Genital herpes is a contagious disease caused by the herpes simplex virus (HSV), which infects the skin and mucous membranes of the genitals and around the rectum. It is transmitted by physical and sexual contact.

Herpes appears as redness and small watery blisters on the genitals. It may be accompanied by pain, itching and burning. The blisters will burst and turn into small ulcers, which will heal after two to three weeks without scarring.

The first eruption of herpes will appear four to seven days after the time of infection. The first sign is an uncomfortable prickly and piercing sensation. This will be followed after a couple of hours or up to two days later by small blisters on the skin. The blisters will turn into small ulcers in two to three weeks.

The first outbreak of genital herpes will cause the most noticeable symptoms. Some people will have very weak symptoms or none at all. Others will experience fever, muscular pains and headaches along with a burning and itching pain in the genitals and around the rectum.

There can be considerable discomfort on passing urine, which patients describe as feeling different to cystitis (bladder infection).

Recurrent outbreaks of genital herpes will typically be milder than the first.