Genital Herpes

Herpes is a virus that can cause cold sores around the mouth or in the genital area.

How do you get herpes?

Herpes can be passed on through sexual contact, including:

• Oral sex.
• Genital skin-to-skin contact.
• Contact with a cold sore around the mouth. Cold sores can be passed to a partner’s genital area through oral sex.

Herpes can be passed on even when there are no visible sores.

What are the symptoms?

Not everyone with herpes will have symptoms.

A first outbreak can make you feel very unwell. Symptoms may include:

• Flu-like symptoms.
• Painful blisters around the genital area.
• Pain or difficulty when peeing.

The first outbreak is usually the most severe. The blisters may come back, but many people do not have another outbreak.

How is herpes treated?

If your symptoms are severe, your healthcare professional may prescribe antiviral tablets.

You can use painkillers, such as paracetamol, to help with soreness.

Mild outbreaks that happen again usually do not need treatment. Your immune system will normally clear the blisters within a few days, and antiviral tablets will not make them clear faster.

My sexual partner has herpes. What should I do?

Herpes is easiest to diagnose when you have an outbreak.

If you do not have blisters or sores, there is usually no test we can use to diagnose herpes.

If you are worried about your symptoms, make an appointment with the clinic as soon as an outbreak starts. This gives us the best chance of diagnosing herpes.

If you do not have significant pain or discomfort from herpes, you may not need treatment.