Genital Herpes Symptoms: Pay Attention to the Signs

What do you know about genital herpes symptoms? Also known as herpes genitalis, female genital herpes affects more than 20 percent of the adult population, statistics says. Moreover, the illness is confined not only to females. This is because the virus can be transmitted to males.

Further research will also tell you that genital herpes is highly contagious. As long as you come in contact with the lesions or discharge or engage in a sexual intercourse with someone, you are already spreading it.

Causes of Herpes

There are two types of viruses that can possibly cause genital herpes. These are type 1 and type 2 simplex viruses. However, the latter is more commonly associated with herpes attacking the genital area. Information says that type 1 is the most typical reason for the development of cold sores or fever blisters. They occur within the lip, cheek, mouth, and throat area since the virus can stay in the membranes of the jawbone.

Not everyone will develop genital herpes symptoms. They may even not know they already have the infection unless they’re going to subject themselves to thorough diagnosis, including blood testing.

Symptoms of Genital Herpes

However, majority do develop the common signs of genital herpes. They may occur at least within 2 to 3 weeks of transmission. The symptoms don’t become immediately pronounced because the virus still goes through an incubation period. Around this time, the virus replicates itself before it goes out into the nerve fibers and into the surface of the skin.

The genital herpes sores don’t appear suddenly either. Usually, you’re going to develop a feeling of itchiness or tingling in the soon-to-be-affected areas. It’s also possible that the skin will become dry. It’s only within hours or days that the first signs of the lesions will become more prominent.

They normally appear first as pimples or bumps. They can be inflamed and sometimes painful to touch. Later, if you’re not taking any anti-viral medications, these pimples will eventually collapse and develop into full-blown sores.

Depending on the degree of severity of the genital herpes, these sores can excrete mild white discharges. The genital area can also be quite painful. Some may find it difficult to urinate and thus develop urine retention. Others may feel pain at the lower back and in the muscles. Those with very low immune system will develop fever before the onset of the blisters or while they are in the process of becoming sores.

How to Prevent and Treat Genital Herpes

You don’t have to wait until all the genital herpes symptoms appear. Once you suspect you have it, you can take anti-viral medications, preferably those recommended by your physician. Since herpes doesn’t really go away from the body but remains asleep until you suffer from very low immunity, it could be possible you have to support yourself with viral anti-suppressants. This will prevent reoccurrence.

It’s also necessary to avoid having contact, especially sexual, with someone who has herpes or is a suspected patient. Practice safe sex to greatly reduce the chances of acquiring and developing genital herpes.