What are the symptoms of genital herpes?

People often do not know that they are carrying the herpes virus, since most infections are asymptomatic. This makes it difficult to recognise genital herpes. Sometimes herpes does cause symptoms, such as:

• an outbreak of painful, burning blisters on the skin and mucous membranes around the genitals (penis or vagina)
• fever
• muscle pain
• feeling ill

These symptoms are more common among women than men.

Is genital herpes dangerous during pregnancy?

The risk of symptoms caused by genital herpes is not higher during pregnancy. However, people may experience more discomfort from genital herpes during pregnancy, because they may have more frequent outbreaks of herpes blisters.

If the pregnant person has their first herpes outbreak during childbirth, there is a higher risk that the herpes virus will be transmitted to the baby, especially during childbirth itself.  This is rare, but it can have very serious consequences, especially if you are infected in the last 6 weeks of pregnancy. For example, a newborn baby with herpes could develop severe infections of the eyes, skin or nerves. This could also lead to multiple organ failure, resulting in infant death. You may need to have a C-section to prevent transmitting the infection.

How does genital herpes spread?

HSV, the virus that can cause genital herpes, is transmitted during sex. The risk of infection is highest if a person has an outbreak of herpes blisters. Even if there are no symptoms, HSV may still be present and could be transmitted. This is because the virus is also present in bodily fluids, such as saliva or vaginal discharge. The virus is transmitted when herpes blisters or bodily fluids come into contact with mucous membranes during sex. Mucous membranes are found in your vagina, penis, anus or mouth. The incubation period between exposure to the virus and illness is 2 to 12 days. On average, it takes 4 days to become ill.

Genital herpes and oral herpes (cold sore) are caused by the same virus. This means that you could also contract genital herpes by having oral sex (contact between mouth and genitals) with a person who has a cold sore. A person could also get a cold sore from oral sex with a person who has genital herpes.

Babies can also contract a herpes infection from their mouth during or right after childbirth. This is known as neonatal herpes. The baby could also be infected through hand contact, or from being kissed by a person who has a cold sore.

How can I prevent genital herpes?

Using condoms during sex can help to prevent the virus from spreading, but there is still a risk of transmitting HSV even with condoms. For that reason, it is better to avoid any sexual contact if you or your partner has herpes blisters or cold sores on or near the genitals or mouth.

Is there any treatment for genital herpes?

Once you are infected, the herpes simplex virus (HSV) will be in your body for the rest of your life. If the virus causes symptoms, it is possible to treat the symptoms. People who have a weakened immune system may sometimes use medicine to prevent the symptoms from coming back.

How common is genital herpes in the Netherlands?

About 7 in 10 people worldwide carry the virus that causes herpes. It is unknown exactly how many people contract herpes every year. This is because STI testing does not usually check for HSV, so most herpes infections go unnoticed. Genital herpes is slightly more common among women than men.

In 2022, GPs in the Netherlands diagnosed about 28,500 cases of herpes. In 2023, 513 cases of herpes were diagnosed by the Sexual Health Centres (SHCs). Herpes is also not included in the standard tests used by the SHCs.