What are the treatments for genital herpes?

Question: What are the treatments for genital herpes?

Answer: Although there is no cure for genital herpes, your doctor might prescribe one of three medicines to treat it:

• Acyclovir (Zovirax®) treats the first and/or later episodes of genital herpes.
• Famciclovir (Famvir®) treats later episodes of genital herpes and helps prevent future outbreaks.
• Valacyclovir (Valtrex®) treats later episodes of genital herpes.

During an active herpes episode, whether the first episode or a repeat one, you should follow a few simple steps to speed healing and avoid spreading the infection to other places on the body or to other people:

• Keep the infected area clean and dry to prevent other infections from developing.
• Try to avoid touching the sores.
• Wash your hands after contact with the sores.
• Avoid sexual contact from the time you first feel any symptoms until the sores are completely healed, that is, the scab has fallen off and new skin has formed where the sore was.

Reprinted from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health