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Conditions

Genital Herpes

Herpes sores on a penis (Photo courtesy of the CDC)

Genital herpes is an infection of the genitals caused by the herpes simplex virus (HSV) and is the most common ulcerative sexually transmitted disease in the UK. There are two subtypes of the herpes simplex virus: HSV-1 (which causes facial herpes, including cold sores on the lips, but has increasingly been implicated in cases of genital herpes), and HSV-2 (which almost exclusively causes herpes on the genitals). Around 80% of people with genital herpes don’t even know they have it, as there are often no symptoms. However, even without symptoms, it’s possible to pass genital herpes on to a sexual partner because the virus may sometimes be present in your genital area. And once you get the herpes virus, it’s with you for life, which means you will have recurrent infections. Over-the-counter treatments for cold sores will not treat genital herpes, so smearing your genitals with Zovirax is an ineffective alternative to visiting your local GP or GUM clinic.

What the Men in White Coats Say

Comments

The EB doctors have been looking at your comments and have answered some of the common questions below. Remember that it is always best to check with a health professional if you have any concerns about your health.

You can share your experiences and thoughts with other Embarrassing Bodies site-users below. Comments are reviewed before they are published.
Please note: Unfortunately Channel 4 cannot respond to individual inquiries. If you have any concerns, you can check out the Channel 4 Health site or NHS Choices, but ultimately it is always best to check with a health professional.

Hi I'm 16 years old and i've had these small White lumps on my penis for about a year now and I'm worried if it a symptom of herpes. Do I need to see my gp or will they go away with time? I have never had a sexual partner before. Please help thanks

i suffer cold sores a lot and after sex my labia becomes large and inflamed, it feels really sore but goes down within a few hours. could this be a symptom of genital herpes or and STI?

I'm 15 and I have had these small white lumps near the foreskin could you help me find out what they are.

hi, i am a virgin and have never been close to sex/oral sex. i have small white lumps on the shaft of my penis. they have been there for a while. i find them very embarising, they dont seem to be getting worse or any better.

hi, i am a virgin and have never been close to sex/oral sex. i have small white lumps on the shaft of my penis. they have been there for a while… i need answers. please reply.

I caught Herpes from my boyfriend giveing me oral while he had a coldsore… So yes it can be passed on that way. I went to the gum clinic and had to have some anitbiotics. Its all cleared up and I havnt suffered an attack for over year and half now.

So morall of the story dont give oral with a coldsore ITS JUST NOT WORTH IT..

MY BOYFRIEND TOLD ME THE OTHER DAY THAT HE GOT GENITAL HERPES I DON`T REALLY UNDERSTAND WOT THIS IS HE ALSO TOLD ME THAT I CANT GET THIS THROUGH SEX IF THIS TURE AND HOW WOULD I KNOW IF I DID HAVE GENITAL HERPES HELP ME PLEASE

I have the small white spot things too but I've never told anyone, is it normal?

im 14 and im a virgin ive noticed small white spots on my forskin. what is this? im worried.

i have these lumps up my penis and they have been there since i can remember! there are quite a lot of them. im not sexually active either!
what should i do?




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