Do you constantly feel discomfort in your private area, heaving a sigh of relief when you scratch it? Perhaps, you have noticed bumps or blisters around the area that are causing this constant need to itch. Well, if this is the case, you may be looking at the symptoms of genital herpes. If you are sexually active, you may want to go for a genital herpes test to make sure whether it’s the symptoms of this STD or not.
Once you have had a physical relationship, it is hard to ascertain whether you transmit an STD or not. While most STDs may show similar symptoms once they show up, genital herpes symptoms may be easy to identify. This sexually transmitted disease is caused by two types of HSVs or Herpes Simplex Viruses. These are HSV-1 that goes on to cause cold sores and HSV-2 that causes genital herpes.
When you have HSV-2 or genital herpes, you will notice blisters around your genital area. These appearances are generally termed outbreaks. These symptoms will show as immediately as two days upon contraction or may even show up after a month. From your anus to penis/vagina and buttocks, the infected area will start to itch before the first signs of blisters appear.
No matter how sexually active or inactive you are, it is pertinent that you get tested for STD at least once a year. If you happen to have such an outbreak after your recent sexual encounter, make sure that you don’t delay getting a genital herpes test. Who knows, it could be just a bacterial infection that’s causing the itch and blisters. But to be sure, you need to opt for a genital herpes test so that you can ease the worry and stress.
If you don’t already know, genital herpes is incurable. This means that once you are infected, you are bound to have recurring outbreaks throughout your life. Although there are treatments and medications available for suppressing these outbreaks, the bottom line remains that you have to live with it. Therefore, if you don’t want to be living such a life, you need to ensure that you take all possible measures of contracting it. This means practicing safe sex and talking to your partner about getting tested before getting into a physical relationship. This way, both of you can avoid the contraction or transmission of genital herpes or any other kind of STD.
When you go for a genital herpes test, it usually includes a blood test or swab test. Now, it is very essential that you go for a genital herpes test because, unlike other STDs, genital herpes can be spread even through direct skin contact. This means that if you are infected, you could be spreading this infection when you share daily household items with your loved ones.
Upon getting tested for genital herpes, if the result is positive, you can prevent the further spread of the infection. With proper care, treatment, and medication, you can keep the outbreaks under control. This way, you will also be preventing transmission of this infection to your near and dear ones.
When you decide that you want to get tested for genital herpes, you will find that there are a number of STD clinics around you! With online registration easily available in almost all clinics, you can avoid the waiting time by booking an appointment online directly. Some partner labs like STD Testing Now require you to have the requisition code or form with you when you visit the lab. With this code, you could also get tested for genital herpes on the same day as your booking!
If you are unable to make it to the clinic, you could always opt for an at-home genital herpes test. This will allow you to save time, especially when you always have a busy schedule. By reading through the instructions on the kit, you can collect your sample and return it to the lab. Usually, the results come back within a period of two weeks.
As mentioned earlier, there is currently no cure for genital herpes. So, apart from reducing its outbreaks, there are some home remedies you could consider for relief. For instance, you could use an antibiotic ointment to rub the part where the blisters appear. You could also opt for a warm water salt bath.
If you want to avoid infecting your sexual partner, ensure that you wear protection at all times. This means wearing protection even when you don’t have outbreaks. Hiding the fact that you have genital herpes when you are getting into a new relationship will prove fatal. Therefore, ensure that you are open about it with your partner and have an honest discussion.
On the off chance that you have been infected with genital herpes and you are pregnant, there are chances of you passing it to your baby. Therefore, it is very important that you make your doctor aware of it so that he or she can monitor you at all times.
All in all, you must go for a genital herpes test if you don’t want to be the person spreading it to the people around you. According to the CDC, as many as 16% of people who fall under the age range of 14 and 49 are reported to be suffering from genital herpes. Therefore, you never know whether the person you just met is genital herpes positive or not. So, don’t make the mistake of transmitting or contracting genital herpes when you could easily avoid it. Opt for a genital herpes test today at a clinic near you, which should take you no more than ten minutes of your time. You could also order the at-home test for genital herpes if you are not comfortable walking into a clinic or are always time-bound.
