Can genital herpes virus be cured completely?

Written by Qu Jing
Dermatology
Updated on April 29, 2025
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Genital herpes virus, due to its residual virus, remains latently stored in the sacral ganglia. When the body's resistance decreases or some triggering factors are present, the latent virus can be reactivated and recur. Therefore, genital herpes is difficult to completely cure. Genital herpes virus is a type of chronic, recurrent, hard-to-cure sexually transmitted disease caused by herpes simplex virus type 2 infecting the urogenital and perianal skin and mucous membranes. In the past 30 years, the incidence of this disease has been continuously rising. During treatment, patients need to rest, avoid alcohol, and excessive sexual activity. Sexual activity should be avoided when clinical symptoms occur. If genital herpes becomes active before delivery during pregnancy, a cesarean section should be performed. Treatment involves the use of topical antiviral drugs, and it is also important to prevent secondary bacterial infections.

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Written by Xie Ming Feng
Dermatology
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Can traditional Chinese medicine eradicate genital herpes?

Genital herpes is a chronic, recurrent, and difficult-to-cure sexually transmitted disease caused by the infection of the urinary and reproductive organs and the perianal skin and mucosa with the herpes simplex virus. Currently, in clinical practice, neither Chinese nor Western medicine has a drug that can completely eliminate the herpes simplex virus. Therefore, Chinese medicine cannot completely cure genital herpes, nor can Western medicine.

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Written by Xie Ming Feng
Dermatology
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How long is the incubation period for genital herpes?

The incubation period of genital herpes generally ranges from 2 to 14 days, with an average of 3 to 5 days, meaning that patients might not exhibit any symptoms during the incubation period. After this period, erythema can appear around the external genitalia, followed by the development of papules, vesicles, erosions, ulcers, and crusts, which may be accompanied by pain, burning sensations, and itching. The local lymph nodes may swell, and some patients may experience headaches, fever, and fatigue as systemic symptoms.

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Written by Luo Hong
Dermatology Department
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Can genital herpes be completely cured without recurrence?

Genital herpes is difficult to completely cure without recurrence because the virus from the previous herpes outbreak resides at the sacral nerve root. When resistance is low, typically during times such as drinking alcohol and staying up late, the herpes virus travels to the area served by the sacral nerve, such as the external genitals, buttocks, and perineal region, causing blisters. Therefore, it is very difficult to completely eliminate genital herpes so that it never recurs, but the likelihood of recurrence generally decreases significantly after five to six years. Therefore, what we need to do is mainly to enhance our immune function. We can use some medications to help boost immunity, and we should also try to drink less alcohol and get more sleep.

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Written by Xie Ming Feng
Dermatology
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Can genital herpes be completely cured?

Genital herpes is a chronic, recurrent, and difficult to cure sexually transmitted disease caused by the infection of the herpes simplex virus in the urogenital and perianal skin and mucous membranes. Currently, there is a lack of drugs in clinical practice that can kill the herpes simplex virus, and also a lack of methods to kill the virus, therefore genital herpes cannot be completely cured.

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Written by Xie Ming Feng
Dermatology
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Can people with genital herpes get married?

Currently, there is no law in the country stating that individuals with genital herpes cannot get married. Therefore, people with genital herpes can marry. However, we strongly advise that patients should inform their prospective spouses about their condition truthfully and clearly, in order to gain their understanding and cooperation and to avoid potential problems in future marital life.