In general, speaking about sexually transmitted infections (STIs) is kind of a mood-killer. But the term"herpes" specifically invokes a particular type of fear and paranoia. Although genital herpes is somewhat common (it's the 5th most frequent STI in Singapore). But, is there a treatment for herpes?
And have you ever gotten any closer to finding one?
Here's what we found after conversing with specialists.
What's herpes?
Oral is brought on by herpes simplex virus (HSV-1), also is the virus that causes cold sores. People with oral herpes typically get the virus as children by kissing relatives or friends.
By comparison, genital herpes is brought on 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 around the genitals or rectum, but a lot of men and women can also be curable. Genital herpes may also be brought on by HSV-1 through oral sex.
Why are there no cure for herpes?
Now, there is no cure for HSV-1 or even HSV-2, although individuals with both types of herpes can take antiviral medications like Valtrex to control their symptoms and reduce their chance of transmitting the virus to their spouses.
For the last 80 decades, however, scientists have been researching possible herpes outbreaks. (Note: Although"cure" and"vaccine" can be used interchangeably, they're not similar. In the case of herpes, even a cure would completely eliminate the herpes virus in your body, while a vaccine could cure or prevent it.)
Thus far, scientists have attempted to develop two types of herpes meds: a preventive one, which protects you from getting infected in the first place; and also a curative one, which would help manage symptoms from people who already have the illness and decrease the risk of outbreaks greater than present antiviral medications on the industry. Yet they've had little chance.
The herpes virus can be extremely complicated
"We don't have a cure for a great deal of items," she says, citing HIV and hepatitis as other examples.
Most viruses attack our cells and try to multiply the moment they enter our bodies. Often, our immune systems may clear viruses from our bodies, meaning we are no longer infected.
But herpes is far much more complicated than this, says Wald. Herpes"has figured out just how to live from the host despite the immune reaction," she explains.
To make matters even more complicated, the virus may lie dormant in our central nervous systems for a protracted period of time (this is the reason people with herpes may go a few months with no flare-ups after an initial outbreak, or have no symptoms at all).
The simple fact that our immune systems do not know how to shield us from herpes causes it extremely tough for scientists to produce a preventive vaccine. "It is quite difficult to earn a vaccine if you don't know what type of immune response you're trying to create to protect somebody," Wald says. Contrary to other viruses like the human papillomavirus (HPV), for instance, researchers cannot inject a part of the herpes virus to our own bodies as a vaccine, making them create a antibody that combats and prevents disease.
Fortunately, current antiviral medications can already lower the recurrence of outbreaks by about 70 per cent, according to American Family Physician.
How close are we to a successful herpes vaccine?
In 2016, it seemed as if we were on the cusp of a herpes vaccine when the bioscience firm Genocea declared that it had finished phase two clinical trials for a therapeutic vaccine called GEN-003.
But absence of funds killed the undertaking, a company spokesperson clarified to MensHealth.com. In September 2017, the company stopped creation of GEN-003 since they didn't have enough cash to pay for phase three clinical trials, that might have been required to be accepted by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The business is now focusing mostly on cancer study.
Will we get a herpes vaccine?
Not for quite a while, at least: at the present time, there aren't any promising clinical trials underway for a herpes vaccine.
Hansfield believes it is unlikely that researchers might soon develop an herpes vaccine which would totally remove the virus from someone's system.
In terms of a preventive vaccine,"I'd be surprised if there has been a HSV vaccine available on the marketplace that prevents herpes in under a decade," he states.
The Way to protect yourself from herpes
Besides not having sex, there is no 100% effective method to avoid herpes. It is possible to lessen the possibility of contracting the disease using a condom, but even a condom is not foolproof, since the virus can be transmitted even when your spouse has no symptoms.
That said, if you or your partner has herpes, even taking antiviral medications can significantly lessen the odds of transmission.
If you display any of the symptoms of genital herpes, for example cracked, or red sores around the genitals or rectum, ask your doctor for a blood test to detect HSV antibodies. Even in the event you test negative, routine STI screening is important for anyone who is sexually active, also free and affordable testing tools are found on the CDC's web site.