Preparing for an appointment

If you think you have genital herpes or other sexually transmitted infection, make an appointment to see your primary care doctor or gynecologist.

What you can do

Before your appointment, you might want to list answers to the following questions:

• What are your symptoms? When did they start?
• Do you have a new sexual partner or multiple partners?
• Have you ever been diagnosed with a sexually transmitted infection?
• Do you regularly use condoms?
• What medications or supplements do you take regularly?

Some basic questions to ask your doctor include:

• What tests do I need?
• Should I be tested for other sexually transmitted infections?
• Should my partner be tested?
• Do I need to abstain from sexual activity during treatment?
• How can I avoid infecting my partner?

What to expect from your doctor

Your doctor is likely to ask you a number of questions, such as:

• Do you have pelvic pain?
• Do you have pain while urinating?
• Do you have sores or unusual discharge?