Health Topics A-Z

What Are The Treatments?

There's no cure, but antiviral treatment can help. Your doctor might prescribe:

• Zovirax (acyclovir)
• Famvir (famciclovir)
• Valtrex (valacyclovir)

All of these antivirals can be used to shorten and prevent outbreaks. Daily suppressive therapy can reduce potential spread to partners when ulcers are not apparent (asymptomatic shedding). The newer medicines, Famvir and Valtrex can be taken less frequently and may be better tolerated in some.

During an active herpes episode, you should take steps to speed healing and to keep from infecting others:

• Keep the affected area clean and dry. This helps keep other infections away.
• Don't touch the sores. If you do, wash your hands thoroughly.
• Avoid sexual contact from the first sign of symptoms until the sores are completely gone. This is when the scab has fallen off and new skin covers the place where there were blisters. But remember that you can still infect someone even if you don't have any sores.

How Can I Prevent It?

If you have genital herpes, don't have sex when you have any sign of a herpes episode. Between episodes, the use of condoms and latex dams can help prevent the spread of the virus.

If you don't have genital herpes, use condoms and latex dams to protect yourself during sex. These products are not completely protective, but they do reduce your risk of infection.