Genital Herpes: How to Care for Your Teen

Genital herpes is caused by a virus. It spreads through sex or close sexual contact. The virus causes outbreaks of sores that come and go. There is no cure for herpes, but medicines can help prevent outbreaks and make them less severe if they do happen.

Treatment:

• Encourage your teen to take any prescribed medicines. The two types of medicine for herpes are: 

  • Medicines taken every day to prevent outbreaks or help stop the virus from spreading to sexual partners.

  • Medicines taken at the first sign of an outbreak (tingling, itching, or burning before sores develop) to make it less severe.

• If your teen has pain from sores, it can help to: 

  • Place a bag of ice wrapped in a towel on the area for 5–10 minutes every few hours. Don't put ice directly on the skin.

  • Sit in a small amount of cool or lukewarm water (no soap or bubble bath).

  • Wear cotton underwear and avoid clothes that are tight or that rub.

  • Take acetaminophen (such as Tylenol® or a store brand) OR ibuprofen (such as Advil®, Motrin®, or a store brand) if the health care provider says it's OK.

Follow up:

• Herpes can spread to partners during sex, even if your teen has no sores. Talk to your teen about the importance of telling past, current, and future partners about having herpes.

• Talk to your teen about ways to lower the chances of spreading herpes. These include: 

  • avoiding sex during outbreaks

  • taking antiviral medicine every day if prescribed by the health care provider

  • using a latex condom every time they have sex (vaginal, oral, or anal)

• Follow the health care provider's instructions about your teen being tested for other sexually transmitted diseases (STDs).

• Be sure your teen gets all doses of the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine (shot). HPV is an STD that can lead to some kinds of cancer and genital warts.

• Your teen has signs of an STD (such as an abnormal discharge, belly pain, or pain when peeing).

• Your teen can't pee.

• Your teen gets a bad headache and/or stiff neck.

What brings on a herpes outbreak? Outbreaks can be brought on by stress, illness, being overly tired, or being in sunlight. Women can have outbreaks when they get their periods.

How is the herpes virus spread? The herpes virus spreads most easily by touching the fluid from a sore. This can happen during sex or when touching the genital area. But even when there are no sores, the virus is still active in the body and can spread to another person during sexual contact.

Condoms can't always prevent the virus from spreading because they don't cover all areas where the virus can live.

Is genital herpes caused by the same virus that causes cold sores? Usually not. Genital herpes is usually caused by a herpes virus called HSV-2. Cold sores are usually caused by HSV-1. But sometimes HSV-1 can spread to the genitals through oral sex.