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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.

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my boyfriend has genital herpes,we want to have a baby but will i be able to get pregnant by him without catching the it





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Hi, i am 19 and i experience pain during sex, i am sexually active with my boyfriend of 3 years and have recently found a small lump on the inside of my vagina, it is painful to touch and i think this is what is causing the discomfort during sex, my boyfriend has had a test for i think every STI/STD and has come back clear so it is not that, please please help i am too scared to go to the doctors.





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Im 13 and i have these lumps all over my vagina. I have never been Sexual Active in anyway. They are Whint. the dont hurt but i dont think they are noral... Help





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my boyfriend of five years cheated on me and gave me herpes i felt sooo dirty!! iv had it for about 6 months now n iv had 4 out breaks and i hate it its got me down n i dnt want to move on from my partner as i dont want to pass it on i feel like my lifes on hold im only 20 is there anything i can do to stop it coming bk also my boyfriend has never had any blisters or anything n as i have he thinks it me whos gave it to him HELP!!!!





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hi i am in exactly the same position he doesnt show it but i do he cheated i dint etc he gets the odd cole sore but i get blisters down there hurrendously painful and embarrassing and dont want to break up because i think that other people would get it

OMG !! same ! im a boy and i have never cheated neither haz she i had a coldsore at the time we did intercourse and oral and she gets it below and i dont :s i hate myself for giving her it i didnt even relise coldsores wer herpes :( but why dont i get it below we did the oral witch would have passed it on before and after intercourse :s ? help ?

I think I could have genitle herpes, I am going to the doctor to get it checked out. I am not shy about these sort of things because people are coming to understand that they happen. However is there anyway to test if you have herpes yourself, I see Chlamidia tests on shelves in pharmacies, is this not something that can easily be self tested?





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im 16 and i have resently got a cold sore on my lip but i dont get them really at all. About 3 or 4 months ago i found a lump of my vagina but it disappered and didnt come back i have been for clamidia tests and i kno that i havnt got that. i also get really bad abdominal pains sometimes where i feel i carnt move for a minute or two i lost my virginity at 13 and have had 8 sexual partners since i have used protection every single time with onli two of them but the condon sptill a lot with the others. i'm way to scared to see my gp or got to the gum clinic as i dont want any1 to kno if i do have something. What should i do ?





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i was diagnosed with genital herpes about 4 months ago and the first outbreak was the worse thing iv EVER experianced!! It was sooo sore! iv had it 3 times now in those four months. I constantly feel like i can smell that horrible smell, iv been to my doctors and they just keep giving me anitbyotics. i dont know what to do??





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around my moulth i have sore red pachy spots but they dont look like normal spots, my friends think its hurpes and that realy gets me down, there sore and pachy on ma chin and im realy worried coz i have kissed poeple and i am sceard if i will give it to them. people say you cant do anythink about herpes around the moulth and i dont know what to do, i cant be my self around people anymore i always hyde ma moulth and in the morning its realy dry and it hurts, iv tryed useing spot cream for 2 weeks now everyday to see if it is just spots but they are still there. i realy dont know what to do, im 15 and im having this problem already. please help!





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you might have impitigo, you should see your gp they can diagnose and he/she can give you a cream(fucidin) if it is that. Good luck

I have notice plucky chicken like texture on my below and three red spots/lumps i always have protected sex with my current boyfriend and previous boyfriends what could this be





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I'm now 28 and have had genital herpes since I was 19. I was also depressed and felt disgusted with myself when I was diagnosed. But I've learned to live with it. I get outbreaks when I'm stressed or under the weather, and they can be very sore especially when they are around my anus or clitoris. Loose clothing and salty baths help a little. My boyfriend of 5 years was great when I told him. I do avoid sex altogether when I'm having an outbreak, that's the only protection to take! I'm now planning to have a baby in the next year so I hope it doesn't cause any severe problems during pregnancy?





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It looks like no one else has asked this question, so please fill in the rest of your details below.





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Content supplied by NHS Choices

Genital herpes is an infection of the genitals that is caused by the herpes simplex virus (HSV). The herpes simplex virus can also affect the skin on the face, causing cold sores to develop, usually around the mouth area. Read More »

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