If ever there was a good example of why you should never have unprotected sex. This horrible condition recurs and cannot be cured, it can be contained, and treated symptomatically but it cannot be cured and it is a sexually transmitted infection. It's most common in men and women aged between 20 and 24, particularly women.

Genital herpes is caused by the herpes simplex virus (HSV). Once you have HSV infection, the virus stays in your body for the rest of your life but is inactive (dormant) most of the time. However, the virus can sometimes become active again and cause an outbreak of symptoms. These are called recurrent episodes or outbreaks - not everyone gets them.

Most people who have a HSV infection don't have any symptoms. If you do get symptoms, these may start four to seven days after you get the virus or they can appear weeks, months or sometimes years later. When you first get genital herpes it's known as 'first episode genital herpes'.
Symptoms of genital herpes include:

• small fluid-filled blisters around your genitals, thighs and inside or around your anus, which burst after a day or two and leave painful sores
• redness, discomfort, itching or tingling in the genital or anal area
• feeling generally unwell with flu-like symptoms, such as a fever and a headache
• pain on passing urine
• an unusual discharge from your urethra (the tube that carries urine from the bladder and out through the penis or vulva), vagina or anus

Very useful info and I believe that if there is another outbreak of genital herpes, after the initial one from which the diagnosis is made, symptoms will probably be milder than during the first episode and won't last as long. There may be tingling or itching in the infected area before having any blisters or sores on your skin. There are usually fewer blisters which are less painful and which clear up faster.
On average, four to five recurrent outbreaks in the first two years after getting genital herpes are average and after this the attacks happen less often and get milder.
Some of the complications of genital herpes include:
·difficulty in passing urine
·spread of the infection to other parts of your body, such as your lips, nipples, buttocks, fingers and eyes
·meningitis - although this is very rare
Having genital herpes increases your risk of getting or passing on HIV infection during sexual contact, particularly if there are blisters.

Yes this is a nasty one! In fact genital herpes is caused by HSV. There are two types of this virus, HSV-1 (this type is mainly linked with oral herpes and cause cold sores) and HSV-2, both of which can cause genital herpes.
HSV infection usually passes from one person to another just before, during or straight after an outbreak. The herpes virus leaves the skin (this is called shedding) from just before a blister appears to until the blister is totally healed. It's possible for the virus to infect another person even when there are no signs of an outbreak. Genital herpes can be caught from having unprotected vaginal or anal sex, sharing sex toys or having close skin to skin contact with someone who has the infection.
HSV-1 infection is usually passed to the genital area through unprotected oral sex with someone who gets cold sores. It can also be passed to the genital area on the fingers. Once you have it it is yours for life, as Paddy said!

So what if the worse happens and you do think that you might have genital herpes? Well, if you think you may have genital herpes, you can see your doctor or maybe visit a genitourinary medicine clinic, or a sexual health clinic to be tested. You can have a test for genital herpes even if you don't have any symptoms so if a partner that you have been sleeping with tells you that they have the condition, go and get the test.

You don't have to ask your doctor to refer you to a sexual health clinic; you can go ahead and make your own appointment. All visits are confidential always and you don't have to give your real name. Details won't be sent to your own doctor, without your consent.
Your doctor or nurse will ask about your symptoms and examine you. He or she will take a swab from the infected area they may have to gently break a blister to do this. The sample will be sent to a laboratory to confirm whether or not you have the herpes virus.

I know a lot of people put this and many other tests off through fear maybe, but it won't go away if you ignore it, so make sure you get help early on!

There is a lot in the treatment of genital herpes that can be achieved by self-help. This measures can help relieve any pain or discomfort from genital herpes.
Take an over-the-counter painkiller, such as paracetamol.
Bathe in salt water (add half a cup of salt to your bath).
Apply ice packs to the affected area. Never apply ice directly to your skin as it can give you an 'ice burn' - always place a cloth between the ice and skin.
Apply petroleum jelly (such as Vaseline) to the infected area.
Apply a mild anaesthetic cream or lotion (such as lidocaine) to your urethra if passing urine is painful.
Wear loose fitting underwear and clothes.
Try not to touch the sores and if you do, wash your hands to prevent spreading the infection.

As we always say, always read the patient information leaflet that comes with your medicine and if you have any questions, ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice.