If you're not sure if you have genital herpes, and haven't been to the doctor yet, make an appointment right away. Getting a proper diagnosis is the best way to take action against the lesions with an antiviral medicine, like a pill or ointment. So how will your doctor diagnose your genital herpes? Keep reading. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says there are a couple of ways that your doctor may test you to determine whether or not you have genital herpes (or HSV-2).
Your doctor needs to look at the lesions: Don't be shy. If you think you may have genital herpes, make an appointment with your doctor right away. Your doctor will want to look at the lesions and may be able to make a diagnosis by looking at your genital area.
Your doctor may take a sample of the lesion: He or she may take a sample and have it tested in a lab.
Your doctor may give you a blood test: He or she may also want to test your blood—which can sometimes detect the herpes simplex virus (HSV-1 or HSV-2).
It's very important to seek treatment by a health care professional at the first sign of an outbreak. So if you think you might have genital herpes, make an appointment with your doctor right away.
Keep in mind, there is no cure for genital herpes, but there are a variety of treatment options available.
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