Genital herpes

Genital herpes | NHS inform Home Illnesses and conditions Symptoms and self-help Tests and treatments Healthy living Care, support and rights Scotlands Service Directory 0 Home Illnesses and conditions Sexual and reproductive Genital herpes Genital herpes Genital herpes is a sexually transmitted infection (STI) caused by a virus called herpes simplex virus (HSV). There are 2 different types of the virus. Both of which affect the genitals. Genital herpes causes painful blisters and sores on and around the genitals. It can also sometimes cause problems if you have it for the first time during pregnancy. Symptoms of genital herpes Most people with the herpes virus dont notice any symptoms and dont know they have it. So its important to get tested if you think youre infected. If you do get symptoms, it takes usually 2 to 12 days after contact for them to appear. Some people dont get symptoms until months or sometimes years later. Once you have the herpes infection, the virus stays in your body. It can lie dormant for long periods but can reactivate in the area that was originally infected. If this happens, the sores and blisters can reappear. This is known as a recurrent episode of genital herpes. This first episode of genital herpes may last from 2 to 4 weeks. Repeated episodes are not usually as severe, or long, as the first and you may never have a repeat episode. Symptoms of the first infection include: spots or red bumps around the genital area pain inside the vagina, head of penis or anus vaginal discharge pain peeing or being unable to pee fever flu-like symptoms, backache, headache and a temperature mild swelling of the lymph glands in the groin, armpits and neck If you have a recurrent infection, your symptoms may include: a tingling or burning sensation before blisters appear painful red blisters, which soon burst to leave ulcers pain inside the vagina, head of penis or anus When to get medical advice Speak to your GP practice or midwife if: youre pregnant and think you have genital herpes Testing for genital herpes If you think you might have genital herpes, get tested for free by: contacting your GP practice for an appointment booking an appointment at your local sexual health service Your doctor or nurse may be able to diagnose by looking at symptoms such as blisters, sores and ulcers. If you have visible blisters, your doctor or nurse may take a swab for testing. This is to check if its herpes and what type. The swab can also test for another STI which causes blisters called syphilis . The genital herpes swab tests are very reliable, though if the ulcer is too dry then it may be less likely to find a positive result. Treatment for genital herpes Genital herpes can be treated with antiviral medication. The symptoms of genital herpes can be treated, although it could keep coming back. Symptoms of recurrent genital herpes will usually clear up without any treatment. Some people experience recurrences of genital herpes. In these cases, a longer course of tablets should stop any recurrent episodes. You can talk to your GP or nurse about which treatment options are right for you. As theres no screening test for herpes, partners should only have a test if they also have symptoms. How genital herpes are passed on You can get genital herpes: from skin to skin contact with the infected area (including vaginal, anal and oral sex) when there are no visible sores or blisters if a cold sore touches your genitals or face kissing (if the person has a cold sore on their face) by sharing sex toys with someone who has herpes Sometimes herpes can be passed on when your sexual partner has no visible sores or symptoms. This is because the virus can become active on the skin without causing any visible blisters or sores. This is sometimes called asymptomatic shedding. This risk goes down during the first months after you catch herpes and is not likely after two years. However, it is more common when people are still having frequent recurrences. Very rarely, herpes is passed to a newborn baby during childbirth. This is only likely to happen if a mother has her first episode of herpes after week 26 of the pregnancy. When women have had herpes longer than three months, normal delivery is expected even if there are symptoms at the time of delivery. How to prevent genital herpes The best way to reduce your risk of STIs is to practice safer sex . This means using a condom for vaginal, anal and oral sex. If your partner has herpes, avoiding sex when they have visible sores reduces your risk of getting herpes. Other STIs If youve been diagnosed with herpes its recommended that you are tested for all STIs including: chlamydia gonorrhoea syphilis HIV This is even more important if you have recurrent episodes. Find your local sexual health clinic Source: Scottish Government - Opens in new browser window Last updated: 26 February 2024 How can we improve this page? Help us improve NHS inform Thank You Your feedback has been received Dont include personal information e.g. name, location or any personal health conditions. 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