Get Discreet Online Genital Herpes Treatment
Start a consultation for genital herpes now, with no appointment and no waiting room. A board-certified doctor reviews your symptoms and photos in a private chat, then sends antiviral treatment to your pharmacy the same day when it is medically appropriate.
Available 24/7 for a first outbreak, a flare-up, or a refill of daily suppressive therapy. Acyclovir (Zovirax), Valacyclovir (Valtrex), and Famciclovir (Famvir) are the antivirals our doctors prescribe most often.
How to connect with a doctor online for genital herpes
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- Genital herpes
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Hi I’m Dr. Nicole. How may I help you?
Hi Dr. Nicole, I have painful sores on my genitals. Could this be genital herpes?
Get online prescription
Our online doctors can help you with your medical issues and give you prescriptions.
Prescription
- Acyclovir(Zovirax®) 400mg
- Take three times a day for ten days and avoid unprotected sex.
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What are the treatment options for genital herpes?
There is no cure for genital herpes, but antiviral tablets shorten outbreaks, take the sting out of the sores, and lower the odds of passing the virus on. Here is what a doctor will talk through with you.
- A first course of antivirals, such as Acyclovir taken for 7 to 10 days, started as soon as genital herpes is diagnosed.
- Episodic therapy, a short course you keep on hand and start at the first tingle, which works best within a day of the outbreak beginning.
- Daily suppressive therapy, which cuts the number of recurrences by 70 to 80 percent and lowers the risk of infecting a partner.
- Pain relief while the sores heal, such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen, plus cool compresses and loose cotton underwear.
- Tablets rather than creams. Topical antiviral treatment adds little, so the CDC advises against it.
Our doctors can send an online prescription to your pharmacy the same day, so you can start antivirals without waiting for a clinic appointment.
What genital herpes medications can we prescribe online?
Antiviral
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Antiviral
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Learn More What is genital herpes?
Genital herpes is a sexually transmitted infection (STI) caused by the herpes simplex virus (HSV). HSV-2 causes most genital herpes cases, while HSV-1, the virus that commonly causes cold sores, can also cause genital herpes, often through oral sex. Once you have either type, the virus stays in your body for life, but that does not mean you will have frequent symptoms. Genital herpes is common, and many people do not know they have it because they have no noticeable symptoms.
What do herpes outbreaks feel like?
Most people learn to recognize the pattern an outbreak follows. Here is what it usually feels like.
- Tingling, itching, or burning around the genitals may happen before any visible sores appear.
- Small blisters or bumps may develop on or around the genitals, buttocks, anus, or mouth.
- Blisters may break open into shallow, painful sores, which can sting when you pee.
- A first outbreak may cause flu-like symptoms, including fever, headache, body aches, and swollen glands in the groin.
- The sores eventually crust over and heal, although a first outbreak can take up to three weeks to clear.
- Future outbreaks are usually shorter, milder, and less frequent.
Many people never have an obvious outbreak, and mild sores can easily be mistaken for pimples or ingrown hairs. If you are not sure what you are seeing, a doctor can review a photo and help determine what may be causing it.
What causes genital herpes infections?
Genital herpes is caused by the herpes simplex virus (HSV). It spreads through direct contact with infected skin or body fluids, including during sexual contact. The most common ways it spreads are:
- Vaginal, anal, or oral sex with someone who has HSV-1 or HSV-2.
- Contact with a herpes sore, genital fluids, or infected skin around the genitals.
- Oral sex from a partner with cold sores, which can spread HSV-1 to the genitals.
- Skin-to-skin contact, even when no sores are visible, because the virus can spread without obvious symptoms.
- During childbirth, a mother with genital herpes can pass the virus to her baby during delivery.
After the first infection, the virus stays in the body for life. It becomes inactive within nearby nerve cells and can later become active again, causing another outbreak. Genital herpes does not spread through toilet seats, towels, bedding, or swimming pools.
What are the two types of genital herpes treatment?
Once the first course of antivirals is finished, treatment splits two ways. A doctor helps you pick the one that fits how often you get outbreaks.
- Episodic therapy, a short course you keep on hand and start within a day of the first tingle. Regimens the CDC lists are valacyclovir 500 mg twice a day for 3 days, acyclovir 800 mg twice a day for 5 days, or famciclovir 1 g twice a day for 1 day.
- Suppressive therapy, one dose every day to keep outbreaks away. Regimens the CDC lists are valacyclovir 500 mg or 1 g once a day, acyclovir 400 mg twice a day, or famciclovir 250 mg twice a day.
Episodic therapy suits people with occasional outbreaks who want them over faster. Suppressive therapy suits frequent outbreaks, and long-term daily use is well documented for all three antivirals. Your doctor sets the dose, because it depends on which antiviral you take and how often outbreaks come.
FAQs about genital herpes treatment online
How long does genital herpes last without treatment?
Without treatment, a first outbreak of genital herpes can take up to three weeks to clear. Later outbreaks are usually milder and heal faster. Antiviral medicine shortens the outbreak and eases the symptoms either way.
What doctor to see for herpes?
A board-certified doctor can diagnose genital herpes and prescribe antiviral treatment, so a straightforward outbreak does not need a specialist. Our doctors review your symptoms and photos in a private chat, arrange a test to confirm the virus if one is needed, and send a prescription to your pharmacy.
How to get rid of a herpes outbreak overnight?
Nothing clears a herpes outbreak overnight, because antivirals need time to stop the virus copying itself. Starting treatment within a day of the first tingle is what makes the biggest difference. It shortens the outbreak and makes the sores less painful.
Is it OK to touch genital herpes?
Genital herpes is contagious, so it is best not to touch the sores. If you do, wash your hands straight away, because the virus can spread to other parts of the body, including the mouth. It can also spread when no sores are present, which is why treatment and an honest conversation with partners both matter.
Does herpes cause infertility?
Genital herpes does not cause infertility. It cannot be cured, but it is very manageable with antiviral treatment. It does need extra care in pregnancy, since the virus can pass to the baby during delivery, so tell your doctor if you are pregnant or planning to be.
How can I get herpes medication without going to a doctor?
You cannot. Acyclovir, valacyclovir and famciclovir are prescription-only in the US, and no over-the-counter product treats genital herpes. What you can skip is the clinic waiting room. An online consultation takes a few minutes, and if antiviral treatment is medically appropriate your doctor sends the prescription straight to your pharmacy.
What pills prevent herpes?
Daily antiviral tablets do not remove the virus, but they cut how often outbreaks come back. Acyclovir, valacyclovir and famciclovir are all used this way, which doctors call suppressive therapy, and it also lowers the chance of passing the virus to a partner.
Can a herpes sore go away in 3 days?
A later outbreak can clear in three to seven days, especially if you start antivirals at the first tingle. A first outbreak takes longer and hurts more, and it can run up to three weeks. Itching, burning or tingling usually comes a few hours before the sores appear.
How much valacyclovir should I take for herpes?
It depends on the outbreak. For a first episode of genital herpes the usual adult dose is valacyclovir 1 g twice a day for 7 to 10 days. For a recurrence it is 500 mg twice a day for 3 days. Your doctor confirms the dose for you, because it changes with your kidney function and your medical history.
How often can you take valacyclovir for herpes?
Twice a day for a short course, or once a day if you take it every day to prevent outbreaks. Valacyclovir is not taken every 8 hours for genital herpes. Suppressive doses are 500 mg or 1 g once daily, and your doctor decides which one fits how often your outbreaks come.
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