|  | Conditions Treatments | Herpes

Signs & Symptoms of Type 2 Herpes Simplex for Females

According to the American Academy of Dermatology, herpes simplex virus type 2 infections affect up to 20 percent of sexually active adults in the United States. This type of infection, which is also referred to as HSV-2, is more common in women than in men. According to the National Institutes of Health, the virus has no known cure and is the cause of most genital herpes cases. This condition is spread by sexual contact with an infected person whether or not a lesion is present. The severity of HSV-2 infection symptoms vary from person to person.

  1. Initial Symptoms

    • According to the National Institutes of Health, initial symptoms of a HSV-2 infection begin about two weeks after exposure to the virus. Symptoms can include pain, burning, itching or tingling in the genital area, buttocks or inner thigh.

    Lesions

    • After the initial symptoms, one or more small bumps appear in the vaginal area, the skin around the vagina, buttocks, rectum or cervix. Other possible areas of the small bumps include any areas that were exposed to the virus such as the mouth, tongue, eyes, gums, lips and fingers. The bumps turn to blisters filled with clear or straw-colored fluid. These blisters can rupture, and become oozing and bleeding ulcers. According to the National Institutes of Health, the ulcers eventually scab over and begin to heal over a seven- to 14-day period. A second group of lesions can appear within weeks or months after the first outbreak of sores heal.

    Miscellaneous Symptoms

    • A woman with a HSV-2 infection can also experience painful urination, tenderness in the genital area and the inability to fully empty her bladder. Additional symptoms experienced during the first outbreak of genital herpes include flu-like symptoms such as a headache, muscle aches, fever and swollen lymph nodes in the groin.

    Considerations

    • According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, symptoms associated with the first outbreak can last from two to three weeks. Some women may not experience any symptoms, or may mistake the bumps or blisters for insect bites or some other skin condition. Since the initial symptoms can be mild, a woman may mistake a subsequent outbreak for the initial infection and wrongfully accuse her current partner of passing the virus to her. After the first outbreak, a woman can expect to have approximately four to five outbreaks yearly. The frequency of outbreaks and severity of symptoms decreases over time.

Herpes - Related Articles