Herpes is a commonly occurring sexually transmitted disease. It is caused by the herpes simplex virus (HSV), which can be found in two forms, type 1 and type 2. HSV can cause both oral and genital herpes in women. Symptoms of either type of infection are similar. Contracting one type does not automatically mean a woman has the other, according to the American Social Health Association (ASHASTD). Symptoms can range from mild to moderate and vary depending on the location of the infection.
Flu-like Symptoms
Genital herpes may cause flu-like symptoms including a fever, swollen glands in the neck or groin, fever, chills or a headache. Some individuals may experience symptoms of herpes within a few days, weeks, months or even years after become infected with the virus. Because the body has yet to build immunity to the virus, the first outbreak may be the worst, says the ASHASTD.
Burning and Soreness
Whether the virus causes oral or genital herpes, a woman may experience prodrome, or warning symptoms of an upcoming outbreak of blisters. These warning symptoms include redness, burning and soreness where the blister will occur. The oral herpes typically affect the skin near the lips, the nose, the chin or the cheek. Genital herpes in women affect the skin near the anus, the thighs, buttocks, the vagina and nearly any other skin tissue in the genital region.
Blistering
Within a few days of the prodrome symptoms occurring, a fluid-filled blister will appear. There may be single blisters or clusters of blisters. They will be painful and make urinating or moving the mouth difficult, depending on the location of the lesion. After 2 to 4 days, the blister will open and pus, liquid or blood will ooze from the wound. As the blister scabs over a new crop of blisters may appear. Once a scab forms the blister will begin to heal. This process can take 2 to 3 more days. The scab may fall off once before another appears. Finally, the blister will disappear. Scarring does not usually occur.
Mild Symptoms
The ASHASTD points out that nearly 90 percent of infected individuals are unaware of their infection. This is due to a lack of symptoms or very mild symptoms of the condition. The initial outbreak may be so mild that it goes unnoticed or is attributed to something else, including an insect bite or jock itch. Despite there not being obvious symptoms, the individual can still infect other individuals with the virus during sexual contact or other sharing of bodily fluids.
