There are two forms of genital herpes — herpes simplex virus-1 and herpes simplex virus-2. Although herpes-1 is most often associated with cold sores and fever blisters. Herpes type II usually causes genital (vagina, anus, penis) herpes. However, type II can be transmitted to the mouth and type I can be transmitted to the genitals. Both forms of herpes may be sexually transmitted. During pregnancy, herpes may cause miscarriage or stillbirth. If active herpes infections are present during childbirth, newborn infants may suffer serious health damage, including developmental disabilities and death. Transmission to a newborn is more common during the first episode of the herpes infection and less common during recurrent herpes outbreaks. More than 45 million Americans have been diagnosed with genital herpes. Half a million new cases are diagnosed every year. Like many other viruses, the herpes simplex virus (HSV) remains in the body for life.

• Sexual contact (vaginal, oral or anal) with someone who has herpes
• Skin-to-skin, genital-to-genital, sore-to-genital contact with someone who has herpes
• The virus can be passed even when no sores are present

The first outbreak of symptoms usually takes 2 to 20 days (or longer) after the virus enters the body. When a person is first infected with herpes I or II, your immune system is not able to fight it and the virus is able to make copies of itself faster and in more places than it can later on. Signs and symptoms during a first outbreak, therefore can be quite severe. First outbreaks may take from two to four weeks to heal fully. During this time some people will experience a second crop of lesions, and some will have flu-like symptoms, including fever and swollen glands.

On the other hand, some people have a first outbreak so mild that they don’t even notice it. It may be a later outbreak that is first noticed months or years later. Sores usually heal in one to three weeks although the virus is still in the body.

Once a person has caught the herpes virus, the symptoms may return again. Repeated cases are often related to stress, illness or certain times in the menstrual cycle. Sometimes years may pass from the time of the initial infection to the development of symptoms. Herpes is most contagious when the herpes sores are present on the body, but some people can be contagious even when symptoms are not recognized.

• Painful blisters that break into open sores. These may appear on the mouth, vagina, cervix, penis, anus or anywhere the virus entered the body.
• Sores will dry up and disappear in 5-21 days
• Pain and discomfort around the infected area
• Burning while urinating (peeing)
• Itching
• Swollen glands in the groin
• Fever or headaches
• Tiredness

• Medical examination of blisters / sores
• Fluid may be taken from sore and sent to a lab
• Blood test

• Once infected, the virus stays in your body, there is no known cure for herpes, but there is anti-viral medication available that may relieve discomfort and speed the healing of sores and reduce the number of outbreaks in a given period.

• The sores will go away but they can return, often when you are ill or under stress.
• If the first outbreak occurs during pregnancy the baby can become infected during delivery and get very ill with possible blindness and death. Pregnant women are advised to avoid unprotected genital or oral sex during late pregnancy to avoid the risk of getting herpes near delivery time.
• In addition, other existing health problems may make the herpes infection worse. Therefore, it is very important that you inform your health care provider that you have herpes.