Glossary

Antibodies: Specialized proteins produced by your body. They circulate in the blood, looking for and attaching themselves to foreign proteins, microorganisms, or toxins to neutralize (destroy) them.

Antiviral medication: A medicine that kills viruses or inhibits their ability to reproduce.

Asymptomatic: Occurring without any visible signs or symptoms.

Blister: An elevation of the skin that contains watery liquid.

Episodic treatment: Treatment to reduce your symptoms (eg, burning, itching, and pain) and speed healing. Given as each outbreak of genital herpes occurs.

Genital area: Pertaining to reproductive organs (eg, vagina, vulva, penis, scrotum, testicles).

Genital herpes: Occurs when the herpes simplex virus (usually herpes simplex virus type 2) affects the genitals (eg, vagina, vulva, penis, scrotum, testicles).

Groin: The area marked by the lower abdomen and the inner part of the thigh.

Herpes simplex virus (HSV): Two types of blisters on the skin or mucous membranes (mouth or lips) above the waist and in the other by such blisters on the genitals. Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1): A herpes virus that typically causes cold sores and fever blisters in and around the mouth. Herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2): A herpes virus that typically causes genital herpes, which is characterized by sores in the genital area.

Immunity: The state of being immune; a condition of being able to resist a particular disease.

Latent: Existing in a hidden or dormant form. Present, or capable of living or developing in a host, without producing visible symptoms of disease.

Lymph nodes: Small bean-shaped organs located throughout the lymphatic system (a system of vessels that is part of the immune system). They store special cells that affect viruses.

Nerves: A bundle of fibers that uses electrical and chemical signals to send information from one body part to another.

Outbreak (OB): As pertains to genital herpes, the virus becomes active and produces visible symptoms, such as redness and sores.

Sexually transmitted disease (STD): Any of the various diseases transmitted by direct sexual contact (eg, gonorrhea, herpes, HIV, chlamydia, genital warts, and syphilis).

Spermicides: An agent that kills sperm.

Suppressive therapy: Daily continuous therapy that helps reduce the frequency of outbreaks.

Ulcers: A sore that involves loss of skin and often contains pus.

Viral culture test: Test used for detection of viruses in which the virus is grown in a specific environment.

Viral shedding: The period of contagiousness when a herpes simplex virus is reproducing and can be easily passed to other people by skin-to-skin contact. This can happen even without symptoms.