Male Genital Herpes

Do you know how to tell if you’re suffering from male genital herpes?  You really need to know for sure in order to stay as healthy as possible, and enjoy a long and happy love life.  Some men will freely admit to themselves that they don’t really know how to spot herpes, even if they wouldn’t say so publicly.  Don’t laugh – many men think they know all about herpes, but they have some really erroneous ideas about the symptoms.  Millions of men think that male genital herpes means oozing blisters or sores in their private areas.  Well, that’s often part of the story, but those certainly aren’t the first indications of the disease.

One thing you should know is that there can be a delay of onset of the disease between the time you’re infected and the time you actually notice symptoms.  This lag can be several days up to a few weeks.  And here’s the really important fact that you need to know – the first sign of genital herpes is not oozing sores or blisters.  Once you see those, you’re well past the first stage of a herpes outbreak.  The first symptoms are redness and sensitivity to touch.  These can range from mild to severe, but they always come before blistering and oozing.

Anyone who is at risk for male genital herpes needs to be looking out for redness and sensitivity.  Many men mistake the first symptoms for tenderness, if they even notice them at all.  Some herpes sufferers have the misfortune to experience symptoms so mild that they aren’t even aware they have them.  This may sound like a good thing, but in fact it’s not.  That’s because the earlier you start treatment for herpes, the more successful it is, as a general rule.  So when a man misses the initial symptoms, it can be a lot tougher to treat.  So, if you’re sexually active, you should always be looking for these first symptoms.  When you find them, get treated right away, and save yourself a lot of pain and trouble down the road.