Diagnosing Genital Herpes Made Simple

You find yourself getting that itch down there, and well scratching that itch.  Oh-uh.  That would likely be highly uncomfortable.  Although you initially disregard itching and burning pain in the legs, genital area, and even on the leg, together with that vaginal discharge, and abdominal fullness feeling, you can't disregard that you have contracted genital herpes, as it will last an average of two to three weeks. 

So you find yourself asking you have contracted that infection.  Here are some facts:

There are two types of this herpes: Herpes Simplex Virus or HSV1, which you can find blistering and soring those lips, or secondly, HSV2 which does the same to the genital area.

Commonly, most people with genital herpes have contracted it through sexual intercourse with someone who has herpes outbreak,or is HSV active.  The cold sores on the genital area in skin contact will easily cast or shed off the infection to the partner, who initially, has none.  This also applies when or during oral sex.  This spread goes rather fast as there are many cases wherein a person can acquire genital itch and outbreak without the visible sores, hence spreading out the virus unknowingly.

Rarely, many people get genital herpes when skin is in contact with objects as toilet seats and hot tubs.

The symptoms can widely vary from one person to the other.  Some may experience severe cold sores and blistering, while others get minor itching and pain.  You may also experience some headache, fever, muscle pains, urinary difficulty and swollen glans in the area of the groin. 

They initially start with nabbing pain and lesions and sores until it goes full scale at the infected area, which for women, may occur on the cervix or inside the vagina, and for men, as well, in the urinary track area.  Once full blown, they develop into a painful open sore that will later on become crusted. 

The good news: Once they are treated, they will eventually heal without scarring with an easy genital herpes treatment.

The sad news: Once a person contracts genital herpes or is infected with HSV, the person will likely experience recurring infection periodically, and shall stay with him or her for a lifetime. 

Generally, there are two approaches to the formal diagnosis of genital herpes: Physical exam and history and laboratory examination.

Although genital herpes is widely common nowadays, self-diagnosis or diagnosing genital herpes and self-checking will not be a determining factor.  The physical and historical exam with a professional doctor will initially determine if the suspicion is correct.

What makes this diagnosis a solid confirmation are laboratory tests.  They would include swabbing of the infected area which will be sent for laboratory checking. If the specimen would be positive of tests as culture, and serology, that determines that the person is undoubtedly an HSV positive. 

Contracting genital herpes would really be some big oh-uh.  Although getting them would be really uncomfortable, you can find solutions today that can treat them, and you can relax comfortably on the episodes when the infection is active.