Outbreak areas

Despite the name, genital herpes isn’t just restricted to the genital region. Genital herpes symptoms can also occur:

• Anywhere on the genitals (including within the vagina or vulva, or under the foreskin)
• In and around the anus (if the infection was passed on by anal intercourse)
• Around the groin region
• On the buttocks and/or lower back
• On the thighs
• Behind the knees
• On the backs of the fingers

The reason that outbreaks can occur in these regions is complex. The human body has five skin regions known as dermatomes. These areas are linked to a single spinal nerve root by sensory nerve fibres.

The herpes virus lives in the nerve root linked to the sacral dermatome (highlighted in orange), which covers the genitals, buttocks, backs of the legs and feet. This means that each time an outbreak occurs the virus can travel to any of the sacral dermatome regions via sensory nerve fibres. This is why outbreaks can occur in different regions of the body.