Dissecting Male Genital Herpes
Just when you thought that herpes is only for females, you hear about male genital herpes. It’s only at that point you realize that it can happen to you too. Because most of the cases affect the females, this type of herpes is ignored, especially by the guys.
You should not, since if the genital herpes lasts longer than 2 weeks, it may be a sign of something else, or it could lead to a more serious infection in other parts of the body.
Causes of Male Genital Herpes
The main cause of the genital herpes among the males is the herpes virus. There are two types of them. The first one is called the type 1 or oral herpes, which means it usually occurs in the mouth. However, it’s the second one that is normally associated with genital herpes among males. It’s type 2 herpes simplex virus.
As a virus, it can be transmitted from one person to another. Since one of the leading modes is sexual contact, genital herpes is often referred to as a sexually transmitted disease. It doesn’t matter if you are having sex with the opposite or the same sex. You can still get affected with it through your partner.
Herpes Male Symptoms
Male symptoms of herpes don’t immediately show up. In fact, some men will never develop any outward symptoms and will not know they have the virus until they can get themselves tested. This is because the virus can be dormant for weeks or even years.
However, if the virus is highly active or if you have very poor immune system, it will take around 12 to 16 weeks before the first signs of an outbreak can occur.
What does herpes look like on a male? You don’t immediately see the blisters or sores in your genital area. Usually, you will feel a tingling or itchy sensation in your penis, scrotum, anal region, and other areas close to your genitals. The “pimples” will start appearing. They can be very inflamed and thus painful to touch.
In due time, they can burst and develop into more open sores. From the time you feel the itchiness to the development of scabs, you should avoid any sexual contact as much as possible. It’s during these times when you are highly contagious. You need to wait for the sores to completely disappear, leaving no trace at all.
In some cases, you will feel pain in the lower part of your back, as well as muscle pain all over the body. You may also suffer from fever or chills. The sores can also excrete certain discharges.
Diagnosing and Treating Male Genital Herpes
If you’re sexually active, make it a point to test yourself of the virus regularly. There are herpes-specific blood tests you can take these days. You can coordinate with your physician to determine which of the examinations will be ideal to you.
Your condition will go away after a few weeks even without treatment, especially if it’s only mild male genital herpes. However, it can come back many times within your lifetime. Thus, others take suppression drugs to prevent reoccurrence.