Candidiasis: Infection with the yeast Candida albicans.

Cervix: Narrow passage forming the lower end of the womb adjacent to the vagina of the female genitals.

Chlamydia: Common STD caused by the bacterium Chlamydia.

Crohn's disease: Chronic, ulcer-causing, inflammatory disease of the gastrointestinal tract.

Direct virus detection tests: Tests that identify virus by detecting viable virus (e.g. by virus culture) or its components (e.g. antigen or DNA).

Eczema: Non-infectious inflammation of the skin, usually accompanied by itching and discharge.

Episode: Symptomatic outbreak of genital herpes.

False negatives: When a diagnostic test result indicates that an infected individual is not infected.

False positives: When a diagnostic test result indicates that an uninfected individual is infected.

Fatigue: Tiredness.

Folliculitis: Inflammation of the (especially hair) follicles. 

Genital Warts: Warts appearing on the genitals which can be caused by a number of microörganisms including human papilloma virus (HPV) and papovavirus.

Gonorrhea: STD caused by the gonococcus bacterium.

Haemorrhoids: Abnormal inflammation of the veins in the region of the rectum (piles).

Heterosexual: Involving both sexes.        

HSV: Herpes simplex virus. HSV-1 = type 1; HSV-2 = type 2.

Labia: Folds of skin either side of the vulva of the female.

Lesions: Abnormalities of skin and mucous membranes caused by herpes simplex virus infection, e.g. blisters or sores. 

Point-of-care diagnostic tests: Diagnostic testing carried out when the patient visits the clinic, with the results available at that visit.   

Prevalence: Proportion of people with an infection/disease at a given time.

Prodrome: Symptoms that appear prior to a genital herpes outbreak/episode.

Psoriasis: Chronic skin disease of unknown cause characterised by dry, reddish, itching, scaly or flaky patches.

Rectum: Final section of the large intestine leading to the anus.

Recurrence: Symptomatic episode of genital herpes resulting from reactivation of HSV.

Sciatica: Lower back pain radiating to the hip or leg caused by pressure on the spinal nerves.   

Scrotum: Skin and tissue enclosing the testicles of the male genitals.

Serological diagnostic test: Test that detects antibody specific for HSV in the blood and indicates prior infection. Serological tests only indicate that a person has been infected with HSV, they cannot identify the site of infection.

STDs: Sexually transmitted diseases.   

Suppressive antiviral therapy: Continuous antiviral therapy to prevent genital herpes recurrences, or reduce their frequency.

Swabbing: Collection of a specimen from the genitals during diagnosis.   

Syphilis: Chronic disease caused by the spirochete Treponema pallidum.

Trichomonas: STD caused by the protozoan Trichomonas vaginalis.

Type-specific diagnostic test: Test that can distinguish between HSV-1 and HSV-2.

Urethra: Canal through which urine is conveyed out of the body from the bladder.

Vagina: Canal leading from the vulva to the cervix of the uterus in females.

Virus culture: Growing of [herpes simplex] virus under laboratory conditions in suitable media.

Vulva: Female external genital organ.