Genital Herpes: Fast Facts
What are the symptoms of genital herpes?
Most people with genital herpes are not even aware they have been infected because they have mild symptoms or no symptoms at all.6 However, symptoms of a first outbreak may vary from person to person.5 Some of the symptoms you may develop include:4
- Pain in the genital or anal area
- Pain during urination
- Flu-like symptoms (e.g., fever, aching joints and muscles)
- A feeling of general ill health
You may then experience:
- Symptoms which become progressively worse
- Swollen lymph glands in the groin
- Redness and sensitivity of the affected skin within the genital area
- One or several small, painful, fluid-filled blisters that begin to appear on any of the following areas:
In women, symptoms may appear as follows:4
Externally on the genitals, inner and outer labia, around the anus or on the buttocks and thighs
Internally in the vagina and at the cervix
- Blisters may be accompanied by a watery vaginal discharge.4
- The blisters will break, leaving painful open sores4 which may last for 2 weeks or more.4
- Scabs eventually form which fall off to leave normal, healed skin.4
- Symptoms of herpes in the anal area may include pain, discharge and bleeding.4
In men, symptoms may appear as follows:4
Externally, on the penis, around the anus or on the thighs and buttocks
Internally, in the urethra
- If sores are in or near the urethra, painful urination may occur.4
- The blisters will break, leaving painful open sores4 which may last for 2 weeks or more.4
- Scabs eventually form which fall off to leave normal, healed skin.4
- Symptoms of herpes in the anal area may include pain, discharge and bleeding.4
Did you know?
Genital herpes often goes undiagnosed and untreated because symptoms are mistaken for other conditions, such as yeast infection, jock itch, razor burn or allergic reaction to detergents.6
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