Reviewed by The Wellness Team. Last reviewed October 2026.
A first episode of genital herpes usually arrives as a crop of painful blisters that break into shallow ulcers, sometimes with a flu-like illness, and it is far more manageable than it feels in the moment. Antiviral tablets work best when started early, testing is a simple swab from a fresh sore, and recurrences are almost always milder than the first episode. If you think you are having a first episode now, message us on WhatsApp, because starting treatment within the first few days makes a real difference.
What are the symptoms of genital herpes?
The first episode is usually the most noticeable. Common signs include:
- Tingling, burning or itching in the genital or anal area, followed a day or two later by small blisters
- Blisters that break into painful shallow ulcers, which crust and heal over two to four weeks
- Pain when passing urine, especially if ulcers sit near the urethra
- Flu-like symptoms in a first episode: fever, headache, aching muscles, and tender swollen glands in the groin
- In women, ulcers on the vulva, cervix or around the anus; in men, on the penis, foreskin or around the anus
Many people have much milder episodes, or symptoms so slight they are mistaken for thrush, shaving rash or a small tear. Some carry the virus for years without knowing, which is why testing after a new partner or a suspicious sore matters.
How do you test for genital herpes?
The reliable test is a swab taken directly from a fresh blister or ulcer, tested by NAAT (a PCR-type test) for herpes simplex virus. As of October 2026, this is the recommended first-line test in UK guidance, and it works best while a lesion is still fresh, so being seen quickly genuinely matters. A swab can be taken at a clinic visit, and testing can be arranged the same day.
Blood tests for herpes antibodies exist but are not routinely used to diagnose a current episode, because they cannot tell a recent infection from one caught years ago. If you have symptoms now, the swab is the test that answers the question. WhatsApp us and we will arrange it.
What is the treatment for genital herpes?
As of October 2026, NICE Clinical Knowledge Summaries recommend an oral antiviral such as aciclovir or valaciclovir for a first episode, started within five days of symptoms beginning, or at any point while new blisters are still forming. Treatment shortens the episode, eases the pain and reduces viral shedding. Topical antiviral creams are not recommended.
Simple measures help alongside tablets: regular pain relief, salt-water bathing of the area, and an anaesthetic gel such as lidocaine for painful ulcers, particularly when passing urine hurts.
Herpes stays in the body and can return, but recurrences are typically shorter and milder, and many people have few or none. For frequent recurrences (around six or more a year), NICE recommends considering daily suppressive antiviral treatment, which cuts recurrences sharply and also lowers the chance of passing the virus to a partner. Message us on WhatsApp if recurrences are disrupting your life and we can set up a plan.
Can an online GP treat genital herpes today?
Yes. A same-day phone or video consultation can assess your symptoms, start antiviral treatment sent to your local pharmacy, arrange swab testing while lesions are fresh, and organise a wider STI screen, since a first episode is a sensible moment to check for chlamydia and other infections. Our private STI testing service is discreet and doctor-led, and we will talk you through partners, pregnancy considerations and suppressive options if you need them.
As of October 2026, a phone consultation with The Online GP costs £59, a video consultation costs £150, and an in-person appointment at 10 Portman Square, Marylebone costs £220. Message us on WhatsApp and you can usually be speaking to a doctor within minutes.
Frequently asked questions
Can genital herpes be cured?
Not in the sense of removing the virus from the body, but it is very controllable. Antivirals shorten episodes, suppressive treatment can stop recurrences almost entirely for many people, and recurrences naturally tend to become less frequent over time.
How is genital herpes passed on?
Through skin-to-skin sexual contact with the affected area, most easily when blisters or ulcers are present, but also from skin that looks completely normal (asymptomatic shedding). Condoms reduce but do not remove the risk, because the virus can sit on skin a condom does not cover.
Do I have to tell my partner?
UK guidance encourages telling current and recent partners, because they may want testing or advice, and because honest conversations let couples manage the small ongoing transmission risk together. We can help you plan that conversation and arrange partner testing.
Will genital herpes affect pregnancy?
Specialist care is recommended in pregnancy. If you are pregnant or planning pregnancy, tell your midwife or doctor, particularly if a first episode happens late in pregnancy, because that situation needs careful management. Recurrent herpes in pregnancy is usually managed safely with suppressive antivirals near term.
Is this sore definitely herpes?
Not necessarily. Genital ulcers have several causes, and a swab while the sore is fresh is the only way to be sure. WhatsApp us and we will get you tested and treated without the wait.
Sources: NICE Clinical Knowledge Summaries (CKS): Herpes simplex, genital. British Association for Sexual Health and HIV (BASHH): UK national guideline for the management of anogenital herpes. Prices and services as of October 2026.
Reviewed by The Wellness Team.