Herpes, genital
Most people with the herpes simplex virus (HSV) don't experience any symptoms of genital herpes when first infected. As a result, many people don't know they have the condition.
Symptoms may not appear until months or sometimes years after you're exposed to the virus.
If you experience symptoms when first infected, they usually appear four to seven days after you have been exposed to the virus. The symptoms are usually more severe first time around than in cases of recurrent infections.
The symptoms of genital herpes for the first time include:
These symptoms may last up to 20 days. However, the sores will eventually scab and heal without scarring.
Although the initial symptoms of genital herpes clear up, the virus remains dormant (inactive) in a nearby nerve. The virus may be reactivated from time to time, travelling back down the nerve to your skin and causing recurrent outbreaks.
Symptoms of a recurrent outbreak may include:
Recurrent outbreaks are usually shorter and less severe. This is because your body has produced protective antibodies (proteins that fight infection) in reaction to the previous infection. Your body now recognises the virus and mounts a response that is able to fight HSV more effectively.
Over time, you should find any recurrent genital herpes infections become less frequent and less severe.
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Genital herpes is caused by the herpes simplex virus (HSV) type 1 or type 2. It causes painful blisters to appear on the genitals and the surrounding areas.
Most people with the herpes simplex virus (HSV) do not experience any symptoms of genital herpes when they are first infected.
Genital herpes is caused by the herpes simplex virus (HSV). The virus is very contagious and spreads from one person to another through skin-to-skin contact.
If you think that you may have genital herpes for the first time (primary infection), you should visit your local genitourinary medicine (GUM) clinic as soon.
Treatment for genital herpes will depend on whether you have the infection for the first time (a primary infection) or whether you have a recurrent infection.
The herpes virus can pose problems during pregnancy and may be passed to the baby. The blisters caused by HSV can also become infected by other bacteria.
The following advice can help to prevent the herpes simplex virus (HSV) spreading to others. If you have genital herpes, you should avoid having sex.
Real story of a young woman's experience of having genital herpes.