Medical Journeys

Alli:

Genital herpes symptoms can vary greatly from person to person. Most people never have any symptoms or ones that are so mild they may not recognize them, although some people develop painful and bothersome symptoms.

The primary outbreak of genital herpes tends to last longer and be more severe than subsequent (recurrent) outbreaks. Symptoms of a primary outbreak may include:

Flulike symptoms, such as fever, headache, and muscle aches. These symptoms usually get better within a week.

+ Tingling, burning, itching, and redness at the site where an outbreak is about to occur (prodrome).
+ Painful, itchy blisters on the penis, on the vulva, or inside the vagina. Blisters may also appear on the anus, buttocks, thighs, or scrotum, either alone or in clusters. They may be barely noticeable or as large as a coin.
+ Blisters can break and become shallow, painful, oozing sores.
+ Swollen and tender lymph nodes in the groin.
+ Painful urination.
+ Abnormal vaginal or urethral discharge.

Occasionally a person will experience symptoms months or even years after being infected, making it very difficult to identify the sex partner who was the source of the infection.

Recurrent outbreaks of HSV cause painful blisters that rupture, become sores, and heal after 6 to 12 days. Symptoms of recurrent outbreaks are usually limited to genital blisters, sores, and swollen glands. The blisters are most painful during the first 24 hours after they appear. Most people do not have flulike symptoms with recurrent outbreaks. Recurrent outbreaks are usually less severe and do not last as long as primary outbreaks.

Symptoms of genital herpes infections in both primary and recurrent outbreaks tend to be more severe in women than in men.
http://health.yahoo.com/ency/healthwise/hw270613/te3045;_ylt=AgN6Rr8r3G6rc9soCrb4YVrXNLUF

TECHX69:

Try WebMD.com, seriously, it’s a great site.

Sweet Pea:

Overview & Facts
About one in five U.S. adults and teens have had a genital herpes infection — and most don’t know it. Learn about the herpes simplex virus and how to lower your risk.

What Is Genital Herpes?
What Is Genital Herpes?
Genital herpes is an infection of the genitals, buttocks, or anal area caused by herpes simplex virus (HSV). Most genital herpes is caused by HSV type 2. Yet as people begin to have sex at younger ages the herpes type 1 virus has increasingly been shown to also cause genital herpes.

How Common Is Genital Herpes?
Genital herpes is a chronic, lifelong viral infection. At least 50 million persons in the United States have genital HSV infection.

Related Guide: First Time Herpes Outbreaks
What does herpes do after it enters the body?Some symptoms of primary HSV-2 infection are different from the recurrent symptoms that come later.

Related Guide: Recurrent Herpes Outbreaks
Herpes is a recurrent infection. That means the infection never goes away. The symptoms may disappear for awhile, but they come back periodically.

Causes
Genital Herpes Causes
Genital herpes is a highly contagious infection usually spread through intercourse, but it can be passed through oral or anal sex as well. Learn about it in this sexual health article.

Are You at Risk?
Herpes Can Increase the Risks of HIV Infection
STDs can increase the risk of HIV. People with genital herpes have at least twice the risk of becoming infected with HIV if exposed to it than those without it. Read more about herpes and HIV infection.

Related Guide: Your Guide to STDs
One out of four teens in the United States becomes infected with an STD each year and by the age of 25, half of all sexually active young adults will get an STD.

Tool: Are You at Risk of Genital Herpes?
This brief questionnaire will let you know.

Related Guide: What Increases Your Risk of Herpes
Lots of risk factors can increase your risk of genital herpes. Stress, fatigue, and being a woman are herpes risk factors, read more.

Risks Associated With Oral Sex and Genital Herpes
Receiving oral sex raises women’s genital herpes risk, a study shows.

Rare Circumcision Ritual Carries Herpes Risk
Male infants can become infected with the herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) after undergoing circumcision that included direct oral-genital contact between the infant and the circumciser. Read more about circumcision and herpes risks.

Prevention
10 Ways to Reduce Risk of Genital Herpes
Practicing safe sex by using a condom is just one. Some honesty helps, too.

What to Do if Your Partner Has Genital Herpes Infection
Getting information on genital herpes is one way to deal with your feelings.

Have I Been Infected, Too?
For those whose partners have been infected, answers to some common questions.

Reducing Baby’s Risk of Herpes Infection
Delivering a baby via cesarean section can protect an infant from infection with the herpes simplex virus (HSV). Read more about the recommendations for cesarean section and herpes.