Generally speaking, talking about sexually transmitted diseases (STIs) is kind of a mood-killer. However, the term"herpes" in particular invokes a distinctive sort of panic and paranoia. Even though genital herpes is quite common (it is the 5th most frequent STI in Singapore). Is there a treatment for herpes?
No, there is not and that's why it's highly stigmatized.
And have we gotten any closer to discovering one?
Here is what we discovered later chatting with experts.
What is herpes?
There are two main types of herpes: oral herpes and genital herpestreatment. Oral is caused by herpes simplex virus (HSV-1), and is the virus that causes cold sores. People with oral herpes normally get the virus as children by kissing relatives or friends.
By contrast, genital herpes is caused by the herpes simplex virus type two (HSV-2), which is typically transmitted via anal, vaginal, or oral sex. HSV-2 has symptoms such as an outbreak of blisters on the genitals or anus, but a lot of men and women may also be asymptomatic. Genital herpes can also be brought on by HSV-1 during oral sex.
Why is there no cure for herpes?
Currently, there is no cure for HSV-1 or HSV-2, though individuals with both kinds of herpes may take antifungal medications such as Valtrex to control their symptoms and decrease their chance of transmitting the virus to their partners.
For the past 80 decades, yet, scientists have been researching potential herpes vaccines. (Note: although"treatment" and"vaccine" are sometimes used interchangeably, they're not similar. In the event of herpes, then a remedy would fully eliminate the herpes virus in the human body, though a vaccine could treat or stop it.)
Thus far, scientists have tried to develop two types of herpes vaccines: a preventive one, which protects you from getting infected in the first place; and also a therapeutic one, that would help manage symptoms in those who already have the disease and reduce the possibility of outbreaks better compared to current antifungal drugs available on the industry. Yet they've had little chance.
The herpes virus can be very complicated
"We don't have a cure for a great deal of items," she says, mentioning HIV and hepatitis as other examples.
Most viruses attack our cells and attempt to multiply when they enter our bodies. Frequently, our immune systems may clear viruses from our bodies, meaning we're not infected.
But herpes is far more complicated than this, says Wald. Herpes"has figured out how to reside from the host despite the immune response," she explains.
Unlike other viruses, herpes hides at the central nervous system, and our immune system can't readily access this region of our own bodies, Wald says. To make matters even more complex, the virus can lie dormant in our central nervous systems for a protracted time period (this is the reason people with herpes may go a few months with no flare-ups following a first outbreak, or have no symptoms whatsoever ).
The fact that our immune systems don't know how to shield us from herpes causes it incredibly tough for scientists to make a preventive vaccine. "It's rather tricky to earn a vaccine unless you know what type of immune reaction you are trying to make to protect someone," Wald says. Unlike other viruses such as the human papillomavirus (HPV), for instance, researchers can't inject part of the herpes virus to our own bodies because of vaccine, making them create an antibody that fights back and prevents infection.
Luckily, present antiviral medications can already decrease the recurrence of outbreaks by about 70 per cent, according to American Family Physician.
How near are we to a prosperous herpes disorder?
In 2016, it appeared as if we had been on the cusp of a herpes vaccine when the bioscience firm Genocea announced that it had completed phase two clinical trials to get a therapeutic vaccine named GEN-003.
But absence of funds killed the project, a company spokesperson clarified to MensHealth.com. Back in September 2017, the business stopped growth of GEN-003 because they didn't have sufficient cash to pay for phase three clinical trials, which could have been needed to be approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The company is presently focusing primarily on cancer study.
Can we ever get a herpes vaccine?
Not for quite a while, at leastat the present time, there aren't any promising clinical trials to get a herpes vaccine.
Hansfield believes it is unlikely that researchers could soon develop a herpes vaccine which would totally remove the virus out of someone's system.
As for a preventive vaccine,"I'd be amazed if there had been a HSV vaccine available on the marketplace which prevents herpes under a decade," he states.
The Way to Safeguard Yourself from herpes
Besides not having sex, there is no 100% effective method to avoid herpes. It's possible to lower the danger of contracting the infection using a condom, but even a condom is not foolproof, as the virus could be transmitted even if your spouse has no visible sores.
That said, if you or your partner has herpes, taking antiviral medications can significantly lower the chances of transmission.
If you display any of these symptoms of genital herpes, such as cracked, or red sores around your genitals or anus, then ask your doctor for a blood test to find HSV antibodies. Even in case you test negative, routine STI screening is very important to everyone who's sexually active, also free and low-cost testing resources are found on the CDC's website.