Herpes is a sexually transmitted disease (STD) caused by the herpes simplex virus (HSV).
Genital herpes infection is very common and on the increase in the United States. Nationwide 45 million people aged 12 and older (1 out of 5 of the total adolescent and adult population) are infected with HSV-2.
It is more common in women (1 out of 4) than in men (1 out of 5) possibly because male to female transmission is more efficient than female to male transmission.
HSV-2 infection is also more common in areas of high socio-economic disadvantage, facing fundamental issues of health such as:
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access to quality health care
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poverty
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living in communities with a high prevalence of STDs
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illicit drug use
Herpes is spread by direct contact including:
Sexual contact
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Anal sex
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Oral sex
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Vaginal sex
as well as
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Kissing
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Skin-to-skin contact which transmits HSV-1 and HSV-2
Genital herpes
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Can be transmitted with or without the presence of sores or other symptoms
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Is often transmitted by people who do not realize infection can be passed on even when there are no symptoms
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Is often transmitted by people unaware they are infected
Statistics
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An estimated 40 million people have genital herpes which is a chronic viral infection
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About 500,000 new people get symptomatic herpes each year
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There are even more people without symptoms
Genital herpes infection
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has increased 30% in the U.S.
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has increased most dramatically among young white teens (12-19 years old)
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among whites is 5 times higher than 20 years ago
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is twice as likely to infect 20-29 year old adults
Symptoms vary, but often most people have no noticeable symptoms.
Early symptoms may include:
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burning sensation in the genitals
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flu-like symptoms
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lower back pain
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pain when urinating
Small red bumps may appear in the genital area after initial symptoms, which later develop into painful blisters.
The blisters usually:
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crust over
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form a scab
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heal
