- Herpes is an STI. You get it through sex or kissing.
- Herpes on your mouth is called a cold sore
- A lot people have herpes. Most people don’t have symptoms.
- Do you have symptoms? Go to the doctor
- Don’t have sex until after your herpes has gone away
Symptoms
Is you have herpes, you may have symptoms around your vagina, penis, anus or mouth:
- Blisters or sores that hurt
- Itching
- A burning feeling
- Red spots on your skin
- Pain when peeing or pooping
The blisters dry out after about three weeks. It seems that the herpes is gone. But the virus stays in your body. And the blisters may return. For example:
- If you’re having your period
- If you’re sick
- If you’re stressed
- If your immune system is weak for some other reason
The first time you get herpes is usually the worst.
Take an STI test
Do you think you have herpes? If so, you might have other STIs. Get an STI test at the municipal health service (GGD) or at your doctor's office. Then you will know for sure whether you have an STI. And you will get medicine for it right away.
Treatment
Do you have herpes and is it bothering you a lot? If so, go to your doctor. Sometimes, you can get medicine or a a salve that reduces your symptoms or clears them up. You put the salve on yourself using a Q-tip. Don’t do this using your fingers. Otherwise, you can transfer it to other places on your body via your fingers.
Herpes is a virus that never leaves your body, so you can keep getting symptoms.
Go to soaaids.nl to read the answers to all your questions about herpes (Dutch only)
Working if you have herpes
It is better to take a break from work if you have herpes. Do you have blisters or sores? Wait to have sex until the symptoms have gone away. That way, your body will have time to recover. You are also less likely to give your herpes to other people.
No sex means:
- No vaginal or anal sex. Not even with a condom
- Don’t let anyone eat your pussy or finger your vagina or anus
- Don’t let anyone give you a blow job or jerk you off
- If you have a cold sore: don’t eat pussy or give blow jobs
- Don’t lay or rub your vagina or penis on someone else’s. Or against someone’s anus
This goes for sex with your clients and your own partner if you have one.
What is ok to do if you have herpes?
- Long-distance sex. For example, using a web cam. Read about how you can have long-distance sex
- Jerk someone off. In that case, first make sure you haven’t touched your own vagina, penis or anus. Otherwise, you can transfer the herpes to the person via your fingers
Get three free Hepatitis B vaccinations
You can also catch Hepatitis B by having sex. Especially if you don’t use a condom. You can get very sick from it. Get vaccinated for free at the municipal health service (GGD) so you don’t catch this STI.
