How to Recognize the Signs of Genital Herpes

You suspect you may have genital herpes, but don't really know enough about this wide-spread sexually transmitted disease or STD to recognize the signs. Early treatment is vital to help prevent outbreaks. Precaution stops the spread of this disease, so knowing what to look out for is extremely important in getting an early diagnosis.

Instructions

• 1

  Recognize the obvious symptoms. Although the signs of genital herpes are sometimes so mild that they are unnoticed, apparent signs of genital herpes include red bumps, sores or blisters on the genitals, anus, inner thighs or buttocks. Herpes are also recognizable by itching or pain in these areas. It is also important to know that blisters can occur inside the genitals, such as on the cervix for women and inside the urethra for men. Urination may be painful during an outbreak, or you may get flu-like symptoms including fever, headaches and muscle aches, or swollen lymph nodes in the groin.

• 2

  Evaluate your risk. If you have sex with many different partners without a condom (or if your partner does), you are at high risk of contracting an STD, including genital herpes. However, since herpes can be spread by skin-to-skin contact or through oral sex, condoms do not always offer complete protection against the disease. Herpes can spread through sexual contact even if an infected person does not have an outbreak during the time of intercourse. So, if you have not been with your partner for a long time or are unsure about their sexual history, you may have an elevated risk of contracting genital herpes.

• 3

  Get tested. If you have the slightest suspicion that you have genital herpes or any STD for that matter, you should be tested by your doctor. If you have open sores, a culture can be taken to test for the disease. If you do not have sores but still suspect you may have contracted genital herpes, there are blood tests available. You may have to be tested more than once since it takes a few weeks for the antibodies to show up in your bloodstream.