Are you suffering from genital herpes? How can you tell if you might have contracted the virus? If you believe you may have contracted this sexually transmitted disease, identifying and seeking treatment is a vitally important step you must take as soon as possible. In this article, we’ll outline some of the symptoms you need to look for, and where to go to get treatment.
The first thing to know is that only around 50% of people who carry the virus show any of the ‘classic’ symptoms. So if you’ve had sexual contact with a person who has or thinks they may have the virus, it’s important to see your doctor to be diagnosed, so if you do have the virus you can take steps to stop any future outbreaks or stop transmission to future sexual partners.
The classic genital herpes signs and symptoms are of course the cold sore-like blisters that occur on the genitals, anus or upper thighs. These sores are often preceded by a tingling sensation in the areas of infection, or a reddening and tenderness of the area. If medical treatment is taken at this time (known as preventative therapy) outbreaks can often be avoided, or at least significantly reduced in severity.
After this initial period sores will appear, that can range in size from small pimple-sized, to larger, cold sore-sized. These can occur in single spots, or in lesions of many clustered sores. These sores will eventually burst and crust over, and without treatment can last anywhere from one to two weeks. The sores will often be painful, sometimes mildly so and sometimes the pain can be quite bad. They may also itch quite a lot, and scratching can often cause the sores to spread and become more irritated.
Other signs and symptoms of genital herpes can include a painful or itchy rash, fever, tiredness, or muscle pain. Sufferers may also experience painful urination or a discoloring of the foreskin or other genital areas. Female sufferers may also experience vaginal discharge and pain in the abdomen very similar to period pain.
It is important if you have any of the genital herpes signs and symptoms, seek a medical examination as soon as possible and start an effective treatment regime. This means consulting with your doctor or health care professional. Despite the negative stigma surrounding herpes, it’s nothing to be embarrassed about and is very, very common, and seeking proper treatment can only benefit you, so don’t be shy and see your doctor ASAP.
