What Are the Symptoms Of Genital Herpes?
Herpes infections are a common yet often misunderstood aspect of sexual health. The infection often presents without symptoms, or with very mild symptoms that may be mistaken for something else.
In this blog, our Medical Director, Dr Rashid Bani, explains the signs to look out for, and what might trigger them. So, let’s dive in. What are the symptoms of genital herpes?
The most common symptom of genital herpes is oozing blisters that can appear on the genital and buttock areas in both men and women, potentially accompanied by swollen lymph glands, body aches, headaches, fever, tingling sensations, and unusual discharge.
Read on to learn more about herpes symptoms, how long herpes symptoms can last, and how you can prevent future transmission.
What is Herpes?
Genital herpes, also known as HSV-2, is a sexually transmitted infection (STI) that can remain in the body for a lifetime, but lays dormant between outbreaks. Herpes usually affects the genital area and the skin around it in both men and women. The infection may be irritating and painful, however, it usually does not lead to serious health problems.
It is possible to contract HSV-1 around the genital region, by receiving oral sex from someone with an active oral herpes outbreak.
Herpes can present symptoms similar to genital warts or even a simple ingrown hair, so it’s important to know the difference. Learn more in our helpful blog: What Could be Mistaken for Herpes?
What Are the Symptoms Of Genital Herpes?
The most common symptom of genital herpes for men is oozing blisters that may appear on the penis, scrotum, and buttocks. For women, these blisters may appear on the vagina, anus and buttocks.
The blisters may be accompanied by:
- Lymph glands may become swollen
- Crust appearing around the sores
- Blisters may also appear on the face or anywhere else that has come into contact with the infection
- Body aches, headaches and fever
- A tingling sensation just before blisters appear
- Unusual vaginal or penile discharge
The first symptoms of genital herpes will last two to three weeks, known as an ‘outbreak’. Further outbreaks are less frequent and usually less intense than the first. Some people may only ever experience one outbreak of herpes symptoms within their lifetime.
What Triggers a Genital Herpes Outbreak?
After the initial outbreak, which is usually right after the infection is contracted, further outbreaks can be triggered by several factors, including:
- Stress
- A poor diet
- Poor quality of sleep
- Friction
- Illness, or a weakened immune system
- For women, menstrual periods or hormonal changes
If you want to learn more about what triggers herpes symptoms, and steps you can take to prevent them day-to-day, read our helpful blog: Living With Genital Herpes – How To Prevent & Manage Outbreaks
Can You Test For Herpes Without Symptoms?
It is possible to test for herpes even if you do not have symptoms by doing a blood test. Our Herpes Simplex I/II (IgG) test identifies if you’ve been infected by genital herpes previously without noticing any symptoms.
Best practice is to swab any open sores, if not present then an IgG test can be done. This works by taking a blood sample to test for a past infection. We then test the blood sample for herpes simplex virus antibodies. If preset, the antibodies indicate that your immune system has previously tried to fight the virus and is present within your body.
Testing For Herpes Before Pregnancy
If you have previously experienced herpes symptoms and are planning to have a baby, or you are pregnant, you must get tested straight away. This is because babies can contract herpes through vaginal delivery, which could result in serious complications such as blindness, brain damage and, in some cases, death.
If you know that you have Herpes, doctors can take precautions and deliver the baby via C-section to prevent the spreading of the infection.
How Can Herpes Be Prevented?
It is estimated that around the globe, 491 million people under the age of 60 have genital herpes. Herpes is incredibly common in today’s society, therefore it’s important to be tested regularly in order to prevent it from spreading further. Your Sexual Health offers a wide range of tests that can be conducted in private, from the comfort of your own home.
Practising safe sex and using contraception is an effective way to prevent the spread of Herpes, providing that you do not have an outbreak at the time of sexual activity. If you or your partner have blisters or sores or experience a tingling sensation, it is advised not to engage in vaginal, anal or oral sex as the risk of transmission is increased. Similarly, do not share sex toys.
How Are Herpes Symptoms Treated?
Outbreaks may occur during your lifetime due to a number of factors such as stress or changes to your diet but, usually, they are unpredictable. If an outbreak should occur, treatment such as antiviral medication will help to reduce the symptoms. For frequent outbreaks, prophylactic daily antivirals may be considered.
It is important to keep in mind that the first outbreak of Herpes is usually the worst. Outbreaks may recur throughout your life, however, should become less frequent as you get older.
If you are unsure if you have genital herpes it is important to take a test to find out whether or not you have the infection in order to reduce the risk of transmission. At Your Sexual Health, there is a wide range of sexual health tests including genital herpes tests to give you peace of mind.
Get Tested For Herpes With Your Sexual Health
If you’re currently experiencing herpes symptoms, or you have done previously, you must get tested to avoid passing the infection on to future partners.
Here at Your Sexual Health, we offer private screening in over 100 clinics nationwide, as well as home visits and comprehensive home testing kits. Book a private STD test by visiting our Tests Page, or get in touch with our friendly team for advice and assistance.
