Genital herpes is a sexually transmitted disease. It is very common--about 50 million Americans have genital herpes. It is an infection caused by the herpes simplex virus. There are two types of herpes simplex viruses that can cause herpes. Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) primarily causes oral herpes (cold sores). Herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) primarily causes genital herpes.
Even though HSV-1 causes the majority of oral herpes cases and HSV-2 causes the majority of genital herpes cases, both of these viruses can cause oral herpes, genital herpes, or both.
If you catch genital herpes, it stays in your body for life.
What happens when someone has an outbreak of genital herpes?
With reoccuring genital herpes, symptoms can come and go. When symptoms appear from time to time, it is called a "herpes outbreak." Between outbreaks, when the virus is not present on the skin surface, the herpes virus is inactive and when reactivated, it travels to the skin in the genital area. An outbreak usually begins with a warning signal. Then, redness, bumps, and blisters may appear. The blisters can burst open and cause sores. There may be just one skin blister or several of them.
What is a prodrome?
A signal is the first stage of an outbreak when you feel the herpes virus symptoms such as pain, burning, itching,weird tingling, or extreme tenderness. This is the time to start treatment if you are treating episodically with prescription medications.
