Genital Herpes Treatment: An Overview
There is no cure for
genital herpes. There are, however, several prescription medications that are quite effective in speeding up healing and in helping to prevent future herpes outbreaks. They can also decrease the risk of passing herpes to sexual partners.
These medicines are known as antivirals. Antiviral medicines that are approved to treat genital herpes include:
Genital Herpes Treatment for Different Stages
The following sections explain in detail how genital herpes is treated during different stages of infection.
Treating the Initial Genital Herpes Outbreak
The first outbreak of genital herpes is almost always treated with an antiviral medicine, which markedly speeds up the healing of genital herpes. Treatment for the first episode is usually taken for seven to ten days.
Treating Recurrent Genital Herpes
Some people with recurrent genital herpes take medication during each outbreak to speed up healing. This episodic treatment must be started at the very first sign of an outbreak, preferably during the
early symptoms of genital herpes (known as the prodrome period). The medicine is continued for three to five days.
Although episodic treatment speeds up healing, for most people, outbreaks are shortened only by one or two days. If you and your healthcare provider choose episodic therapy, fill your prescription ahead of time and have it ready before an outbreak so you can begin treatment immediately.
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