Symptoms
- Painful blisters or sores
- Tingling before an outbreak
- Pain on urination
- Flu-like symptoms with first episode
Genital herpes: symptoms, causes & treatment
Genital herpes causes recurrent painful blisters. Antiviral tablets shorten outbreaks and can reduce how often they return.
Editorial information by Kaiser Khan. Not clinically reviewed.
Why it happens
Herpes simplex virus (usually HSV-2, sometimes HSV-1). It stays in the body and can reactivate with stress, illness or UV exposure.
Treatment
Antiviral tablets taken at outbreak onset shorten healing. Daily suppressive treatment reduces recurrence frequency in people with frequent flares.
Self-care that helps
Start treatment at the first tingle; loose clothing; avoid sex during active outbreaks; disclose to partners honestly.
When to get help
First episode, severe pain, inability to urinate, or symptoms in pregnancy — seek prompt clinical review.
Available without prescription