Type 1 herpes infects your mouth, lips and nose, and causes cold sores. Type 2, known as genital herpes, is a viral infection that infects the genital and anal areas. It’s spread by sex, including oral and anal, and is the most common STD worldwide. However, Type 1 can also become sexually transmitted when people have oral sex. Shockingly, around 80% of people infected with Type 2 (known as HSV-2) don’t know it, as generally there are only mild symptoms or none at all.

Signs and symptoms

If you’re going to get symptoms, they’ll appear within a week of infection, and last up to a couple of weeks – but when they disappear, that doesn’t mean you’re no longer infected, and symptoms will continue to reappear throughout your life, whenever you’re stressed or your immune system is run down. Symptoms may include some or all of these:

Itchy or tingling genital or anal area
Headaches and backaches
Blisters that burst and leave open sores
Painful urinating
Flu symptoms like swollen glands and fever

Dangers

Although painful and uncomfortable, herpes is not dangerous in itself. However, women who first become infected when they are pregnant risk miscarriages, premature births and transmitting herpes to their children. Even worse, if untreated this can cause serious damage to the baby’s internal organs, skin and nervous system, sometimes resulting in death.

Treatment

Speak to your doctor immediately if you think you may be infected. The test is quick and painless, and if you’re not experiencing symptoms at the time a blood test may be used instead – although in this case you’ll have to wait until 3 months after infection for it to show up in your blood. Unfortunately, there is no cure for herpes – all you can do is take antiviral tablets while you’re having an outbreak to improve your symptoms. Alternatively, you can take painkillers, gently wash your sores in warm water with half a teaspoon of salt in it, avoid the sun and sunbeds and drink lots of water to make urinating less painful.

Prevention

Always use a condom, and if you or your partner is already infected, don’t kiss or have sex, including anal and oral sex, while you’re having an outbreak. Always wash your hands after touching your sores. You’re most likely to be infected with herpes, or to infect others, when itchy sores start to appear on the skin, but there’s still a chance of getting it between outbreaks. It doesn’t mean it’s the end of your sex life, but you do need to discuss your options with your doctor.

Read More:

Gonorrhea: What You Need to Know: Read on to find out the signs, symptoms, dangers, treatments and prevention methods of the sexually transmitted disease, Gonorrhea.

Spot the STD: Chlamydia: Signs, symptoms and effects of one of the UK’s biggest STD

Genital Warts: Genital warts can be transmitted through sex, including anal and oral, but also through non-penetrative foreplay. To learn more about the sexually transmitted disease, read on.

Signs and Syptoms of Syphilis: Transmitted through sex, including oral and anal, syphilis can be extremely dangerous if left untreated.

Herpes: There are 8 types of herpes, not all of them sexually transmitted. Read on to find out more.