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Have your genitals been bothering you lately-- noticed strange lesions there, perhaps? Sores around your mouth? These may be signs of herpes. Herpes comes in two different forms. The first is Herpes Simplex Type 1, oral herpes that reveals itself in cold sores. Then there's Herpes Simplex Type 2, otherwise known as genital herpes. Although genital herpes is a sexually transmitted disease, oral herpes can be transmitted to the mouth when it comes to oral sex.

So, how do you know if the sores you're experiencing are due to herpes or something else? A lot of times, especially where women are concerned, genital herpes is misdiagnosed as something else. A yeast infection, for example, or boils, or even pelvic inflammatory disease. If you're not sure, it's a good idea to do some research on this disease. If you visit your doctor, he or she can positively identify what you're suffering from. But let's get down to the details on the signs of herpes.

It is most common for herpes sufferers to have blisters and red bumps. They can appear near the urethra, buttocks, thighs, anus, and in other genital areas. What's worse, women can develop blisters inside their vaginas. They might experience vaginal discharge, and urinating could be painful.

The first outbreak could last somewhere around three weeks for women, on average. For men, they can expect to endure it for two weeks. Women need to be aware that they could develop meningitis, a direct result of the first herpes outbreak. But there are other symptoms of genital herpes outbreaks. That includes headaches, fever, lower back pain, muscle aches, and swelling of the lymph nodes in the groin. If you find yourself experiencing any of these symptoms along with sores in your genital area, consult your doctor.

Approximately four in five people who experience one outbreak of herpes will suffer from recurrent outbreaks. Most people will have warning signs, however, most noticeably pain in the area where they tend to develop sores. The signs of herpes are a warning. Please keep in mind that you're very contagious during this stage, even if you don't have any sores to show for it!