Symptoms of Genital herpes
General information about symptoms of Genital herpes: The symptom information on this page attempts to provide a list of some possible symptoms of Genital herpes. This symptom information has been gathered from various sources, may not be fully accurate, and may not be the full list of symptoms of Genital herpes. Furthermore, symptoms of Genital herpes may vary on an individual basis for each patient. Only your doctor can provide adequate diagnosis of symptoms and whether they are indeed symptoms of Genital herpes.
List of symptoms of Genital herpes: The list of symptoms mentioned in various sources for Genital herpes includes:
- No symptoms - it is possible to be infected and not know it
- Sores - these can afflict various areas of the body
- Red bumps - sores begin as small red bumps.
- Blisters - sores then become blisters and then change into sores.
- Vaginal sores
- Penile sores
- Anal sores
- Buttock sores
- Thigh sores
- Internal vaginal sores
- Cervix sores
- Urinary tract sores
- Episodic recurrent outbreaks of sores interspersed with remission periods
- Mouth infection - such as from infection due to oral sex
- Genital itching
- Genital burning
- Vaginal itching
- Penile itching
- Anal itching
- Anal burning
- Leg pain
- Buttock pain
- Genital area pain
- Vaginal discharge
- Abdominal pressure
- Low-grade fever
- Painful urination - due to ulcers
Symptoms of Genital herpes: HSV-2 usually produces only mild symptoms or signs or no symptoms at all. However, HSV-2 can cause recurrent painful genital sores in many adults, and HSV-2 infection can be severe in people with suppressed immune systems. Regardless of severity of symptoms, genital herpes frequently causes psychological distress in people who know they are infected. 1
Most people infected with HSV-2 are not aware of their infection. However, if signs and symptoms occur during the first episode, they can be quite pronounced. The first episode usually occurs within two weeks after the virus is transmitted, and the sores typically heal within two to four weeks. Other signs and symptoms during the primary episode may include a second crop of sores, or flu-like symptoms, including fever and swollen glands. However, most individuals with HSV-2 infection may never have sores, or they may have very mild signs that they don't even notice or that they mistake for insect bites or a rash.
Most people diagnosed with a first episode of genital herpes can expect to have several symptomatic recurrences a year (typically four or five). These recurrences usually are most noticeable within the first year following the first episode.1
Both HSV 1 and 2 can produce sores (also called lesions) in and around the vaginal area, on the penis, around the anal opening, and on the buttocks or thighs. Occasionally, sores also appear on other parts of the body where the virus has entered through broken skin.2
Unfortunately, most people who have
genital herpes don’t know it because they never have any symptoms,
or they do not recognize any symptoms they might have. When there
are symptoms, they can be different in each person. Most often, when
a person becomes infected with herpes for the first time, the
symptoms will appear within two to 10 days. These first episodes of
symptoms usually last two to three weeks.
Early symptoms of
a genital herpes outbreak include:
- itching or burning feeling in the genital or anal area.
- pain in the legs, buttocks, or genital area.
- discharge of fluid from the vagina.
- feeling of pressure in the abdomen.
If you have been infected
by HSV 1 and/or 2, you will probably have symptoms or outbreaks from
time to time. After the virus has finished being active, it then
travels to the nerves at the end of the spine where it stays for a
while. Even after the sores are gone, the virus stays inside the
nerve cells in a still and hidden state, which means that it’s
inactive.
In most people, the virus can become active several
times a year. This is called a recurrence. But scientists do not yet
know why this happens. When it becomes active again, it travels
along the nerves to the skin, where it busies itself by making more
viruses near the site of the very first infection. That is where new
sores usually will appear.
Sometimes, the virus can become
active but not cause any sores that can be seen. At these times,
small amounts of the virus may be shed at or near places of the
first infection, in fluids from the mouth, penis, or vagina, or from
barely noticeable sores. You may not notice this shedding because it
often does not cause any pain or feel uncomfortable. Even though you
might not be aware of the shedding, you still can infect a sex
partner during this time.
After the first outbreak, any
future outbreaks are usually mild and last only about a week. An
infected person may know that an outbreak is about to happen by
feeling a tingling feeling or itching in the genital area, or pain
in the buttocks or down the leg. For some people, these early
symptoms can be the most painful and annoying part of an episode.
Sometimes, only the tingling and itching are present and no visible
sores develop. At other times, blisters appear that may be very
small and barely noticeable, or they may break into open sores that
crust over and then disappear.
The frequency and severity of
the recurrent episodes vary greatly. While some people have only one
or two outbreaks in a lifetime, others may have several outbreaks a
year. The number and pattern of repeat outbreaks often change over
time for a person. Scientists do not know what causes the virus to
become active again. Although some people with herpes report that
their outbreaks are brought on by another illness, stress, or having
a menstrual period, outbreaks often are not predictable. In some
cases, outbreaks may be connected to exposure to sunlight.
2
The major symptoms of herpes infection are painful blisters or open sores in the genital area. These may be preceded by a tingling or burning sensation in the legs, buttocks, or genital region. The herpes sores usually disappear within two to three weeks, but the virus remains in the body for life and the lesions may recur from time to time.3
The symptoms of genital herpes vary widely from person to person. When symptoms of a first episode of genital herpes occur, they usually appear within 2 to 10 days of exposure to the virus and last an average of 2 to 3 weeks. The early symptoms can include an itching or burning sensation; pain in the legs, buttocks, or genital area; vaginal discharge; or a feeling of pressure in the abdominal region.
Within a few days, sores (also called lesions) appear at the site of infection. Lesions can also occur on the cervix in women or in the urinary passage in men. These small red bumps may develop into blisters or painful open sores. Over a period of days, the sores become crusted and then heal without scarring. Other symptoms that may accompany a primary episode of genital herpes can include fever, headache, muscle aches, painful or difficult urination, vaginal discharge, and swollen glands in the groin area. 4
More symptoms of Genital herpes: In addition to the above information, to get a full picture of the possible symptoms of this condition and its related conditions, it may be necessary to examine symptoms that may be caused by complications of Genital herpes, underlying causes of Genital herpes, associated conditions for Genital herpes, risk factors for Genital herpes, or other related conditions.
Medical articles on symptoms: These general reference articles may be of interest:
Footnotes:
1. excerpt from Genital Herpes: DSTD
2. excerpt from Genital Herpes, NIAID Fact Sheet: NIAID
3. excerpt from Sexually Transmitted Diseases, NIAID Fact Sheet: NIAID
4. excerpt from Genital Herpes: NWHIC
Last revision: April 11, 2003
Medical Tools & Articles:
Next articles:
Medical Articles: