What is Genital herpes?
'''Genital herpes''' is an [[Viral disease|infection]] of the [[Sex organ|genitals]]. Most people either have no or mild symptoms, and sometimes they do not know they are infected. Symptoms include [[blister]]s that break open to form painful [[ulcers]]. Other symptoms are like the [[flu]] such as fever, aching, or swollen [[lymph node]]s. Symptoms can be seen as soon as four days after being infected and can last up to four weeks.<ref name=CDC2017Fact/> Once infected further outbreaks may occur but are generally milder.<ref name=CDC2017Fact>{{cite web|url=https://www.cdc.gov/std/herpes/STDFact-herpes-detailed.htm| title=Genital Herpes – CDC Fact Sheet|date=9 February 2017|access-date=20 December 2017}}</ref> The disease is spread by direct genital contact and mainly happens during [[sex]], including [[Anal sex|anal]] and [[oral sex]]. The risk of spread between a couple is about 7.5% over a year.<ref name=IQ2018>{{Cite book|date=December 12, 2012|title=Genital herpes: How can you prevent the spread of herpes in sexual relationships?|url=https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK525787/ }}</ref> There are two types of genital herpes, HSV-1 and HSV-2. HSV-2 was more common, however genital HSV-1 has become more common in the [[developed world]].<ref>{{cite book|editor-last=Beigi|editor-first=Richard H.|title=Sexually transmitted diseases|publisher=John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.|location=Chichester, West Sussex|isbn=9781118314975|pages=139|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=KrynOvt34jAC&pg=PA139|date=2012-03-27}}</ref> ==References== {{reflist}} {{med-stub}} [[Category:Sexually transmitted diseases]] [[Category:Diseases caused by viruses]]