Mild Genital Herpes Outbreaks:
Should I Be Concerned?

Some people may be infected with mild genital herpes without even knowing it.

In fact, these people may already be shedding the virus and passing it on to others, without feeling ill or out of sorts. This is why herpes gets so easily spread, most people are unaware that they have them!

You may be showing signs of genital herpes, but the outbreaks aren't so obvious that you might brush it off as just a rash or some other infection.

It is important that you know that you are not alone in your fight with genital herpes.

If you've been recently diagnosed, you might feel depressed and isolated. However, you'll soon find out that there are a lot of things you can do even if you’re infected.

Great life and great sex can still be in your future despite this. Trust me. It’s not the end of the world.

But first, a few of the things you have to know about this infection:

So how is a mild genital herpes outbreak any different from
a full-blown genital herpes outbreak?

The only difference between having mild genital herpes symptoms and full-blown genital herpes symptoms is its severity and longevity. There might also be some symptoms in full-blown or regular genital herpes outbreaks that might not be found in mild genital herpes outbreaks.

Some people never have sores or have very few sporadic symptoms that go unnoticed. But this does not make them any less contagious!

Since the symptoms are just MILD, there’s no risk of transmitting the virus to another person, right?

No. Having mild symptoms is not equivalent to not having the ability to transmit the infection to another person. In fact, there are just about equal chances of transmitting the infection to another person if you have either mild genital herpes or full-blown herpes symptoms. Be mindful that there is absolutely no correlation, interconnection or whatsoever between your possibility of spreading the infection to another person and having the presence or absence of the symptoms.

What can I do to reduce the chances of
spreading the infection?

One of the foremost things you can do to protect your partner from getting the infection from you is to practice safe sex at all times. You’d be surprised by how much this could help not just for you and your partner. I can’t reiterate enough that safe sex is the easiest practice that you can do to prevent the virus from spreading.

Aside from that, you can also use Valtrex to reduce transmission rates, but be sure that you have consulted with your physician before taking in any form of drug whether its preventive or not. It’s always better to be safe, and know the possible repercussions of the drug to your body than taking it unknowingly. It will also help you understand about your disease better if you have your physician talk to you about it.

How can I be diagnosed if I have the infection?

The diagnosis is the same for other herpes infections. Your health care provider will first and foremost check for the presence of sores in your genital area, and in their absence will perhaps send you to a laboratory for a full exam and to know which type of herpes infection you have.

It may take a couple of days before results come back so its better to visit your doctor as soon as you feel the symptoms coming. That way they can provide you with a prescription for antiviral medication to ease the pain from herpes outbreaks.

What Do I Do Now?

If you have the infection, you probably will only experience about 2-3 outbreaks per year and it will only last about 2 to 3 days, and will only be mildly uncomfortable.

If you have not been diagnosed yet, consider:

• Taking a genital herpes blood test to find out. A blood test is the most effective way to know for sure whether you do have mild genital herpes or not.
• Visit online testing locations for the HerpeSelect test which you can order confidentially. I have them listed on my blood test for herpes page.
• Having a look at some photos of genital herpes. These pictures will give you a clearer idea of what you or your partner may be experiencing.

Remember that a case of mild genital herpes, or any kind of herpes for that matter, should and must not keep you from living and enjoying life as normal as possible.

Having the infection should not give you any cause to repine, because all you need is to have the right information and the proper management of the infection, you will be able to live your life to the full.

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