Very often there are no symptoms! But if you have some they are likely to be a rash that never quite goes away, and itchy, painful blistery sores on your bits, mouth, anus, buttocks and other parts of your body. These sores then turn into painful ulcers. On the first outbreak as well as the rash you may have a burning feeling when peeing, swollen glands, fever, headache and a general rundown feeling.

It normally takes between 2 and 20 days for the symptoms to appear - but it may be years before the first outbreak! Before an outbreak happens you may be lucky and get some early warning signs - tingling, burning or itching where sores were. These signs may give you a few hours or days notice before the sores appear.

How could I get it?

Herpes is very infectious. It is spread by having sex of any type - particularly oral sex with a person who has oral herpes (cold sores), by touching or sexual closeness, even kissing. Beware - from the time the sores appear to the time the scabs fall off, Herpes is at its most contagious.

If you are sexually active, sleeping with people who are sleeping around and not wearing a condom all increase the risks of you catching it.

How do I protect myself?

If you've got a genital sore, don't have sex - even with a condom. Wait until the sores heal. Having sex, even with a condom, may not fully protect you, it will irritate the sores, and it will take them longer to heal - is it really worth it?!

If you've got the sores then don't touch them. If you do, then wash your hands; soap and water kills the virus. Wash your hands after going to the bathroom. Wash them before rubbing your eyes or touching contact lenses and definitely don't spit on the lenses, you may spread Herpes to your eyes.

A special warning to you lasses out there - if you're pregnant, Herpes can cause a miscarriage or stillbirth. An active Herpes infection during childbirth could leave the baby with serious health problems.