Bidwell Health clinical notes
I Think I'm Having a Genital Herpes Outbreak
If you have a prior genital herpes diagnosis and symptoms feel like your usual recurrence, antiviral treatment is usually most helpful when started quickly, ideally within 1 day of lesion onset or during prodrome. If this could be your first outbreak, you need in-person testing and diagnosis instead of Bidwell.
What should I do first?
If this is a familiar recurrence, avoid sex or genital skin-to-skin contact, wash hands after touching the area, and start the treatment plan your clinician prescribed. If you do not already have medication, an online visit may be reasonable when symptoms match a prior diagnosis and there are no red flags.
Fits online review
Prior diagnosis, familiar symptoms, mild to moderate recurrence, no pregnancy concern, no severe illness, and no new neurologic symptoms.
Needs in-person care
First possible outbreak, uncertain rash, severe pain, fever with severe illness, trouble urinating, eye symptoms, pregnancy, or immune-system risk.
What does prodrome feel like?
Some recurrent outbreaks start with tingling, burning, itching, skin sensitivity, or nerve-like discomfort before sores appear. CDC guidance says episodic treatment works best when started within 1 day of lesion onset or during prodrome.
Can Bidwell diagnose herpes from symptoms?
No. Bidwell does not diagnose new herpes infections online. CDC guidance recommends confirming genital lesions with type-specific testing from the lesion when present. If you have never been diagnosed, or if this looks different from your prior outbreaks, get tested through an in-person clinician, sexual health clinic, urgent care, county health department, or Planned Parenthood.
What if I want outbreak treatment and daily prevention?
Bidwell lets eligible patients request treatment for the current outbreak, daily suppressive therapy, or both in one visit. If both are prescribed, the outbreak course is taken first. Daily suppressive therapy usually starts the next day after the outbreak course is finished, unless your clinician gives different timing.
What should I avoid during an outbreak?
Avoid sex and genital skin-to-skin contact while lesions or prodrome symptoms are present. Condoms can reduce risk but do not cover all skin that can shed HSV. Daily medication can reduce risk for some patients, but it does not make transmission risk zero.