Genital herpes is a sexually transmitted infection (STI) passed on through vaginal, anal and oral sex. Treatment from a sexual health clinic can help. Symptoms clear up on their own but can come back.
Symptoms of genital herpes include:
- small blisters that burst to leave red, open sores around your genitals, anus, thighs or bottom – the sores may be less red on brown or black skin
- tingling, burning or itching around your genitals
- pain when you pee
- discharge that is not usual for you
Go to a sexual health clinic as soon as possible if:
- you have symptoms of genital herpes
Go even if you have not had sex for a long time, as blisters can take months or years to appear.
Why you should go to a sexual health clinic
You can see a GP, but they'll probably refer you to a sexual health clinic if they think you might have genital herpes.
Sexual health clinics treat problems with the genitals and urine system.
Many sexual health clinics offer a walk-in service, where you do not need an appointment.
They'll often get test results quicker than GP practices and you do not have to pay a prescription fee for treatment.
The doctor or nurse at the sexual health clinic will:
- ask about your symptoms and your sexual partners
- use a small cotton bud (swab) to take some fluid from 1 of your blisters or sores for testing
The test cannot:
- be done if you do not have visible blisters or sores
- tell you how long you've had herpes or who you got it from
Symptoms might not appear for weeks or even years after you're infected with the herpes virus.
There's no cure for genital herpes. Symptoms clear up by themselves, but the blisters can come back (an outbreak or recurrence).
Treatment from a sexual health clinic can help.
Treatment the first time you have genital herpes
You may be prescribed:
- antiviral medicine to stop the symptoms getting worse – you need to start taking this within 5 days of the symptoms appearing
- cream for the pain
If you've had symptoms for more than 5 days before you go to a sexual health clinic, you can still get tested to find out the cause.
Treatment if the blisters come back
Go to a GP or sexual health clinic if you've been diagnosed with genital herpes and need treatment for an outbreak.
Antiviral medicine may help shorten an outbreak by 1 or 2 days if you start taking it as soon as symptoms appear.
But outbreaks usually settle by themselves, so you may not need treatment.
Recurrent outbreaks are usually milder than the first episode of genital herpes.
Over time, outbreaks tend to happen less often and be less severe. Some people never have outbreaks.
Some people who have more than 6 outbreaks in a year may benefit from taking antiviral medicine for 6 to 12 months.
If you still have outbreaks of genital herpes during this time, you may be referred to a specialist.
There are things you can do if you've been diagnosed with genital herpes and you're having an outbreak.
Genital herpes is very easy to pass on (contagious) from the first tingling or itching of a new outbreak (before any blisters appear) to when sores have fully healed.
You may also be able to pass on the virus even if you do not have any symptoms.
You can get genital herpes:
- from skin-to-skin contact with the infected area (including vaginal, anal and oral sex)
- when there are no visible sores or blisters
- if a cold sore touches your genitals
- by transferring the infection on fingers from someone else to your genitals
- by sharing sex toys with someone who has herpes
You cannot get genital herpes:
- from objects such as cutlery or cups – the virus dies very quickly when away from your skin
You can reduce the chances of passing on genital herpes by:
- using a condom every time you have vaginal, anal or oral sex – but herpes can still be passed on if the condom does not cover the infected area
- avoiding vaginal, anal or oral sex if you or your partner has blisters or sores, or a tingle or itch that means an outbreak is coming
- not sharing sex toys – if you do, wash them and put a condom on them
Genital herpes is caused by a virus called herpes simplex. Once you have the virus, it stays in your body.
It will not spread in your body to cause blisters elsewhere. It stays in a nearby nerve and causes blisters in the same area.
If you can, avoid things that trigger your symptoms.
Triggers can include:
- ultraviolet light – for example, from sunbathing or sunbeds
- friction in your genital area – for example, from sex (lubricant may help) or tight clothing
- smoking
- drinking alcohol
Some triggers are unavoidable, including:
- being unwell
- stress
- during the menstrual cycle
- surgery on your genital area
- a weakened immune system – for example, from having chemotherapy for cancer
Genital herpes can be a more serious condition for people with HIV.
If you have HIV and herpes, you'll be referred to a genitourinary medicine (GUM) specialist.
Women who have had genital herpes before pregnancy can usually expect to have a healthy baby and a vaginal delivery.
However, if you have genital herpes during pregnancy, there's a risk your baby could develop a serious illness called neonatal herpes.
This can be fatal, but most babies recover with antiviral treatment.
The risk of your baby getting neonatal herpes is low if you've had genital herpes before.
It's higher if you get genital herpes for the first time within the last 6 weeks of your pregnancy.