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The first outbreak:

• Symptoms usually develop within 2 to 20 days after first exposure to the virus
• Could continue for up to 2 weeks
• May be so mild that it goes unnoticed
• Sometimes causes visible sores
• Can last between 10 - 21 days

The first episode is the most severe as most people have not been exposed to the virus before and antibodies will not have been produced to trigger the immune response. 

The symptoms may take longer to appear or be less severe in some people, especially in those with partial immunity to the virus from having facial herpes, e.g. cold sores.

When the herpes virus gets into skin cells it reproduces itself and starts to multiply, making the skin red and sensitive. Blisters or bumps may appear on the genital area, the blisters first opening, then healing with the regeneration of new skin tissue.

The infected area:

• is usually painful to touch
• may itch, burn or tingle during the outbreak
• can appear red, raw or inflamed

Other symptoms include:

• Swollen lymph glands 
• Painful inflamed blisters develop around infected area
• Headache
• Muscle ache
• Fever  
• Vaginal or penis discharge
• Infection of the urethra causing a burning sensation during urination
• A burning sensation in the genitals
• Lower back pain
• Small red bumps may appear in the genital area following earlier symptoms,  later developing  into painful blisters, which crust over, form a scab, and heal.