Generally, speaking about sexually transmitted diseases (STIs) is sort of a mood-killer. But the word"herpes" in particular invokes a unique type of fear and paranoia. Though genital herpes is somewhat common (it is the 5th most common STI in Singapore). But, is there a remedy for herpes?
No, there isn't and that is why it's highly stigmatized.
And have you gotten any closer to discovering one?
Here is what we discovered after conversing with specialists.
What's herpes?
There are two main types of herpes: oral herpes and genital herpes. People with oral herpes normally get the virus as children by kissing family members or friends.
By contrast, genital herpes is caused by the herpes simplex virus Type 2 (HSV-2), which is normally transmitted via anal, vaginal, or oral sex. HSV-2 has symptoms like an outbreak of blisters on the genitals or rectum, but many individuals can also be asymptomatic. Genital herpes may also be caused by HSV-1 through oral sex.
Why are there no treatment for herpes?
At this time, there's absolutely no cure for either HSV-1 or HSV-2, although people with both kinds of herpes can take antifungal medications such as Valtrex to control their symptoms and lower their risk of transmitting the virus to their partners.
For the last 80 decades, however, scientists have been exploring potential herpes outbreaks. (Note: although"cure" and"vaccine" can be used interchangeably, they are not similar. In the case of herpes, a cure would completely eliminate the herpes virus in the human body, though a vaccine could treat or prevent it.)
Thus far, scientists have attempted to create two kinds of herpes vaccines: a preventative one, which protects you from getting infected in the first place; and also a therapeutic one, that might help manage symptoms from people who already have the disease and lessen the danger of outbreaks greater than current antifungal drugs available on the industry. Yet they've had little chance.
The herpes virus can be extremely complex
"We don't have a remedy for a good deal of items," she says, mentioning HIV and hepatitis along with other illustrations.
Most viruses attack cells and try to multiply after they enter our bodies. Frequently, our immune systems can clear viruses from our own bodies, meaning we are no longer infected.
But herpes is more complex than that, '' says Wald. Herpes"has figured out how to reside in the host regardless of the immune reaction," she explains.
Unlike other viruses, herpes hides in the central nervous system, and our immune system can't easily access this area of our own bodies, Wald states. To make things even more complex, the virus can lie dormant at our central nervous systems for a protracted time period (this explains why individuals with herpes can go a few months with no flare-ups after an initial outbreak, or have no signs whatsoever ).
The fact that our immune systems don't know how to protect us from herpes makes it incredibly tough for scientists to make a preventive vaccine. "It's rather difficult to create a vaccine if you don't know what type of immune reaction you're attempting to create to protect someone," Wald says. Unlike other viruses like the human papillomavirus (HPV), for instance, researchers cannot inject part of the herpes virus to our own bodies because of vaccine, making them create a antibody that combats and prevents infection.
Fortunately, current antiviral medications can already reduce the recurrence of outbreaks by roughly 70 percent, based on American Family Physician.
How near are we to a thriving herpes vaccine?
In 2016, it appeared as if we had been on the cusp of a herpes vaccine once the bioscience firm Genocea announced that it had finished phase 2 clinical trials to get a therapeutic vaccine called GEN-003. Research demonstrated that herpes patients were 65 percent less likely to get outbreaks after receiving the vaccine and therefore were 60 percent less likely to transmit the virus to their partners.
But absence of funding killed the undertaking, a company spokesperson explained to MensHealth.com. The business is now focusing primarily on cancer research.
Will we get a herpes vaccine?
Not for quite a while, at least: at the moment, there are no promising clinical trials to get a herpes vaccine.
Hansfield believes it is unlikely that investigators could soon develop a herpes vaccine that would totally eliminate the virus from a person's system.
In terms of a preventive vaccine,"I'd be amazed if there had been a HSV vaccine available on the marketplace that prevents herpes under a decade," he says.
The Way to protect yourself from herpes
Besides not having sexual intercourse, there's no 100% effective means to avoid herpes. You can decrease the possibility of contracting the disease by using a condom, but even a condom is not foolproof, as the virus may be transmitted even when your spouse does not have any symptoms.
Having said that, if you or your partner has herpes, then taking antiviral medications can significantly lessen the odds of transmission.
If you exhibit any of these signs of genital herpes, for example cracked, red sores around the genitals or rectum, ask your physician for a blood test to detect HSV antibodies. Even if you test negative, regular STI screening is very important to everyone who is sexually active, and also free and low-cost testing tools are found on the CDC's website.