| What causes recurrences of genital herpes? In most recurrences, no obvious trigger is identified, but many people find that attacks of genital herpes occur in conjunction with the following conditions: * general illness (from mild illnesses such as the common cold, to serious conditions such as operations, heart attacks, pneumonia and so on) * tiredness * Stress (physical or emotional) * immune system problems (illness, such as AIDS, or medication, such as chemotherapy or steroids) * trauma to the affected area (this may include sexual activity) * menstruation If you are able to reduce or eliminate these influences, the number if outbreaks of genital herpes you experience may decline, although this can't be guaranteed since in most outbreaks the trigger is not identified. How can recurrences be avoided/minimised? A good strategy can be to learn to recognise and avoid factors that trigger outbreaks wherever possible. For example, if you have noticed that excessive tiredness or stress leads to outbreaks, you could modify your lifestyle to allow extra time for rest and relaxation. Unfortunately, it is rarely easy to identify and eliminate all influences that may trigger episodes. Another useful strategy is therefore to adopt general lifestyle factors that will contribute to your overall health. Measures such as eating a healthy diet, exercising regularly and minimising the use of tobacco, alcohol and non-prescription drugs may all help reduce the number of outbreaks you experience. If they don't then at least you have made changes that will significantly reduce your risk of many other conditions. Suppressive medication is sometimes necessary to avoid or prevent outbreaks if they are recurring frequently or are significantly influencing your life. Antiviral medications are usually extremely effective in reducing the symptoms of recurrent herpes outbreaks. (See What is the best medical treatment to prevent recurrences of genital herpes?) |
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