Complications: Frequent recurrences of genital herpes, making it painful and uncomfortable to have sex. In addition, the disease can spread from a pregnant woman to the fetus, causing brain, skin, or respiratory damage to the baby. Pregnant women, if having herpes at delivery, should undergo caesarean section and must not have a vaginal delivery .
Diagnosis and treatment: Diagnosis of herpes is usually based on a patient's medical history and a clinical examination by a health worker. Existing treatments treat the symptoms, but will not remove the virus. They shorten the wound's duration, and should be taken for the initial infection and each time a sore returns. The sooner the medication is taken after symptoms appear, the faster the recovery will be. Therefore, patients who have had recurrent herpes several times and who know their symptoms well, may be given medication to take as soon as the symptoms begin. Patients with recurrent herpes more than 6 times a year may be prescribed medication to prevent recurrence.
Although the sex partner of the person with herpes should be examined for STIs, co-treatment is not necessary if there is no sore.