There is no cure for genital herpes. Your doctor can prescribe an antiviral medicine to reduce your symptoms. Antiviral medicines are most effective if you start taking them within 2 days of the first symptoms. They can help control outbreaks if they are frequent or severe, and can reduce your risk of passing the virus on to a sexual partner. You can help manage your symptoms by: gently bathing the area with a warm salt solution (1 teaspoon of salt to 2 cups water; or 1 cup of salt in a bath) using pain medicine, such as paracetamol or ibuprofen applying local anaesthetic (numbing) ointment or cream urinating (weeing) while sitting in a warm bath, if urination is painful.