The short explanation
Painful blisters that burst into sores in the genital area, with burning when passing urine, are typical of genital herpes, a common sexually transmitted infection caused by the herpes simplex virus. Other causes of genital sores include syphilis, other infections, and skin conditions, so it is important to be examined. A doctor can usually take a swab from a sore to confirm the cause. Treatment for herpes can shorten the outbreak and ease symptoms, especially when started early. Herpes can come back from time to time, but later outbreaks are usually milder. Testing for other STIs, including HIV and syphilis, is also usually advised.
What depends on your situation
The parts of this that change from woman to woman. Uncertainty is stated, not hidden.
- Keeping the area clean and dry, wearing loose cotton underwear and pouring water over the area while passing urine can ease pain.
- Avoid sex until the sores have healed completely, and tell your partner so they can get checked.
- If you are pregnant or could be, tell the doctor, as herpes needs special attention in pregnancy.
What this answer cannot determine
The boundary of online education. These need a clinician who can see you.
- This answer cannot tell what is causing your sores. An examination and swab test are needed.
Questions for your clinician
Take these with you. You can add any of them to an appointment card.
- Could these sores be herpes or another infection?
- Can you take a swab to confirm?
- What treatment can help now?
- Should I be tested for other STIs, and should my partner be tested?
When to seek help
Clinician-approved guidance for this topic. When in doubt, being seen is never the wrong choice.
Get help the same day
- Get care the same day if you cannot pass urine because of pain, or have fever with headache and stiff neck.
Book an appointment soon
- See a doctor within a day or two for painful genital sores, ideally while they are present.
Sources
The evidence this explanation is built on.
- Sexually transmitted infections MedlinePlus (NIH)
- Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) World Health Organization
Who wrote and reviewed this
Every AskHer answer names its author. A clinically reviewed answer also names the clinician who signed it off — if no clinician is named below, it has not been clinically reviewed.
- Author
- AskHer Editorial (AI-assisted draft) AskHer's editorial team — not an individual clinician Works in English, தமிழ், हिन्दी
- Clinical reviewer
- Nobody yet No clinician has signed this answer off, and no person on the editorial team has read it yet. That is what the “Written with AI assistance” label means. It is queued for an editor to read, and then for a clinician who works in this area. The sources it was drafted against are listed above.
- Review status
- Written with AI assistance — not yet reviewed by a person
- Last reviewed
- Not yet reviewed by a person
- Version
- 1
Correction history
Substantive changes are listed, not quietly edited away.
No corrections have been made since this answer was first published.
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