1. Identify and Avoid Your Triggers
If you've been infected with the genital herpes virus, it's essential for you to learn how to anticipate outbreaks in order to reduce the chance that you'll pass the virus on. If you're newly diagnosed, you'll have to spend some time figuring out what triggers your outbreaks and how to recognize when an outbreak is coming on. While your doctor will be your best source of information, there are a few general things you can keep in mind.
If you are going to be sexually active, you should try to reduce the amount of friction that your genital skin experiences. This will reduce irritation and might prevent an outbreak. You can use a water-based lubricant, but avoid oil-based and spermicidal lubricants. They can weaken the natural protective layers in genitals and make it easier for you to pass the virus to your partner.
It's not known why, but you might find that you experience outbreaks with exposure to large amounts of sunlight or if you catch a cold. Similarly, doctors can't explain why natural hormonal changes, such as menstruation or menopause, also seem to cause symptoms.
No two individuals have the same set of triggers, and your case may be very different from others you may know about. The only way to know for sure is to manage your symptoms with the help of your doctor.
2. Investigate Your Treatment Options
When you're diagnosed with the genital herpes virus, your doctor will administer an initial treatment, usually consisting of anti-viral drugs that will help control your first outbreak. You'll then go on to manage the condition by taking anti-viral drugs whenever you experience a flare-up. This is known as "intermittent treatment," and it's usually enough to help most people manage their genital herpes.
If you have a severe case, however, you may need to undergo "suppressive treatment," which seeks to keep outbreaks at bay. This normally consists of a daily dose of anti-viral drugs, which can reduce the frequency of outbreaks by as much as 80 percent. If you're really lucky, you'll be able to keep outbreaks at bay entirely using suppressive treatment.
3. Make Changes in Your Sex Life
It is your responsibility to exercise close control over your sex life to prevent the spread of the herpes virus to your sex partner(s). If you know an outbreak is impending, or if you have an outbreak of sores already, refrain from engaging in vaginal, oral and anal sex. However, you can safely perform oral sex on your partner, so long as you have no open sores on your mouth.
You should also tell sexual partners about your condition and allow them to make informed decisions. While it is possible to have regular sexual contact between outbreaks, it's not a good idea to leave your partner in the dark. If you're unsure how to tell a partner about your genital herpes, ask your doctor for resources or visit one of the many chat rooms and message boards online.
