There are about half a billion people worldwide who are living with genital herpes. It’s a painful condition that’s almost solely transmitted via sexual activity.
Some infected men and women don’t experience any symptoms at all. Others aren’t quite as fortunate. They develop sores and urinary issues.
The first round of symptoms is usually the most severe. It could take weeks before you notice something, and there is no cure. There are ways to treat it if you notice the early signs of herpes early enough.
Check out this guide for a complete list of warning symptoms that all ladies should know about.
Types of Herpes
There are two different types of herpes that you should be aware of. The first is HSV-1.
It’s the most contagious version of the disease that you can contract. It can be spread around via nonsexual contact, such as saliva.
HSV-2 herpes is also called genital herpes. It’s still contagious, but you can only catch it through oral or unprotected sex.
1. Sores
The most common early signs of herpes are sores. They usually appear on the skin in a single isolated spot.
Most of the time, the oral blisters pop up near the mouth area. You can also develop them around the genital region.
It’s unusual for the sores to appear on the inner thighs and buttocks, but it’s not out of the realm of possibility.
After a while, the blisters will burst, and eventually, scab over. When that happens, the healing process will begin.
Again, there’s no cure for herpes quite yet. There will come a time when you go through another flare-up.
2. Tingling
Before the sores form, you may start to feel a tingling sensation in the areas where they are set to appear.
For people asking themselves, “do I have herpes” this symptom is easy to go unnoticed. The tingling may feel a bit strange, but it’s mild enough to miss.
For those who’ve had flare-ups before, the sensation is a lot more noticeable.
3. Burning and Itching
Burning and itching are two herpes symptoms that follow the tingling. It’s unfortunate, but the uncomfortable urge to scratch won’t go away after the sores form.
Whatever you do, don’t scratch your skin when the itching sensation begins. All that will do is further irritate the epidermal layer of your skin that’s already on fire due to the virus.
Scratching can also lengthen the time it takes for you to recover from a flare-up, and you may spread the infection around without meaning to.
You carry a lot of dirt and other bacteria under your nails. Scratching will only stack on top of the bacteria already present due to the virus.
4. Irritation and Redness
After blisters start to form, the area around them will become red and inflamed. We won’t lie, the pain you feel may be more than a bit uncomfortable.
Some fortunate people only experience a mild ache in the affected areas. Not everyone is so lucky.
Regardless of your level of pain, the sores will be tender. Coming into contact with anything will hurt to some degree.
The good news is that the pain will most likely subside after the sores begin the healing process. You might continue to experience some tenderness in the area, but it will no longer be as excruciating.
5. Urinary Issues
Urinary issues are a symptom that’s more common in women. When the urine comes into contact with the sores, it makes going to the bathroom painful.
How much pain you experience can range between mild and severe until the sores begin to scab over. When that happens, you should be able to urinate like normal again.
6. Muscle Pain and Headaches
Herpes can come with severe headaches. You might have some muscle pain, but it won’t be as bad as the migraines.
You could also come down with a low-grade fever that you can treat with over-the-counter medications.
Are the Symptoms Always Apparent?
One of the dangerous things about herpes is that it’s not hard to miss the symptoms. For some, the signs are so mild that they tend to wave them off as something else.
They mistake the sores for pimples or ingrown hairs. Any aching and other physical symptoms can be confused for the flu.
Treatment for Herpes
There are plenty of treatment options available for herpes. While your doctor can’t prescribe you something to get rid of the problem, the medication they give you can ease the severity of your symptoms.
On top of taking your antiviral medication, you should also avoid sexual contact during the flare-ups, not touch the sores, and wash anything that happens to come into contact with the blisters.
If you’re having problems paying for your treatment, you can read this guide to weigh your options.
Recurring Flare-Ups
The first flare-up will be the worst as far as symptoms go. After you get through that, the rest of them won’t be quite as bad. That’s especially true if you take your medications.
As time moves on, the sores will begin to show up less often. You’ll still continue to develop flare-ups, but you’ll have a small break between them.
Common Signs of Herpes You Need to Know About
If you’re going through the signs of herpes, you’re not alone. There are millions of people out there who are in your shoes.
Part of seeking out treatment involves familiarizing yourself with the symptoms. Once you know that you have a problem, it’s all about talking to your doctor and coming up with a plan of attack.
For more tips that will help you manage your symptoms, visit the Health section of our blog.
