HPV And Herpes – How Are Both Different?

You must have come across sexually transmitted infections. How much aware are you about these? Well, let’s be honest. Hardly do a lot of people know them and can identify them. This is primarily because people are afraid of talking about sexual health and they considered this as a taboo. However, the variety of sexual infections is sure to make you get confused between them. You must have people suffering from HPV and herpes. Are both of them the same? Well, there lies a vast difference between the two.

Gone at the days when people wear enough to discuss their sexual health with medical professionals. You ought to take care of your sexual health instead of shying away as this constitutes your overall well-being. So, having some abnormalities in your sexual health can impact your entire health and may sometimes give rise to some other detrimental health issues.

How do you fight back these sexually transmitted infections? Well, when you notice any abnormality in your sexual health it is better to book an appointment for private STI testing in London. But before you reach out to a gynecologist, you ought to have a clear idea about HPV and herpes. This blog will help you form a clear idea about both infections. So, let’s see how this blog can explain you the difference between HPV and herpes.

Points of differences between HPV and herpes

Why do people get confused between HPV and herpes? It is because both have very similar symptoms. Both are transmitted sexually or through sexual contact. In addition, both herpes and HPV can lead to genital lesions. However, you will find a lot of HPV cases than herpes. A person can suffer from both herpes and HPV at the same time.

To form a clear idea about herpes and HPV we have divided the entire blog into different points, showcasing how they differ under the various factors. So, let's check out the different points and see how HPV differs from herpes.

• Symptoms of HPV and herpes

Most gynaecologists say that patients with HPV come at a later stage of the disease. This is because of its asymptomatic nature. Most commonly, people suffering from HPV can have warts. However, these warts may differ from person to person. Generally, these are genital warts that can occur as a cluster or as a single growth or look like a cauliflower.

On the other hand, the symptoms of herpes depend according to its type. Generally, there are two types of herpes:

a. HSV 1

b. HSV 2.

In both types, any part of your body can get affected. Herpes restricts itself to either genital warts or oral warts or both. Again, the asymptomatic nature of herpes makes its symptomstoo mild to be noticed. Some of the common symptoms can include a certain type of skin condition, experiencing flu, and ingrown hairs.

• Nature of spreading HPV and herpes

Both HPV and herpes get spread through sexual transmission or skin-to-skin contact. So, you can get herpes or HPV through the following:

a. Vaginal sex

b. Oral sex

c. Anal sex

However, the herpes simplex virus goes a little further. It causes cold sores which you can contract through sharing a lip balm sharing utensils or drinking glasses or simply kissing.

Having sex with a partner suffering from herpes simplex virus can let the virus get transferred to your body. So, even if you do notice any symptoms, you can have genital herpes. This is the only reason the doctors ask you to practice safe sex and use proper barrier methods while engaging in vaginal intercourse.

Diagnosing herpes and HPV

Imagine a situation where you have had unprotected sex with your partner and are slowly someone unusual symptoms. You are concerned about developing a sexually transmitted infection and have reached out to a healthcare professional soon. If you have genital warts caused by the HPV strains, the doctor prefers to examine the lesions of these warts. The HPV strains are the main developing cervical cancer. For this, the doctor may ask you to undergo a pap smear test.

On the contrary, for diagnosing herpes, the doctor first goes through a series of physical examinations to examine the unusual symptoms. Then, he may proceed to examine a culture sample to detect the kind of virus doing havoc to your sexual health. Similar to the type of herpes, the virus will also differ and depend on the type of herpes you are suffering from. The kind of treatment that the doctor will undergo depends two vital factors:

a. On the location of the outbreak

b. On the type of virus you are infected with

• Treating HPV and herpes

Generally, HPV does not require any treatment. With time, both the virus and genital warts caused due to HPV will fade. Otherwise, you can use some medications for diminishing these warts. Some of the common medications used to treat genital warts include:

a. Imiquimod

b. Podofilox

c. Sinecatechins

Although there is no specific treatment method for herpes, you can control the symptoms of herpes by making some lifestyle changes. Generally, doctors prescribe some antiviral medications to reduce the symptoms and their frequency. Some of the common anti-virus drugs include:

a. Acyclovir

b. Famciclovir

c. Valacyclovir

• Complications of HPV and herpes

To fight back any virus or infection, the immunity system of a human body is held responsible. However, if your immunity system is weak, it can lead to some related other health problems. Not reaching out to the doctor at the right time can lead you to cervical cancer. Due to the presence of genital warts, these are the areas suffer the most from extreme exposure to the virus:

a. Vulva

b. Vagina

c. Penis

d. Anus

The complications of herpes are more or less similar to that of HPV. Some additions to them are as follows:

Inflammation in the rectum in men

Infection in the urinary tract and bladder problems leading to swelling of the urethra

Development of meningitis that causes fluid and brain

Contraction through a sexually transmitted infection that can develop into the herpes sores

• Prevention

To reduce the risk of developing HPV which might otherwise lead to cancer, it is better to get the HPV vaccination. This vaccine is available in 2 dosages and 3 dosages. Make sure to complete all the dosages to get effective and optimum results. At the same time, women between the age group of 21 to 65 years old should always undergo a cervical cancer screening to stay away from the problem.

To prevent such sexually transmitted infections it is always better to practice set methods. Some of the general rules to abide by include the following:

1. Make sure to use a condom as a barrier while engaging in a sexual intercourse
2. Always perform regular screening and tests for STIs
3. Use a dental a condom or a dental dam when engaging in oral sex
4. Ask your partner to perform a sexually transmitted infection test
5. Discuss with your partner about any sexually transmitted diseases he was suffering from

Conclusion

Although HPV and herpes have a lot of similarities, these points of difference can help you identify them. Even if there is no cure for these sexually transmitted infections, you can still book an appointment for private STI testing in London. Here, the clinic professionals are experts in undergoing the test and giving accurate results.