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Sexually Transmitted Diseases

Treatment for genital herpes

During an active herpes episode, whether primary or recurrent, it is important to follow a few simple steps to speed healing and to avoid spreading the infection to other sites of the body or to other people:

keep the infected area clean and dry
try to avoid touching the sores
wash hands after contact
avoid sexual contact from the time the symptoms are first recognized until the sores have healed.

In 1982, the first antiviral drug for genital herpes, acyclovir, was approved by the Food and Drug Administration for use as a topical ointment in persons suffering from an initial episode of infection.

Over the next few years, investigators at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) and elsewhere subsequently proved that an oral form of acyclovir is a superior treatment capable of benefiting persons with first or recurrent episodes of genital herpes.

The oral form of the drug markedly shortens the course of a first episode and limits the severity of recurrences if taken within 24 hours of onset of symptoms.

People who have very frequent recurrent episodes of the disease can also take oral acyclovir daily for up to 1 year to suppress the virus’ activity and prevent most recurrences. Acyclovir is not a cure for herpes -- the virus remains in the body, but while taken regularly, the drug interferes with the virus’ ability to reproduce itself.