Understanding Genital Herpes

Immediately, blisters, symptoms

It is pretty usual for individuals infected with genital herpes to be free of any signs of the infection. Another group of individuals do have mild signs but believe it is due to another cause. Another group of individuals do suffer from genital herpes in its most severe form. When the infection begins it will travel to the spinal cord's nerve centers and then return to the place of infection where the breakout occurs. This is where it can be spread to others. It does come in waves like phases or episodes.

Almost immediately after the time that the infection happens, symptoms of the genital herpes will appear. It depends on the individual whether there are very intense signs or just a mild occurrence. Usually the most apparent sign is visible sores. This will look like fluid-filled blisters or pustules. After a few days the blisters will break open into ulcers that will crust over. Then the healing will take about a month. Places this is usually found will be inside the vagina, on the penis, near the anus, on the vulva or the thighs.

Usually the more intense symptoms will appear on women. Unfortunately when a woman does have these signs of the herpes virus inside the vaginal they think it is from something else. Instead of realizing their symptoms are from genital herpes many women do think it is yeast infection. Therefore, when a women does have the symptoms on a frequent basis of a yeast infection, she should be checked specifically for genital herpes.

Genital herpes can manifest with different signs like headaches, pain during urination and flu-like symptoms. After the initial outbreak most individuals will experience outbreaks or episodes that will keep returning. The subsequent outbreaks will more than likely be less intense than the first. It depends on the individual the amount of times the outbreak returns.

When the outbreak returns it will probably be much milder and therefore very easily mistaken for something else. They could be mistaken for just a rash, pimples, spots, insect bites or ingrown hairs. Many times the active virus will be so mild the individual will not even be aware it is there and may not have any visible signs at all. Asymptomatic shedding is the term given to the shedding of the virus.

When the genital herpes virus is about to break out again, the time when it is coming to the surface is called prodrome. There are common signs of the approaching attack like itching, tingling and pain just before the visible signs are present. After this sores will appear within a couple days. Once the prodrome signs are recognized there are medications to take that will shorten the breakout time and make it milder and easier to deal with.