Genital warts vs. genital herpes?

Can genital warts be confused with genital herpes or vice versa? How often do genital warts re-occur?

No genital herpes and genital warts look completely different. They shouldn't be confused at all!

Genital herpes are caused by the herpes simplex virus. It causes large blister like sores. They can be very red, swollen, and the sores can break open and puss. They are EXTREMELY painful. The first outbreak can last for weeks with medication and even longer without it.

Genital warts are caused by HPV. They are usually very small, flesh colored, and painless. They can be very itchy and annoying, but are usually not painful. They can appear in clusters or alone. The do NOT open and puss, because they are NOT sores. They are small bumps or raises in the skin.

It's estimated anywhere from 30 - 50% of people who have had genital warts and had them treated end up developing them again and have to be treated again. I have personally only had genital warts once, had them treated with Aldara cream, and have luckily never had them come back!

I hope that helped answer your question!

genital warts once they form do not go away. Generally, genital warts do not involve any kind of sensation, in other words they don't itch, or burn or hurt.
Herpes, comes and goes, when active the lesions often itch, hurt or burn. With time they will go away on their own. There is no determining how long between outbreaks.

No. Genital warts and and genital herpes have two very different kind of bumps. Genital warts are sharp opposed to the rounded herpes bumps. Genital warts itch but they don't burn (unless you have treatment on them) while genital herpes lesions usually burn and itch. Genital warts usually stay until treated but there are cases where they have disappeared on it's own without any treatment. After being treated for genital warts, the warts rarely ever come back. Genital herpes lesions usually disappear within 3 weeks.