Have your genitals been bothering you lately-- noticed strange lesions there, perhaps? Sores around your mouth? These could very well be the signs of herpes. Herpes occurs in two forms: Herpes Simplex Type 1, oral herpes (cold sores); and Herpes Simplex Type 2, genital herpes. Although genital herpes is a sexually transmitted disease, oral herpes can be transmitted to the mouth when it comes to oral sex.

But how do you know if these sores are truly indications of herpes, or signs of something else? A lot of times, especially where women are concerned, genital herpes is misdiagnosed as something else. A yeast infection, for example, or boils, or even pelvic inflammatory disease. If you're not sure, it's a good idea to do some research on this disease. See a doctor, who can accurately test for and identify herpes. But what are some of the signs of herpes?

The most common symptom of the disease is red bumps or blisters. They can show up in all sorts of places in or near the genital areas, such as thighs, buttons, anus, and near the urethra. What's worse, women can develop blisters inside their vaginas. They might experience vaginal discharge, and urinating could be painful.

A first outbreak in women might last about three weeks, on average, and in men the average is two weeks. Women need to be aware that they could develop meningitis, a direct result of the first herpes outbreak. But there are other symptoms of genital herpes outbreaks. That includes headaches, fever, lower back pain, muscle aches, and swelling of the lymph nodes in the groin. Consult your doctor if you find yourself experiencing any of these symptoms, such as sores in your genital area.

After a first outbreak of herpes, about four in five people will suffer recurrent herpes outbreaks. However, there will usually be warning signs. The most obvious will be pain or discomfort in the areas that may develop sores. Consider these signs of herpes as a warning, and remember that you're very contagious at this time, even without the sores!