Genital (HSV-2) Herpes Symptoms

What Are The Symptoms Of HSV-2?

Genital herpes, or herpes simplex II is among the most prevalent sexually transmitted diseases today. When an infection is causing an active outbreak symptoms can be painful and unsightly but the majority of carriers show no symptoms.

Signs Of Genital Herpes

Genital herpes can be passed even if an outbreak isn't occuring when infected cells cross from a carrier to a newly infected individual. The virus enters the blood stream and can remain dormant until it flares up, causing a group of open sores to appear on the skin. The open sores will eventually blister and heal over within a few weeks. Other symptoms include:

• fever

• head ache

• shaking

• fatigue

• swollen lymph nodes

• raw skin around the genitals

• itching on the genitals

• tingling on the genitals

• back pain

How Often Will I Have Outbreaks?

Once infected with genital herpes you may have an outbreak in your first few weeks after exposure or it may take years to cause an outbreak. It is common for genital herpes patients to have 5-6 outbreaks a year, although management with various treatments can bring that number down.

Over time the human body is able to adapt to the infection and the number of outbreaks, as well as their severity, will decrease.

Symptoms That Could Be False Positives

Genital herpes shares many symptoms in common with a variety of infections. Other infections with flu-like symptoms and overlapping symptoms are a vaginal yeast infection, bacterial infections and bladder infections.

Things That Trigger Symptoms

The herpes virus often lays dormant until it gets triggered by one of the following:

• surgery

• sex

• fatigue

• trauma

• high stress levels

• menstruation

Psychology Symptoms Of Genital Herpes

Herpes can cause a variety of psychological sypmtoms on top of its physical ailments. Herpes patients often report higher levels anxiety and lower levels of self-esteem. Genital herpes can cause individuals to withdraw from relationships and sexual intimacy which can negatively affect your psychological health. Get tested for genital herpes if you are experiencing any of the symptoms above.