Considering
that genital herpes affects more than 86 million people around the world at any given time, ‘smart’ seems like a good a way to go if you do not plan to try out ‘
abstinent’. Genital herpes is one disease that is quite prevalent among women. The problem is that it shares many of its symptoms with other diseases and as a result, it is misdiagnosed more often than not. By recognizing the symptoms that are unique to vaginal herpes you can begin to take the medication appropriate to controlling it. In addition, understanding what to look for can also help you when talking to your doctor.
Things that may not have seemed like a big deal, or that you may have previously overlooked in the face of all your other symptoms, can help your primary physician in determining whether or not you have vaginal herpes. This is important information to have, especially since while other diseases with some of the same symptoms can be cured, herpes cannot and will show itself in recurrent outbreaks as the years pass. Therefore, this knowledge becomes essential not only to you and your future health, but for the sake of any partners you may have as well as any unborn children that may be conceived during your time with them.
Vaginal herpes can kill a fetus and the virus has also been known to make individuals more susceptible to HIV, while those who have HIV who contract vaginal herpes can become more infectious. In order to rule out diseases like pilonydal cysts, tests have to be taken. Without blood work and other revealing tests, it is very easy for vaginal herpes to be misdiagnosed for something else entirely. The following diseases are closely related to, or associated with, genital herpes and can often be confused with the herpes virus if all the symptoms are not taken into account:
- Cervicitis
- Cold Sores (a form of HSV 1)
- Genital ulcers
- Gonorrhea
- Varicella
- Molluscum contagiosim
- Syphilis
- Pelvic inflammatory disease
- Impetigo
- Chlamydia
- Genital Warts (an HPV rather than HSV infection)
- Other forms of sexually transmitted diseases
- Herpes zoster
- Trauma
- Scabies
- Chancroid
- Granuloma inguinale
- Lymphogranuloma venereum
- Behet’s syndrome
- Herpangina
- Aphthous ulcers
- Erythema multiforme
- Ractive arthritis
- Pemphigus
- SLE
- Lichen sclerosis
- Candidiasis
- Squamous cell carcinoma
- Bulluous pemphigoid
- Interstial cystitis
Unless
your symptoms are invisible (which is a real possibility), there are a number of signs to watch out for when it comes to vaginal herpes:
- Red bumps are usually seen before the sores appear
- Sores can appear on any part of the body, though they will usually be found around the point of contact with the virus from another person, i.e on the mouth or genitals
- The sores will turn into blisters which will die off and become sores again
- Vaginal sores are usually a big calling card, as well as sores on the cervix, and sores on the inside of the vagina or urinary tract
- Anal or buttock sores
- Sores on the thighs
- Recurrent outbreaks
- Cold sores or other types of infections of the mouth that could have been a result of oral sex
- Vaginal itching or burning
- Anal itching or burning
- Pain in your legs, buttocks, or genital area
- Vaginal discharge
- Pressure in your abdomen
- A low fever
- Ulcers will usually make themselves known through pain during urination
Some of the symptoms mentioned usually only occur during the reemergence of the virus. An original outbreak will usually cause a fever first. Afterwards you may become lethargic or tired and your muscles may begin to ache. If you couple all of that with a loss of appetite and swollen lymph nodes, then the beginning of a vaginal herpes outbreak closely resembles the flu. This lasts up until the sores begin to appear on the vagina or anus. The first signs of HSV 2 occur two weeks after the virus has been transmitted and all the sores should heal no more than four weeks after that.
