The Herpes Simplex Virus infection can usually take between two and seven days after contact for the first symptoms to show. However some people can catch it and show no symptoms, and occasionally it can appear for the first time years later, or even decades after the original contact.

It may start with flu-like symptoms: headache, temperature, backache and you may have mild swelling in your lymph glands (groin, armpits and neck).  You may notice itching, tingling discomfort in the area affected, and one or more blisters or ulcers are usually present. These blisters or ulcers can be quite painful especially if they are in contact with urine as you go to the toilet.

The first episode may last from two to four weeks and usually the most severe episode you will have.

The first time you notice symptoms it is best to visit a sexual health clinic to confirm the HSV diagnosis and receive treatment if you need to.

You will recover with or without the treatment. However, there are other conditions that can cause similar symptoms that do need treatment.

A swab is taken from the blisters or ulcer to confirm and type the virus (the sooner this is done after you first notice the blisters or ulcers the more likely a diagnosis can be made). A blood test (testing for the antibodies) can be taken if the blisters have healed to confirm a HSV diagnosis and what type it is, although this is not routinely offered in a sexual health clinic.

Tests taken within a sexual health clinic are treated confidentially, a unique clinic number being issued and used in place of a name for each person attending. Results can be accessed in whichever way is most convenient, whether this is via text, email, telephone, mail, phoning into clinic or via another person (e.g. friend).

The doctor or nurse may prescribe antiviral tablets for five days to speed up the healing and it can reduce the severity of the first episode. If blisters/ulcers are still forming towards the end of the five days then you should contact the clinic and they may give you some more tablets.

• The treatment does not clear the virus from the body completely but prevents the HSV from multiplying and clearing up the outbreak.

• A numbing gel can also be prescribed for you to use on your genitals to help with the pain.

• Taking a pain killer may help to reduce the pain and inflammation (e.g. paracetamol, ibuprofen or soluble aspirin).

• Some people find a mild salt water solution soothing to bathe the sores.

• Remember, do not try putting lots of creams on the blisters or ulcers, let the skin heal. Symptoms will heal with or without treatment.

The virus will stay in the nerve cells and skin cells even after the outbreak has cleared up. This means that you can get the virus reoccurring and causing symptoms after the first episode.

How often varies between individuals and therefore it helps if you can recognise when you think an outbreak may be starting to try and prevent passing it on to your partner if they do not already have the virus.

The itching, tingling and aching around the area where the blisters were can be a sign that a recurrence is starting, this is the time to avoid skin to skin contact and you can contact the sexual health clinic for further treatment if you wish. Skin to skin contact including kissing the area should be avoided until the symptoms have all disappeared.

A condom can help prevent passing it on if the blisters were covered by the condom but any area of skin infected by the virus that is not covered can still pass the virus on. Avoiding skin to skin contact at this time is the safest choice.

Remember a condom provides a barrier to getting other sexually transmitted infections and is therefore recommended to be used.

Occasionally people can pass the virus on without any symptoms. This is called asymptomatic shedding and happens between recurrences. It is more likely to happen within the first year following the initial episode.

There is no way to predict how often a person will get an outbreak, but remember that you can always contact a sexual health clinic without seeing your GP first, and tell them you have HSV and you will be seen quickly for advice or treatment.