Busting Common Misconceptions: The Reality of STDs
Misconceptions about sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) can lead to confusion, negative stigmas, or misguided beliefs
Herpes is a widespread sexually transmitted disease (STD) that comes from the herpes simplex virus (HSV), which spreads through skin-to-skin contact during sexual activity. Herpes doesn’t have a cure and outbreaks can happen multiple times a year, depending on the person and whether they seek medical treatment.
If you have herpes, you might experience flu-like symptoms during an outbreak, but some people experience no symptoms. For those that have symptoms, they might worry whether their experience is normal, asking questions like “Why am I so tired during a herpes outbreak?” and “Can herpes make you tired?”
Our team at Rapid STD Testing can help you learn more about STDs like herpes, including typical symptoms and available treatments. If you haven’t received a herpes diagnosis but are experiencing the symptoms, you can get a secure, low-key rapid STD test using our site.
Keep reading to learn more about how herpes affects your body during an outbreak.
Herpes has a complex relationship with the immune system, but research hasn’t concluded whether the virus weakens it or not. In fact, some evidence suggests herpes can boost your immune response. The herpes virus wants you to stay alive, so it might stimulate your immune system to attack other viruses.
While it might not weaken your immune system, herpes does play tricks on your body’s natural response to harmful foreign bodies in order to stay in your system.
Typically, when a virus finds its way into your body, your immune system deploys an army of T-cells to destroy infected cells and eradicate the virus. Herpes, specifically HSV-1, infiltrates cells in a way that prevents them from detecting the infection, allowing the virus to live in your body for years under the radar.
When the herpes virus “wakes up” from its latency in your cells, you might start to exhibit symptoms and become contagious. At this stage, your immune system will attempt to destroy the virus, causing inflammation and the fever blisters that are characteristic of the herpes viruses.
The short answer is no, you can’t develop immunity to herpes. Some people assume that if they’ve had cold sores in the past, they build a defense against genital herpes. Unfortunately, even if you have HSV-1, which typically causes cold sores, you can still contract HSV-2, the virus that causes genital blisters.
While some people who have herpes might not display any symptoms, such as the painful lesions that appear on the mouth or genitals, the virus still lives in their bodies. In some cases, a person can carry the virus for years without realizing they have a herpes infection. The “sneakiness” of the virus is one reason why people transmit it to their partners so easily.
Many people with herpes have no symptoms or only experience mild reactions, but the response to the virus varies from person to person. Typically, the first herpes outbreak is the most severe, and it happens one to two weeks after infection.
Common herpes symptoms during your first outbreak include:
During your primary outbreak, you might feel like you have the flu, with symptoms of herpes outbreak fatigue including fever, chills, aches, and tiredness. Future outbreaks are usually less severe and last a shorter time. Less common symptoms of herpes are nausea, vomiting, headache, and difficulty urinating.
For women, genital herpes blisters can appear on the vagina, vulva, buttocks, anus, and thighs. Men could find lesions on the penis, scrotum, anus, buttocks, and thighs. The blisters can become painful but typically heal in two to three weeks.
The sores appear wherever the virus enters your body, usually from skin contact during sexual activities. If you touch the sores and then another part of your body, such as your fingers or eyes, you could spread the infection to that area.
While both viruses cause herpes, the symptoms of HSV-1 and HSV-2 are slightly different.
The following are the stages of a herpes infection:
If you’re experiencing symptoms of herpes, it’s important to get tested and contact your medical provider for treatment. Rapid STD Testing offers hassle-free same-day STD testing.
Triggers of herpes outbreaks might not be the same for everyone, and it’s not clear whether a person’s lifestyle affects the frequency of recurrences and their symptoms. It’s best to work with your healthcare provider to identify your triggers and make a plan to prevent them if possible.
The following are common triggers of herpes outbreaks:
Some people with herpes find that sex can trigger outbreaks because of the friction irritating the skin, but water-based lubricant might reduce irritation. As if the debilitating abdominal pain isn’t enough, women might experience herpes outbreaks triggered by the hormonal changes during their menstrual cycle.
Illnesses, like the common cold, and prolonged exposure to sunlight can cause oral herpes outbreaks, but usually not genital herpes. A weakened immune system due to surgery or chemotherapy can cause more frequent outbreaks
If you feel like you’re constantly tired during a herpes outbreak or wonder “does herpes make you feel weak?”, you might be experiencing a symptom of herpes or the trigger that caused the attack. Typically, fatigue is most common during the initial onset of herpes, when you might feel like you have the flu.
However, fatigue might be one of your triggers for herpes outbreaks. Whether you’re pulling all-nighters for school or working long hours at your job, your lack of sleep could be contributing to your herpes symptoms. Getting a good night's sleep consistently can help keep outbreaks at bay.
The next time you have a herpes outbreak, consider your activities and schedule leading up to the outbreak. Was your immune system weakened? Were you overly stressed or tired? Learning your triggers can help you avoid them in the future.
While a cure for herpes doesn’t exist, you can still ease your symptoms with some self-care at home. For the safety of you, your sexual partner, and anyone else you come into contact with, you should avoid touching any people or items without washing your hands with soap and water beforehand. Try to avoid touching your blisters and sores as much as possible.
The following can help relieve pain and speed up the healing of your herpes lesions:
Your medical provider might prescribe antiviral medicine to help your pain and discomfort and reduce the frequency and duration of outbreaks.
Taking care of your overall wellness can minimize the risk of outbreaks in the future. A few ways to safeguard your health and avoid herpes symptoms include:
Staying on top of your sexual health is also essential. You can get a 10-panel STD test from Rapid STD Testing to ensure you have no lingering health issues that could exacerbate your symptoms.
For some people, herpes doesn’t cause symptoms often (if at all), and they only have to worry about preventing infection. For others, herpes outbreaks lead them to wonder, “Why am I so tired during a herpes outbreak?”
The first step to dealing with herpes is getting tested. With Rapid STD Testing, you can order tests online or visit a local test center for fast and private STD testing.
For answers to your other questions, such as “how long does a herpes test take?”, check out our blog or call us at 866-872-1888.
No embarrassing exams, long waiting lines, or multiple visits. Just a quick lab visit for fast results.
With a profound passion for making intricate medical information accessible to all, John possesses a unique ability to simplify complex concepts without sacrificing accuracy or depth. Armed with a comprehensive understanding of various healthcare fields, John is well-versed in the latest research and advancements. However, what truly sets him apart is his remarkable talent for distilling this wealth of knowledge into engaging, reader-friendly content.