Читать книгу Getting Pregnant For Dummies - Sharon Perkins - Страница 92

Genital herpes is caused by the herpes simplex type 2 virus (HSV). The cold sores some people are prone to on their lips are caused by the herpes simplex type 1 virus (although you can get genital herpes with type 1 and cold sores with type 2 — STIs don’t always play by the rules!). Currently, there is no vaccine against genital herpes in the works, but a few scientists are working on one for oral herpes. In the meantime, caution should be exercised when having a sexual relationship with an infected person as it is spread through body fluids. Here’s some other information on herpes:

 Fifty percent of Americans under age 50 are infected with oral herpes.

 One in eight people in the United States have genital herpes, with 500,000 new cases diagnosed each year.

 Unlike some of the other STIs, the incidence of genital herpes is decreasing.

 Once you are infected with the genital herpes virus, it stays in your body forever, even though initial symptoms of flu-like symptoms and chancres may disappear within two to three weeks. Occasional flare-ups can be managed with antiviral medications like acyclovir (Zovirax), famciclovir (Famvir), and valacyclovir (Valtrex).

 There is no clear link between genital herpes and infertility; however, some researchers have suggested that the virus may cause implantation problems in women. The bigger issue is if you become infected late in your pregnancy, or you have an outbreak at delivery. Having genital herpes before a pregnancy has a very low risk of transmitting the infection to your baby.

  There is a 30–50 percent risk of infecting a fetus if the mother first contracts genital herpes late in her pregnancy.

 If you have an outbreak of genital herpes at the time your baby is ready to be delivered, you’ll need to have a cesarean section; if you deliver vaginally without treatment, your baby may suffer from neonatal herpes (leading to central nervous system damage, mental retardation, or even death).

 Antiviral medications are generally safe to take during pregnancy.