Symptoms and Complications
Most people infected with genital herpes have no sores or other recognizable
symptoms. When there are sores, they usually form a small cluster of red
spots that appear 4 to 7 days after contact. These crust over and heal within
7 to 14 days. They can appear around the anus, buttocks, or thighs as well as
the genitals. Where they appear depends on the sexual activity that transmitted
them.
The sores are sometimes accompanied by other symptoms such as:
- pain, itching, tingling, or tenderness around the genitals
- painful urination
- swollen tender points in the groin and lower abdomen
- headache, fever, and other flu-like symptoms
If someone gets sores when first infected with HSV2, there's a chance that
the sores will reappear within a month or two of going away. On average,
they'll recur four or five times in the first year after infection. One in five
people with HSV2 never has a second flare-up. Genital herpes from HSV1 infection
only comes back in about 50% of cases. Over the years, the recurrent attacks
may continue but they usually get less severe with time.
Herpes infection increases the chances of spreading HIV in heterosexual
people infected with that virus. HSV2 is itself much more dangerous to people
with AIDS and others with weak immune systems.
Pregnant mothers who have genital herpes may need a caesarean section to protect
their babies from infection, which can be very harmful to an infant.