth. It spreads through skin-to-skin contact. It can also spread to the genital area through oral sex.
• HSV-2: The typical cause of genital herpes. It’s transmitted through either sexual or skin-to-skin contact. HSV-2 is highly infectious, regardless of whether or not there is an open sore.

In addition, normal looking oral or genital mucosa or skin can also shed both types of herpes infections (HSV-1 and HSV-2).

Genital herpes can cause pain and discomfort or sores in the genital area. On average, these lesions appear 4 days (can be in the range of 2 to 12 days) after you’re exposed. After they break, painful ulcers can take two to four weeks to heal.

Some people are asymptomatic and unaware they have an HSV infection. In other words, you might be asymptomatic while you’re contagious. (You might not have any visible signs or your symptoms might be so mild that you’ve mistaken them for something else.)

Symptoms can include:

• Itching, pain and tenderness: Until the infection clears, these symptoms can occur in or around the mouth, genitals, buttocks and anus.
• Red bumps or white blisters: One or more of these may appear 2 to 12 days after initial exposure. Typically, these appear as small blisters around the rectum, genitals or mouth, and they might go unnoticed or be mistaken for another condition. Recurrences are typically shorter in duration and might be preceded by pain or tingling to the area.
• Scabs: As the skin heals and ulcers crust over, scabs form.
• Ulcers: After the blisters rupture, urination can be painful because ulcers form.
• Men: Sores can develop on or around the penis and scrotum.
• Women: Sores can develop in or around the cervix and in the external areas of the labia.

First outbreak systemic symptoms may last longer and include more virus shedding (making it easier to transmit the virus) than subsequent outbreaks. These symptoms may include:

• Body aches
• Fever
• Headache
• Swollen lymph nodes

Recurrent outbreaks are usually shorter in duration and occur within hours or days of the lesions. These outbreaks may also be less severe than the first outbreak and lessen over time. These symptoms can include:

• Localized genital pain
• Tingling or shooting pains in the legs, hips or buttocks

• Increased risk of other STIs: Having one STI increases the risk of acquiring other sexually transmitted infections, including HIV and AIDS
• Those with suppressed immune systems: You may develop severe and persistent lesions on the buttocks or groin, as well as on an eye, finger or thigh.
• Pregnant women and their newborn child: If you’re pregnant and have genital herpes, talk to your OB/GYN, since there are potential complications.

Here are some ways to reduce your genital herpes risk:

• Abstain from sexual activity with partners who have herpes lesions or other active herpes symptoms. It’s also important to know that even if a sexual partner does not have symptoms, they can infect others.
• Avoid intercourse when either partner has a recurrence of herpes symptoms.
• Be in a long-term, mutually monogamous relationship with a partner who’s been tested for STDs and is known to be uninfected.
• Correctly and consistently use condoms during sexual contact. Condoms can reduce, but don’t totally eliminate, the risk of getting or transmitting genital herpes. The virus can spread in areas not covered by a condom.
• Do not have sexual contact with a person who has symptoms of a sexually transmitted disease.
• Get regular annual screenings for STIs.
• Get yourself and your partner tested. Do this before you engage in sexual activity and share the results.
• Limit your number of sexual partners.