Genital herpes

• Signs and symptoms
• Getting it
• Diagnosis & treatment
• Looking after you & your partner
• Long-term effects

Signs and symptoms

Both men and women may have one or more symptoms including:

• Itching or tingling sensation in the genital or anal area.
• Small fluid-filled blisters. These burst and leave small sores, which can be very painful. In time, they dry out, scab over and heal. With the first infection, they can take between 2 and 4 weeks to heal properly.
• Pain when peeing, if pee comes into contact with any of the open sores.
• A flu-like illness, backache, headache, swollen glands or fever.

When there are symptoms, the virus is very infectious.

Repeated infections are usually not as bad. The sores are fewer, smaller, and less painful and heal more quickly.

Where to get help