R U Thinking?

Genital Herpes

When you get a cold sore on your face it is the Herpes virus. But you can also get Herpes on the genitals, or anywhere else on your body. Once you get Herpes it will stay with you for life — there is no known cure. However, there are treatments available that will help.

Signs and symptoms

Girls and Boys:
Itching or tingling sensation in the genital or anal area.
Small fluid-filled blisters. These burst and leave small painful sores. They will dry out, scab over and heal but it could take two to four weeks to heal.
Pain when going for a pee.
A flu-like illness, backache, headache.

How do you get it?

Kissing (mouth to mouth).
Penetrative sex (when the penis enters the vagina or anus).
Oral sex (from mouth to the genitals).

Testing and treatment

Your genital area will be examined by a doctor or a nurse.
A sample will be taken, using a cotton-wool or spongy swab, from any sores the doctor can see.
Girls may be given an internal pelvic examination.
A sample of urine (pee) is taken.

A course of tablets taken early may make the sores less painful and heal quicker.

Long-term effects

Herpes is treatable, but not curable. There is no known cure for Herpes but the painful blisters won't be there all the time. The first outbreak of sores is always the worst. Some people never get any more after that.