Genital herpes infections often have no symptoms, or mild symptoms that go unrecognised. Most infected people are unaware that they have the infection. Typically, about 10-20% of people with HSV-2 infection report a prior diagnosis of genital herpes. However, clinical studies following people closely for new infection demonstrate that up to a third of people with new infections may have symptoms. Medicines can help to reduce the severity and frequency of symptoms, but cannot cure the infection.