What are the early symptoms of genital herpes in women?

Genital herpes is a disease that is extremely harmful to the patient's body. After suffering from this disease, even the patient will lose his or her original self-confidence. If it is not effectively cured, it may even be life-threatening. Moreover, women's genitals are exposed, so we must be careful to prevent them in daily life. So, what are the early symptoms of female genital herpes?

The most common sites of genital herpes are the cervix, vagina, vulva and urethra in women; in men, it occurs in the penis and urethra, basically invading the skin and mucous membranes below the waist. It is divided into primary herpes and recurrent herpes.

Primary genital herpes: The first infection with the virus is called primary genital herpes, with an incubation period of 3-5 days. There is a burning sensation at first at the infected site, and soon groups of small red papules appear on the basis of the erythema, accompanied by slight itching, and soon turn into blisters or papulovesicles. In severe patients, the skin lesions may turn into pustules after 3-5 days, and then form large patches of erosion and ulcers, which are painful, and finally scab over and heal completely. The whole course of the disease is about 20 days. Systemic symptoms are obvious: fever, headache, malaise, increased vaginal discharge, difficulty urinating, local lymph node enlargement, etc.

Recurrent genital herpes: Recurrent genital herpes is reinfection after the disease is cured, or the disease is not completely cured and reoccurs. The symptoms are basically the same as primary genital herpes. Usually blisters appear at the original site of the rash, which first causes itching and pain, and then groups of blisters appear and turn into pustules; after rupturing, erosions and ulcers form, causing redness, swelling and pain, and finally heal with scabs. Recurrent genital herpes usually recurs within 1 to 4 months after the primary infection. The clinical manifestations of recurrent genital herpes are very similar to those of primary genital herpes. One to two days before recurrence, there are often prodromal symptoms such as local itching or burning sensation.

The most common early symptom of genital herpes is a cluster of large blisters containing fluid that rupture to form painful ulcers that then scab over and heal on their own. This process may take several days. But in some people, it only manifests as some small rashes and small papule-like bumps on the skin. Some people also have other symptoms such as painful urination, and in some women, vaginal discharge.

What are the early symptoms of genital herpes in women? Genital herpes is caused by infection with the herpes simplex virus (HSV). There are two types of herpes simplex virus: HSV-1 and HSV-2. HSV-1 is transmitted through close contact with the respiratory tract, skin and mucous membranes, mainly causing infections of the lips, pharynx, eyes and skin. A small number (about 8%) can also cause genital infections. HSV-2 is the main pathogen of genital herpes (88%). It exists in exudates of skin and mucous membrane lesions, semen, prostatic secretions, cervical and vaginal secretions. It is mainly transmitted through sexual intercourse and causes primary genital herpes.