- Genital herpes usually appears on the sores on the vagina or vulva in women and on the penis in men. The sores start out as small, tingling red bumps, then develop into blisters. Within a few days, the affected area becomes painful and itchy, and the blisters break and crust over. In some cases, the sores may appear in other locations such as on a woman's cervix, inside a man's urethra or on the anal area of either sex. Genital herpes may also affect the lips and mouth.
- Genital herpes usually causes tingling, pain and itching. In some cases, other symptoms may also occur, such as fever, headache, difficulty urinating, swollen lymph nodes in the groin and vaginal discharge. The first outbreak is usually the most severe, and in many cases there are no subsequent outbreaks.
- The risk of developing genital herpes is highest for those who have multiple sexual partners and do not use condoms. Condoms offer some protection against genital herpes but the spread is common even among those who use condoms for intercourse because the disease can also be transmitted in such situations as oral-genital contact; it can also be transmitted between parts of the body that are not protected by a condom, such as the groin and vulva.
- Genital herpes is caused by herpes simplex viruses, types 1 and 2, or "HSV-1" and "HSV-2." HSV-2 causes more severe symptoms than HSV-1 and is more likely to lead to recurrent outbreaks. HSV-1 is best known for causing cold sores but can cause genital herpes as well; this usually occurs when someone who has a cold sore performs oral sex on another person. Both viruses are treated using the same antiviral drugs, which are not curative but do improve symptoms and decrease the chance of transmitting the disease to someone else.
- There is a considerable amount of confusion over whether condoms protect against genital herpes. One study showed that genital herpes could still be transmitted if a condom was used, leading many to think that condoms did not help prevent the virus' spread. More thorough studies have since shown that condoms offer significant, although not complete, protection.
