Both the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) recommend daily and episodic treatment of genital herpes.
CDC STD Treatment Highlights
"The majority of genital herpes infections are transmitted by persons unaware that they have the infection or who are asymptomatic when transmission occurs"1
"The risk of HSV-2 sexual transmission can be decreased by the daily use of valacyclovir by the infected person."†1
– 2006 CDC Sexually Transmitted Diseases Treatment Guidelines
The 2006 CDC STD Treatment Guidelines include the following statements
- "At least 50 million people in the US have genital herpes."1
- "...Asymptomatic shedding occurs...even in longstanding or clinically silent infection."1
- "Intermittent asymptomatic shedding occurs in persons with genital HSV-2 infection..."1
- "Most patients with symptomatic, first episode genital HSV-2 infection subsequently experience recurrent episodes of genital lesions."1
ACOG Treatment Highlights
"For couples in which one partner has HSV-2 infection, suppressive antiviral therapy should be recommended for the partner with HSV-2 to reduce the rate of transmission." *2
– Level A recommendation from the November 2004 ACOG Practice Bulletin on gynecological care for HSV infections
The 2004 ACOG Practice Bulletin includes the following statements
- "An accurate diagnosis enables appropriate treatment for the woman with genital herpes. In addition, it can reduce the risk of transmission of HSV to a sexual partner..."2
- "Management of women with genital herpes may be complicated by psychologic distress, especially at the time of initial diagnosis. Counseling them about the disease may decrease the distress."2
- "Women should be told they may have viral shedding with or without symptoms and that they are infectious at that time."2
†In immunocompetent heterosexual adults. Safer sex practices should be used with daily therapy with VALTREX. (See current CDC STD Treatment Guidelines.)
