Do I Have Genital Herpes? The Signs and Symptoms

Here are some of the signs and symptoms of genital herpes. If you are having any of these symptoms, it is advised you seek medical treatment immediately. Although herpes is a virus and you can never fully get rid of it, with treatment you can control and stop the symptoms. There is a wide variety of treatments available, including natural and homeopathic options that are very good and quite cost effective, so don't let the cost of medication stop you from getting the proper treatment.

Most sufferers will experience very light symptoms or no symptoms at all. So if you've had sexual contact with someone who has or suspects they may have herpes, and you are asking yourself 'Do I have genital herpes?', you should organize treatment whether you are experiencing symptoms or not.

1. The first signs of genital herpes can include a tingling or tenderness in the groin area or on the genitals or anus. This may or may not be precluded by an itchy or burning rash, or just a redness in the genital area.

2. Some people will experience flu-like symptoms as a result of a genital herpes infection. These symptoms can include headache, fever, sore or tired muscles, general lethargy or tiredness or cold symptoms such as sore throat, sinuses, dripping nose and coughing. This is a result of the genital herpes virus' assault on your immune system.

3. The classic symptoms which will have anyone asking "Do I have genital herpes?" are the trademark herpes blisters. These blisters, which can be very similar to those found on the mouth during a cold sore outbreak are usually weeping, painful sores that appear on our around the genitals. They can appear alone or in groups or lesions, and range in size from large coin sized to tiny, almost unnoticeable pimple sized spots. They will usually burst and scab over within a few days, and will then last from a week to two weeks before they heal completely.

4. If you've had any of the above, it's still possible that they are unrelated to genital herpes, or are symptoms of another condition entirely, and only a diagnosis from a doctor will tell you for certain. The most sure indicator that they are in fact genital herpes is if they are appearing repeatedly. If you've had any of the above several times, there's a very high chance you have genital herpes or at least another type of STD, and you should seek treatment immediately.

Genital Herpes does seem like a scary disease, but in fact it is very common and not at all as bad as it is made out to be in the media. 1 in 5 Americans have genital herpes, and most don't know they have it, because a large portion of sufferers will show no symptoms at all.

With proper treatment, herpes can be controlled and the outbreaks can be stopped, and the risk of transmission drastically reduced. Having herpes does not mean the end of your sex life, or the end of the world. It is nothing to be ashamed of, so don't let it affect your life or your self esteem. With a little effort and the right treatment, genital herpes can be a thing of the past. If you are still asking "Do I have genital herpes?" Your best bet is to get your symptoms diagnosed, do your research and get treatment, and then you can stop worrying and get on with your life.