Most people never have symptoms, or the symptoms are so mild that people do not know that they are infected. But in some people, the disease causes occasional outbreaks of itchy and painful sores in the genital area.
After the first outbreak, the herpes virus stays in the nerve cells below the skin and becomes inactive. It usually becomes active again from time to time, traveling back up to the skin and causing more sores. Things like stress, illness, a new sex partner, or menstruation may trigger a new outbreak. As time goes on, the outbreaks happen less often, heal faster, and don't hurt as much.
What causes genital herpes?
Genital herpes is caused by a virus—either the herpes simplex virus type 1 or the herpes simplex virus type 2. Either virus can cause sores on the lips (cold sores) and sores on the genitals. Type 1 more often causes cold sores, while type 2 more often causes genital sores.
You are more likely to get genital herpes if you:
- Have more than one sex partner
- Have a high-risk partner (someone who has more than one sex partner or someone who has genital herpes)
- Have unprotected sex (without condoms)
- Have sex before age 18
- Have an impaired immune system
- Are a woman. Women are more likely than men to get infected.
What are the symptoms?
Symptoms can vary greatly from person to person. Most people never have any symptoms, or the symptoms are so mild that they may not notice them.
Some people have outbreaks of itchy and painful blisters on the penis or around the opening of the vagina. The blisters rupture and turn into oozing shallow sores that take up to three weeks to heal. Sometimes people, especially women, also have flu-like symptoms, such as fever, headache, and muscle aches. They may also notice an abnormal discharge and pain when they urinate.
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Genital herpes infections can be severe in people with impaired immune systems, such as people with HIV.
Last Updated:
January 18, 2007
