Genital herpes is caused by infection with the herpes simplex virus (HSV), which can be divided into type I (HSV-I) and type II (HSV-II). Both types of herpes viruses can cause genital herpes, but most genital herpes is caused by HSV-II. The incubation period of the disease from infection to onset is 2-20 days (average 6 days). Genital herpes is clinically classified as primary or recurrent. Primary genital herpes presents as clusters or scattered small blisters around the external genitalia or anus, which break down after 2-4 days to form vesicles or ulcers. Patients often have systemic symptoms such as fever, headache, and malaise, with localized itching or pain in the herpes, accompanied by frequent enlargement and pressure in the inguinal lymph nodes, and a disease duration of about 2-3 weeks. Recurrent genital herpes occurs when HSV is latent in the patient’s ganglia after the primary lesions have subsided, and when certain factors (such as trauma, infection, menstruation, and cold exposure) cause the patient’s immunity to decline, the virus travels down the affected nerve roots to the skin and mucous membranes of the affected area, with clinical manifestations of recurrence. Recurrent genital herpes has lighter lesions than primary genital herpes and a shorter duration of disease, manifested by a burning sensation, pins and needles or abnormal sensation locally before the rash starts, clusters of small blisters around the external genitalia or anus, which soon break down to form vesicles or shallow ulcers, with milder self-conscious symptoms and a duration of 7-10 days, which can heal spontaneously but has a tendency to recur.