A person's first outbreak may last for three to four weeks, but symptoms tend to completely heal within two to 12 days. The amount of outbreaks someone has varies from person to person. The average number of outbreaks per year is four to five. The first outbreak may be the most extreme outbreak a person will have. Usually, there are more outbreaks during the first year.
Many people find that recurrences tend to lessen in severity and frequency with time.
The frequency of outbreaks can often be managed through effective stress management, and getting adequate rest, nutrition and exercise. If symptoms of genital herpes appear, they can vary widely from person to person. If a person does experience visible symptoms, we recommend obtaining a culture test within the first 48 hours after symptoms appear. Beyond 48 hours, there is a risk of receiving a false negative test result because symptoms may have begun to heal. Blood tests can be used when a person has no symptoms but has concerns about having herpes.