Symptoms of Genital Herpes are listed as follows:
In TCM, blistering and erosion of genital tissue, plus burning and itching are the key symptoms of the pattern of damp heat pouring down. Outbreaks are considered to be precipitated by the over-consumption of candy and sugar, which promote the formation of active damp heat. Recurrent outbreaks are due to poor dietary habits, including the eating of hot, spicy foods, heavy, greasy foods, and alcohol. The leading Chinese herbal formula to treat this pattern is Damp Heat Clearing.

Erosion of genital blisters and fever are the key symptoms for the pattern of toxic heat accumulation, in which the outbreaks are triggered by unexpressed anger and emotional upset, as well as the over-consumption of hot, spicy foods. A time-tested Chinese herbal formula for this pattern is Toxin Clearing. This is a powerful formula for the acute stage of genital herpes.

Symptoms of Genital Herpes in Western Medicine:
You may never notice symptoms from an HSV infection. On the other hand, you might notice symptoms within a few days to a couple of weeks after the initial contact. Or you might not have an initial outbreak of symptoms until months or even years after becoming infected. When symptoms occur soon after a person is infected, they tend to be more severe. They may start as small blisters that eventually break open and produce raw, painful sores that scab and heal over within a few weeks. The blisters and sores may be accompanied by flu-like symptoms with fever and swollen glands. Any of the following symptoms of a genital HSV infection can occur in a man or a woman:

-- Headaches
-- Backaches
-- Flu-like symptoms, including fever, swollen glands and fatigue
-- Itching or tingling around your genitals or your anal region
-- Pain from urine passing over the sores - this is especially a problem in women.
-- Cracked, raw, or red areas around your genitals or anal region without pain, itching or tingling
-- Small blisters that break open and cause painful sores. These may be on or around your genitals, the penis or vagina, or on the buttocks, thighs, or rectal area. More rarely, blisters may occur inside the urethra - the tube urine passes through on its way out of your body.

Genital herpes is not the only condition that can produce these symptoms. The only way to know whether they are the result of HSV or another condition is to be checked by a health care professional. Genital herpes is diagnosed with a physical examination and may be confirmed with a swab test, which is sent off to a laboratory for analysis.