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General symptoms and signs of genital herpes.

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Dear doctor, Recently, after having sexual intercourse with a hooker I am in utter despair. It happened so, about a month ago. She gave me both oral sex and also inserted sex. Now I am feeling guilty about it and I feel as if I am suffering from some sexually transmitted diseases. I saw dome pictures of herpes from some medical sites and it is disturbing me very much. Please explain to me what are the symptoms and signs of genital herpes or herpes generally. Is there any way to prevent an infection, as I already had sex? To the worst of my luck I had an unprotected sex too. Hope you can help me promptly. Thanks for your time.

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Category: Family Physician-GP
 20 Doctors Online

It is really unfortunate to know about your feelings. First of all, let me say that every sex worker need not have herpes infection. Moreover, in most cases, herpes infections do not turn severe with harsh symptoms. But if you are exposed to virus, I mean the Herpes Simplex Virus of any variant, type 1 or type 2, an infection is assured. It will take about 2 weeks in some people to have symptoms of herpes. But in many others, no symptoms are seen and the virus stays asymptomatically for years. But even during this dormancy period, an infected person can still infect others who comes with sexual contact with him. Symptoms of infection are similar to both genital and oral herpes. The beginning of outbreak is like tingling sensation of genital skin. Then it is characterized by cold sores, blisters or fever sores. Sores are seen as little bumps at the beginning and then turn red, filled with some fluid. In 2-3 days, it will become quite painful and blisters start popping out, leaving the fluid swell out. In just 2-3 weeks, it will heal by itself, leaving a scab behind. After some months, till the next outbreak you will not have any other symptoms. Apart from these visible sores, a patient may suffer from fever, head ache, paining muscles and swellings at genital areas. This period is called the initial outbreak of herpes. Once it is over, you may get successive outbreaks once a year. In some people, it will be more or less frequent, depending on their bodily immunity power. But an infected person can still spread the virus, even if he is not having an outbreak. In women, symptoms vary with slight vaginal discharges and inflammation in cervical areas. They also feel pain while urinating. Inflammation of urethra is also seen in some females.

However, in your case, it is not evident that whether you have got an infection or not. So, it is better to take HSV tests for both types- HSV type 1 and HSV type 2, so that you can rule out a possibility. But false positives can occur at times according to the efficacy of test done. So, you should wait for some more time to check whether you gets an outbreak. In the meantime, avoid sexual contact with others so that you can prevent a spread, if you are infected. Moreover, it will delay an outbreak also.  Hope my answer helps. Take care. 


Dr. John Fuller
Category: Family Physician-GP
Experience: 
MD - New York Institute of Technology, New York College of Osteopathic Medicine
Internship, Family Medicine - Lutheran Medical Center
Residency, Family Medicine - The Mount Sinai Hospital
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