5 conditions that may raise a false alarm for genital herpes

Your vagina is prone to many infections and diseases. However, not everything you deal with under there is genital herpes.

vaginal problem — Don’t confuse a simple vaginal infection with genital herpes! Image courtesy: Shutterstock

Dr Rinky Kapoor Published: 11 Feb 2022, 13:00 pm IST

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The Herpes Simplex Virus, also known as Herpes, is commonly seen in a majority of people but is often misunderstood too. The symptoms of it are sores and blisters near the mouth, nose, lips, or genital area depending on the type of herpes one has. However, there are many other conditions that tend to overlap with genital herpes and can cause herpes-like symptoms. It will be essential for you to know if it is genital herpes or some other condition. Here, we decode these conditions for you

Here are many other conditions that are similar to genital herpes:

1. Yeast infections

A majority of women tend to encounter yeast infections at some point of time in life. Did you know? It can be mistaken for genital herpes. The yeast infection will be confusing when it is seen in the outer labia. You will have to speak to an expert to know whether it is a yeast infection or genital herpes.

2. Ingrown hairs

Are you aware? Having ingrown hairs down there may also make you feel that you have genital herpes. But, that can be an ingrown hair that may appear like blisters. So, try to seek the help of an expert to know exactly what it is.

Hair tweezing is an open invite to ingrown hair. Image courtesy: Shutterstock

3. Bacterial vaginosis (BV)

This means an imbalance of the normal bacteria in the vagina. It cannot be termed as a sexually transmitted infection (STI), but is seen in sexually active women, and it can increase your chance of contracting a STI. It can lead to skin itching and discomfort and one may mistake it for genital herpes.

4. Irritation due to shaving

If you have shaved down there, then you may experience skin irritation, redness, tingling, and a burning sensation. These symptoms may raise an unnecessary alarm for genital herpes.

5. Trichomoniasis

It is a sexually transmitted infection that is seen due to small parasites. Like both herpes and bacterial vaginosis, the infection often has no red flags. But it can be mistaken for herpes as there can be itching, burning, and redness in the genital area after some time.

If you’re dealing with any such symptoms, do not fret! Try to get a prompt diagnosis and treatment of the underlying condition. After all, it’s about your health and you need to take charge of it. Stay vigilant!