The herpes simplex virus exists in two forms, herpes simplex virus 1 and herpes simplex virus 2. The University of Maryland Medical Center explains it was previously believed that HSV-1 only caused oral herpes and HSV-2 only caused genital herpes. However, now physicians understood that either type can infect both areas of the body. Symptoms of both strains of herpes are generally the same in women except for the location of the blisters.
Skin Sensations
The earliest symptoms of herpes in a woman are called prodrome symptoms, or warning signs. These take place on the tissues that will later develop blisters. Oral herpes appear on a woman's lips. Genital herpes appear on the vagina, labia, cervix and anus. Just a few hours before the blisters appear a woman may notice several unusual skin sensations in these areas. The American Social Health Association describes these as burning, itching or tingling sensations. With genital herpes, a woman may find it painful to urinate and intercourse may become uncomfortable.
Flu-like Symptoms
The first outbreak of herpes is typically worse than recurrent episodes because the body has yet to develop an immune response to the virus, explains the University of Maryland Medical Center. As a result, the woman may experience flu-like symptoms with either oral or genital herpes. This includes swollen lymph nodes in the groin or neck, headaches, muscle aches, fever, chills and lower back pain.
Blistering
Several hours following the warning signs, a woman will develop fluid-filled blisters on the affected skin tissues, says the American Social Health Association. Sometimes these blisters are misattributed to a pimple, ingrown hair, insect bite or any other skin blemish. The blisters will burst in a few days and ooze an infectious fluid that can appear clear, yellowish or bloody before scabbing over. Once the scab appears the woman may experience a new crop of blisters before the herpes finally heal. The skin is often red after the scab falls off but it will eventually return to normal.
