Women are statistically almost twice as likely to contract genital herpes as their male counterparts. But a new gel may help at-risk females avoid genital herpes, symptoms and all. According to a study conducted by researchers from the National Institutes of Health, Gilead Sciences Inc., and universities in Italy and Belgium, a microbicide gel that was originally developed to combat AIDS may be effective in preventing genital herpes in women. And although there are no plans to introduce this gel to the U.S. market anytime soon, the news is positive nonetheless.
There is currently no cure for genital herpes. Symptoms of the disease can include painful genital sores, fever, fatigue, body aches, and overall genital pain. Genital herpes symptoms can vary in terms of severity. For some people, genital herpes symptoms may be mild enough to go unnoticed, but for others, genital herpes symptoms can be extremely disruptive to daily life. In the case of the latter, treatment is available to alleviate genital herpes symptoms and can be administered once a genital herpes test has confirmed the presence of infection. Regular STD testing for genital herpes is recommended for those who engage in high risk sexual behavior, though anyone who’s sexually active can benefit from an STD test. And since herpes testing today is non-invasive, those who aren’t sure if they’re experiencing genital herpes symptoms have an easier time than ever getting answers.
