How is genital herpes treated?
Although there's no cure for genital herpes, medicine can relieve pain and itching and help sores heal faster. If you have a lot of outbreaks, you may take medicine every day to limit the number of outbreaks.
Treatment works best if you start it as soon as possible after the start of an outbreak. This is especially true for outbreaks that come back again and again.
Treatment includes:
- Medicines. Antiviral medicines are the recommended treatment. They can relieve the pain and discomfort of blisters and sores and speed healing. These medicines also decrease the number of days you are contagious and may help prevent outbreaks.
- Home treatment to help sores heal. Examples include taking warm sitz baths and wearing cotton underwear.
Finding out that you have herpes may cause you to feel bad about yourself or about sex. Counseling or a support group may help you feel better.
