As a result of many STDs share the identical widespread signs, it may be exhausting to inform which you may need with out taking a sexual well being check. Two that always get confused with each other are genital warts and genital herpes. On this weblog, our resident Medical Director, Dr Rashid Bani, explores the variations between the 2, taking a look at transmission, signs, therapy, and extra. So, let’s leap proper in. What’s the distinction?
Genital warts are brought on by sure strains of HPV and infrequently seem as small, painless growths on the pores and skin, whereas genital herpes is brought on by the herpes simplex virus (HSV) and sometimes results in painful blisters or sores. Each are unfold by skin-to-skin contact, however herpes is lifelong, whereas the physique can usually clear HPV over time.
Learn on to be taught extra about genital warts and herpes, which ones is worse, and the way they differ in look, testing, therapy, and transmission.
Are Genital Warts the Identical as Herpes?
Each genital warts and genital herpes (HSV-2) are infections which might be transmitted sexually. While many individuals suppose they’re the identical factor, they’re in truth two very completely different STDs. They’re each unfold by direct skin-to-skin contact with an contaminated space, however differ in signs, therapy, and curability.
What are Genital Warts?
Genital warts are an STD that’s brought on by the human papillomavirus (HPV), which may be transmitted by skin-to-skin contact. While genital warts don’t usually current signs, when it does, you’ll often spot small, fleshy bumps across the genital area. Normally they aren’t painful, however can turn into irritated throughout intercourse or urination.
What’s Genital Herpes?
Genital herpes is a standard sexually transmitted an infection brought on by the herpes simplex virus (HSV). Its most well-known signs are painful blisters affecting the genitals and surrounding areas, though many individuals are symptomless. HSV is identical virus that causes chilly sores to type on the lips and mouth and may have an effect on any moist lining or mucous membrane – though that is sometimes called oral herpes/HSV-1.
Learn more about genital herpes on our dedicated advice page, or be taught the distinction between HSV-1 & HSV-2 in our useful weblog.
What’s the Distinction Between Genital Warts & Genital Herpes?
Though genital warts and genital herpes are each widespread STIs that have an effect on the genital space, they’re brought on by fully completely different viruses and behave in several methods. We’ve outlined the important thing variations beneath:
Transmission
Transmission is without doubt one of the solely areas the place genital warts and genital herpes are related. Each are unfold by contact with contaminated pores and skin, often throughout:
- Unprotected sexual activity, together with anal, oral, and vaginal (though even if you happen to put on a condom, there may be nonetheless a threat of transmission because it doesn’t defend all uncovered pores and skin)
- The sharing of intercourse toys with out washing in between
- Mutual masturbation, after which touching your self with out washing your fingers
Incubation Interval
From the preliminary human papillomavirus an infection, it could take anyplace from 2 weeks to eight months earlier than you discover any signs of genital warts. As for herpes, most individuals expertise signs 2 to 12 days after publicity to the virus.
Nonetheless, it’s necessary to know that many individuals with both genital warts or genital herpes could by no means expertise any signs in anyway. With out common sexual well being checkups, these people can unknowingly go the infections on to others.
Signs
As we talked about beforehand, even in case you have both of those infections, you might by no means get any signs – so it’s necessary to get a daily sexual health test.
Genital warts often seem as small, brown growths or bumps on or across the genital area. They’re usually painless however could itch, bleed, or really feel irritated, particularly throughout intercourse or when rubbed by clothes.
Genital herpes causes painful blisters or sores on the genitals, buttocks, or thighs. These could also be accompanied by flu-like signs, reminiscent of fever, swollen glands, and physique aches – significantly in the course of the first outbreak. To be taught extra, learn this weblog: What Does Herpes Look Like?
Testing
Testing for HPV/genital warts is often finished so with a visible examination or a cervical screening. Throughout your screening, a medical practitioner will take swab samples of your cervix cells, which shall be despatched to a lab for testing.
As for genital herpes, there are a couple of completely different ways in which the virus may be examined for. The most typical being a swab pattern of an open sore or a urine pattern throughout an energetic outbreak. To diagnose previous infections, a blood check may be finished to detect IgG antibodies – if current, they point out you might have herpes.
Remedy / Curability
There’s at the moment no treatment for HPV – the virus that causes genital warts – however in lots of instances, the physique clears the virus naturally over time, usually inside a couple of years. Herpes, then again, is a lifelong situation with no treatment. Nonetheless, each genital warts and herpes outbreaks may be managed with varied therapies. These embrace antiviral medicines, topical lotions, and different symptom-relief choices to assist scale back discomfort and the danger of transmission.
Impacts On Being pregnant & Newborns
Genital warts and HPV are usually not dangerous throughout being pregnant or childbirth. Some girls could discover a rise in genital warts throughout being pregnant, which may make them really feel extra irritated, however this often isn’t a trigger for concern. Whereas it’s doable for HPV to be handed to a child – doubtlessly inflicting a uncommon an infection within the throat or genitals – that is extraordinarily unusual.
Herpes doesn’t sometimes trigger being pregnant issues, and many ladies with the virus undergo being pregnant with none points. Nonetheless, in case you have an energetic outbreak throughout vaginal supply, the virus may be handed to your child, resulting in neonatal herpes. This will trigger signs like fever, feeding difficulties, pores and skin blisters, and – if left untreated – severe well being issues. Thankfully, this threat may be lowered by taking antiviral medicine throughout being pregnant.
If you happen to’d wish to be taught extra in regards to the influence of herpes on pregnancies and newborns, learn our useful weblog: Can Herpes Affect Fertility?
Can You Have Herpes & Genital Warts on the Identical Time?
Like with any sexually transmitted infections, it’s certainly doable to have a number of of them on the similar time. The signs could overlap or be mistaken for each other, so the easiest way to know for positive is to get a full sexual well being screening which can check for all widespread infections. It will verify whether or not you might have one or each infections, and your GP or sexual well being nurse can then advocate probably the most applicable therapy plan to handle signs and scale back the danger of transmission.
E-book a Sexual Well being Screening At a Clinic Close to You
You probably have been uncovered to the herpes or HPV virus, otherwise you suppose you might have signs, it’s vital that you simply get examined earlier than partaking in any sexual exercise. Right here at Your Sexual Well being, we’ve over 150 private sexual health clinics positioned throughout the UK, providing a spread of complete sexual well being providers. Every of our clinics supply a discreet, skilled, dependable service, with speedy turnaround occasions.
Don’t wish to go to a clinic? No downside – merely order one among our home testing kits on to your door. If you happen to need assistance selecting the check that most accurately fits your wants, get in touch with our buyer providers workforce.
