Typically, shortly after a person contracts herpes, clusters of small blisters appear in the genital area. These blisters itch and become painful. Then they break, leaving painful ulcers. Fever, fatigue, aches and pains, and a urethral or vaginal discharge often occur. The first, or primary, attack usually ends within three weeks.
Recurrent outbreaks are generally shorter and milder.
Doctors diagnose herpes by doing a swab of the blisters, then doing a viral culture. However, many herpes infections, both primary and recurrent, do not produce any symptoms and may escape diagnosis. As a result, most people who are infected with genital herpes do not know they have it. These symptomless, or silent, infections can, however, result in the virus being passed on to others, including a newborn baby. Herpes is caused by herpes simplex viruses, which are similar to the viruses that cause chickenpox and shingles.