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You can have genital herpes and not know it. You could have symptoms so mild that you don’t notice them. Or, you may think your symptoms are due to something else. You may not even have symptoms.
If you have herpes and don’t know it, you can give it to others. This is one reason why the disease is so common.
Common symptoms
Some people get blisters that become painful sores. The sores normally crust over and heal in seven to 14 days. But, there are many other common symptoms, like:
- Itching
- Redness
- Pain while urinating
- Bumps
- Tingling
- Cuts in the genital area
- Vaginal discharge
The virus can stay anywhere around the groin. This includes areas that may not be covered by a condom, like your thighs, hips, or buttocks (basically, anywhere covered by a pair of boxer shorts).
Often, herpes symptoms may be mistaken for other conditions, like:
- Vaginitis
- Yeast infections
- “Jock itch”
- Urinary tract infections
- Rash
- Hemorrhoids
- Folliculitis
Types of outbreaks
There are two kinds of herpes outbreaks. The first outbreak usually occurs within two to 20 days after you get the disease, although sometimes it takes longer. You may have symptoms with the outbreak. Or, you may not.
After the first outbreak, the virus travels to a group of nerves near the backbone. Here it “sleeps.” It may “sleep” for weeks, months, or even years. Then something may set off a new outbreak.
Most people have at least one returning outbreak in the first year that they’re infected.
Herpes triggers
No one knows for sure what makes the virus start up again. What triggers, or causes, outbreaks varies from person to person. Possible triggers include:
- Stress
- Being tired
- Poor diet
- Sex
- Spending time in the sun
- Injuries, illness, or surgery
- Having a period
You may be able to have fewer outbreaks by managing the things that seem to cause your outbreaks.
Also of Interest
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