How is genital herpes diagnosed?
Your doctor may diagnose genital herpes by examining you, especially if the sores look like herpes. He or she may ask you questions about your symptoms and your risk factors, which are things that make you more likely to get an infection.
Your doctor may ask you the following questions:
- Do you think you were exposed to genital herpes or another sexually transmitted infection (STI)? How do you know? Did your partner tell you?
- What are your symptoms?
- Do you have sores in the genital area or anywhere else on your body?
- Do they usually come and go?
- Do you have any urinary symptoms, such as frequent urination, burning or stinging with urination, or urinating in small amounts?
- If you have discharge from the vagina or penis, does it have any smell or color?
- What method of birth control do you use? Did you use condoms to protect against STIs?
- What are your sexual practices and your partner's sexual practices?
- Have you had an STI in the past? How was it treated?
If this is your first outbreak, your doctor may take a sample of fluid from the sore for testing. Testing can help the doctor be sure that you have herpes. You may also have a blood test.