OK, maybe that wasn’t the greatest blog post title but I did want to take the opportunity to apologize for the lack of posting and lack of e-mail responses I’ve given over the past few weeks. I’ve had some personal issues to deal with (nothing to do with herpes!) Thanks for all your continued comments and e-mails. I love getting questions about genital herpes, because we really need to support each other and realize that we are not alone. If you are scared or confused having just been diagnosed with the female symptoms of herpes, don’t be too afraid! There is life and happiness and great sex after a herpes diagnosis. So keep commenting and e-mailing; I will do my best to work through my backlog of female herpes e-mails.
Mild Genital Herpes Symptoms
I wanted to address the symptoms of genital herpes in this post. I have had questions if mild herpes symptoms mean that herpes transmission and the risk of spreading herpes is reduced and I wanted to say here and now: NO. There is absolutely no co-relation between the severity of symptoms and the chance or possibility of spreading the virus. If you have spent enough time on the internet, there is a ton of information detailing how you can spread H even when you have NO symptoms. While this is true, I don’t want you to get too bent out of shape about it. Protecting yourself and your partner with condoms and common sense (and/or Valtrex) can reduce transmission rates by up to 90%. I know I have said it before in many previous posts, but I have had vaginal herpes for over 20 years and have never passed it to a single partner including my husband of nine years.
If you happen to have only mild genital herpes symptoms, then great! This to me would mean that you have only one or two outbreaks a year, that they are only mildly uncomfortable and that they clear up within 2 or 3 days. Many of my herpes outbreaks are like this but this does NOT mean that I take any chances with sexual activity or contact during this time. You have to treat every herpes outbreak as though it were extremely contagious (which it is!), and protect your partner from contracting the virus.
Poke around the blog here and you will find more information on the stages of herpes, herpes treatment, and of course vaginal herpes support.
Take care!
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I have a question..i just took a test for herpes and waiting for the results and I was diagnosed with yeast and bacterial infection. But I do have sores but they don’t fill with puss or liquid I have a cut which I could have gotten shaving or sex and I do not have any flu symptoms..could this mean I have mild herpes?
Veronica,
There isn’t really such a thing as, “mild herpes”. You have herpes or you don’t. Your symptoms can be mild, maybe this is what you mean. Every person’s symptoms can be different and (in my experience) every outbreak can be a little bit different. Most often, but not always, the first outbreak is the worst. Genital herpes can be a rash – and not sores with liquid. I am glad you have had the test. That should put your mind at ease, one way or the other. While I really hope you do not have herpes, please don’t be afraid if the test comes back positive. I have lived with HSV2 for over 20 years and while sometimes annoying, it has been very manageable. Good luck!
I also have a question, I met my boyfriend while traveling together in a foreign country, we had been together for 4 months before seperating to our own countries to spend some time with our families, Im am 99% sure I contracted it from him, considering I haven’t had any sypmtoms of the virus until about 2 weeks before we went out own ways, I shrugged it off and thought it couldn’t be possible considering I had been with him for 4 months and not seen any symptoms until then. However we have been apart for 2 months now and have still been seeing the symptoms. He has never said anything to me about having it so Im wondering how to tell him? Do I wait to see a doctor and find out if I have herpes forsure? Or do I tell him straight away and hope like hell he doesn’t think I cheated on him during our time apart. I dont know if I can continue acting like nothing is wrong when I need to bring this up with him, and are we going to be able to have a normal relationship after this??
I have had eczema,infected eczema,fungal infections and athletes foot about 6 months ago. I got a rash (after my period) I use pads,I went to a walk in doctor and he said its a bacteria infection and gave me antibiotics it went after taking these recently (again after period) it has came back I went to the clinic and they said it could be herpes but I don’t think it is because last time I had it I had had no sexual activity and given my recent history…last time I had it it started of as 1 little spot and then became blistery and then yellow on top of them I itched it 1st time I’d wake up and realize I was and it got worse I haven’t this time though and its better..I suppose what my question is is this most likely impetigo??
I am waiting on herpes results and am quite scared.
These are not painful blisters just itches now and again. I’ve been given cream for impetigo and its gotten smaller after a day and the yellow stuff on top has gone???
Please help me. Everywhere else I’ve posted I’ve had no answer and I’m going crazy.