Thanks for your question and concern about herpes infection. As you know, it is a viral infection which affects genital area or oro facial area according to the type of virus and mode of transmission. Symptoms are of different types. It also varies according to the outbreak. In the initial outbreak, it will be very worse with painful blisters, sores, soreness in vagina and penis, discharges from cold sores, fever blisters etc. are the common symptoms of herpes. In recurring outbreaks symptoms are the same but with a lesser depth of pain and affected area. In many people, symptoms go unnoticed or unidentified as sores, after the first outbreak. Anyway it is a lifelong infection and cannot be treated so that virus will be eradicated entirely from body. Almost 80% of people do sex without knowing that they are carrying the virus. In some infected people, there will be mild symptoms and in others, there will not. Even without any symptoms, one is capable of transmitting the virus.

In genital herpes outbreak for the first time, it will happen within 3 weeks from exposure to the virus. Later on, signs appear like tingling sensation in genital area, where the infection took place. In genital area, this sensation will be localized to buttocks, genitalia and thighs. Later, small blisters or bumps starts to appear. They develop into full blisters and later become painful. They also rupture by themselves with pain. The sores will be open by now and small red groups of crust will be formed above the blisters. They will heal very soon and there will be some scars left by the infection. In moist areas like vagina, these sores will be healed slowly than that of other dry areas. Sometimes these sores feel itchy and this feeling also decreases by time. In men and mostly in women, there are some others symptoms also seen. It includes flu, dizziness, discomfort, head ache, muscle pains and swollen glands at certain parts of body. This swelling is usually seen in groins and in neck. In some people, they experience difficulty while urinating. Some women get some vaginal discharges also. Recurrences of herpes outbreaks are milder than their primary outbreaks. Virus shedding will be of shorter periods and last for about 3 days. At that time, women are prone to get some itching feeling and other symptoms are seen milder in men than in women. Hope this answer was helpful. Take care.