Where do symptoms appear?
Genital herpes symptoms can appear in various areas of the body. Once a person has been infected with the herpes virus, it lies dormant (inactive) in the bundle of nerves at the base of the spine until it becomes active. Once the virus becomes active, it travels along nerve paths to the surface of the skin, where it may cause an outbreak. The nerves in the buttocks, genital area, and upper thighs are connected. Therefore an outbreak can occur on the anus, buttocks, thigh, penis, scrotum, vagina, and/or vulva.
