Genital herpes can't be cured. But the right antiviral treatment can make outbreaks shorter, milder and less frequent.
The catch? Aciclovir genital herpes treatment isn't one-size-fits-all. The medicine, the dose and how long you take it all depend on how often you get outbreaks, how quickly you catch the first signs, and whether you're pregnant.
Here are five things worth thinking about before you choose a genital herpes treatment plan.
First outbreak, or not sure it's herpes? Get checked at a sexual health clinic before treating it yourself.
1. How often you get outbreaks
Occasional and frequent outbreaks call for different approaches. If you only get a flare-up once or twice a year, episodic treatment is usually enough. That's a short course of antiviral tablets, taken at the first sign of symptoms.
Outbreaks more often than that? Daily suppressive treatment may suit you better. The NHS says people who get more than 6 outbreaks a year may benefit from taking antiviral medicine continuously for 6 to 12 months.1
Guidance from the British Association for Sexual Health and HIV also recommends considering suppressive treatment if outbreaks are causing you a lot of distress, even if they happen less often.2 Our guide to suppressive therapy explains how the daily option works in more detail.
2. Aciclovir or valaciclovir
Both aciclovir and valaciclovir treat and suppress genital herpes. The choice usually comes down to how often you want to take tablets.
Aciclovir is usually taken two to five times a day, depending on whether you're treating an outbreak or using it for suppression.3 Valaciclovir is turned into aciclovir in your body, but it's absorbed more efficiently. So it needs fewer doses, generally once or twice a day for the same purposes.4
Struggle to remember tablets during the day? Valaciclovir's once or twice daily dosing is easier to fit around work.
The two are equally effective for most people, so convenience and cost are often the deciding factors. Our full aciclovir vs valaciclovir comparison breaks down the differences side by side.
3. How soon you start treatment
Antiviral tablets work best when you start them early. The NHS advises starting treatment within 5 days of symptoms appearing, and doing so may shorten an outbreak by a day or two.1
Learn your early signs. Tingling, itching or burning often comes before any blisters appear.
Clinical guidance from sexual health services suggests the benefit is greatest if you start within the first 24 hours of noticing tingling, itching or blisters.2
Get recurrent outbreaks? It's worth having aciclovir or valaciclovir ready in advance, rather than waiting to see a GP once symptoms have set in. Even a day or two's delay can reduce how much the tablets help.
4. Whether you're pregnant or planning a pregnancy
Pregnant, think you might be, or trying to conceive? Genital herpes treatment needs specialist input rather than a standard online order.
Both aciclovir and valaciclovir may be used in pregnancy when a healthcare professional thinks the benefit outweighs the risk. But the right medicine, dose and length of treatment can vary with your circumstances.
Speak to your GP, midwife or a sexual health clinic before starting or continuing any antiviral treatment if you're pregnant. That way, your care can be planned around your stage of pregnancy.
5. How long you'll need treatment
Episodic treatment is short. A typical course of aciclovir for an outbreak lasts around 5 days, taken several times a day.3
Suppressive treatment is different. It's designed to be taken every day, often for months at a time.
The NHS recommends reviewing suppressive treatment with a doctor after 6 to 12 months, to check whether you still need it, since outbreak frequency can change over time.1 It's common to pause and see whether outbreaks come back before deciding whether to continue, rather than staying on it indefinitely without a review.
Frequently asked questions
How quickly does aciclovir work for genital herpes?
If started within 5 days of symptoms appearing, aciclovir and valaciclovir can shorten an outbreak by around a day or two. They work best when taken within the first 24 hours of noticing tingling, itching or blisters.
Which is better for genital herpes, aciclovir or valaciclovir?
Both are equally effective for treating and suppressing genital herpes. The main difference is dosing frequency: aciclovir is typically taken two to five times a day, while valaciclovir needs fewer doses. The choice usually comes down to convenience and cost rather than effectiveness.
How many outbreaks a year mean I should consider suppressive therapy?
The NHS notes that people with more than 6 outbreaks a year may benefit from daily suppressive antiviral treatment for 6 to 12 months. Fewer but more distressing outbreaks can also be a reason to consider it.
Can I take genital herpes treatment while pregnant?
Aciclovir and valaciclovir may be used in pregnancy where a healthcare professional judges the benefit outweighs the risk, but the right dose and duration should always be guided by a GP, midwife or sexual health clinic rather than a standard online order.
Does treatment stop genital herpes from being passed on to a partner?
Daily suppressive treatment reduces viral shedding between outbreaks, which can lower the chance of passing the virus to a partner, though it does not remove the risk entirely. Condoms and avoiding contact during an outbreak also help reduce transmission.
How long does a course of genital herpes treatment last?
Episodic treatment for a single outbreak usually lasts 5 days. Suppressive therapy is taken daily and is typically reviewed with a doctor after 6 to 12 months.
References
- NHS. Genital herpes. nhs.uk
- Patel R, et al. 2024 UK national guideline for the management of anogenital herpes. British Association for Sexual Health and HIV (BASHH). bashh.org
- Aciclovir 400mg Tablets. Summary of Product Characteristics (SmPC). medicines.org.uk
- Valaciclovir 500mg Film-Coated Tablets. Summary of Product Characteristics (SmPC). medicines.org.uk
This article is intended for informational purposes only and does not replace professional medical advice. Always read the patient information leaflet supplied with your medication and speak to a healthcare professional if you have specific concerns.