I Do Have Genital Herpes. I Am A Female. Is It Dangerous And Does It Cause A Cervical Cancer?
I took acyclovir tablets. 5 tablets each day for five days but I don`t know it helped me or not. I never had symptoms.
4 Responses to “I Do Have Genital Herpes. I Am A Female. Is It Dangerous And Does It Cause A Cervical Cancer?”
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.
February 9th, 2010 at 8:50 am
Herpes does NOT cause cervical cancer.
Cervical cancer is associated with hpv – the human papilloma virus.
It was believed in the 1970s that herpes was a factor in development of cervical cancer, but this was dispproved many years ago – hence the development of the hpv vaccine gardasil which protects against the main strains of hpv that cause cervical cancer.
The only relation between the two is that likelihood of having herpes increases as the number of sexual partners increases, which in turn increases your risk of catching hpv. In this sense, herpes could be seen as an additional ‘risk factor’ for cervical cancer, but only in that it is sometimes(!) an indicator of a higher-risk sexual past. Herpes itself is NOT involved in the development of cervical cancer.
To you as an adult with genital herpes, the herpes virus is not dangerous. It is merely an annoying viral skin infection, which is not at all dangerous and does you no harm. The main problem with herpes is not herpes itself, but the huge stigma attached to it.
As a female, if you have a baby there is a VERY small risk of passing on the virus to your baby during a vaginal birth. Neonatal herpes, as it is called, can be extremely dangerous to a baby, often causing death. But it is very rare, and can be prevented by taking antiviral medication in the run up to the birth, or having a c-section. It normally only occurs when a woman catches herpes for the first time during pregnancy.
Acyclovir can be very helpful at stopping outbreaks, if you start taking it as soon as the first warning symptoms of an outbreak start.
February 9th, 2010 at 12:56 pm
No. Genital warts, also called HPV, cause cervical cancer, not herpes. Herpes sucks and complicates life, but you already know the dangers – breakouts, spreading to partners, explaining to partners when you start a relationship, ect. That’s about it.
February 9th, 2010 at 5:32 pm
Herpes simplex infection is an additional risk factor for cervical cancer although the cervical cancer is caused by human papilloma virus type 16, 18, 31 and 45.
February 9th, 2010 at 5:36 pm
HPV (human papillomavirus) is linked to cervical cancer,not herpes,which is an unrelated virus.