yukky question - herpes symptoms???

[berolina]

Hi there everyone.

I started the 'cold sores and pregnancy' thread a bit further down - thank you all again for your replies. My problem was that I'm 11.3 weeks pregnant and dh had developed cold sores so I was a bit worried. Now I have a little area 'down there' which is somehow a little sore (not exactly genital area but next to it) and am paranoid I've somehow transferred the virus from his cold sore to my 'bits' although we haven't done anything conventionally risky - I'm worried it might have happened through a chain of events, e.g. he touched his cold sore, we held hands, I went to loo forgetting to wash hands beforehand.... What are actually the symptoms of genital herpes? What would it feel like? Having already had a m/c I'm paranoid about anything which could increase the risk. Should say I have quite dry skin but can't remember having had this soreness before. Would really appreciate it if anyone could help.

Apparently you'd know it. If this is your first infection with genital herpes, you'd have a fever, you wouldn't feel well, and I think you'd have more than one "sore area." That's what I was told when similarly worried about herpes early in my 2nd pregnancy. (I didn't have it.)

my friend contracted this years ago and was in agony with it. IIRC she had pain going to the loo (sores had gone round the back too), very hot and burning sensation plus I think discharge. And obviously the humiliation and indignity of it all. Apparently it never goes away and she suffered from flare ups for several years. Herpes can be passed on from oral sex (it was in friend's case) and if you happen to have a flare up at the time of birth you may need a c/section. It doesn't sound to me like you have it as expatkat says "you'd know" - best to get checked out though as your own personal "flora" is very changeable at pregnancy and it could be a simple case of thrush

Herpes, genital or otherwise, is a virus that the majority of people carry. It could only cause complications in pregnancy if you were suffering your first infection when the baby is born. As said previously, if this was your first infection of genital herpes you would know it! I therefore suspect this isn't herpes.

Hi everyone and thank you for your replies. Soreness seems to have died down. Think you're right and it's probably OK.