Dear Worried, An outbreak of herpes usually begins with a tingling or itching sensation of the skin in the genital area. Sores then appear, starting as one or more red bumps and changing to watery blisters within a day or two. Within a few days, the so res rupture, leaving shallow ulcers which may ooze, weep or bleed. Usually after three or four days a scab forms and the sores heal themselves without treatment. They often seem to be triggered by stress, illness, menstruation or pregnancy.
Most people find that the number of yearly recurrences decreases with time.
People who are deficient in B-vitamins or who are unusually tense seem to get more frequent recurrences. From the minimal symptoms you described, it sounds like you could have herpes. The diagnostic test is designed to test the initial outbreak, before the sores get pus-filled. Again, if diagnosed, you need to use a condom all the time when participating in intercourse. The virus can be transferred whe n the sores are not visible.