Genital Herpes

Every year, nearly 9 million people less than 25 years of age get a new STI (sexually transmitted infection).¹ One of these infections is genital herpes. If you've had sex, you could have an STI. Some STIs cause symptoms. Others don't. You could have one and not know it. Some STIs make you sick today and others cause problems later in life. These include serious problems like cancer or infertility. Some can even kill you.

What is genital herpes and how do you get it?
Genital herpes is the most common viral STI. It is caused by the herpes simplex virus. One in six people over the age of 12 in the US are infected with herpes.² You get it from having sex with an infected person, and babies can get it from their mothers during childbirth.³ Although most infected people have no symptoms, they can still pass on herpes.

Am I safe if I only have oral or anal sex?
Herpes can also be passed during oral³ or anal⁴ sex.

What happens if I'm infected?
If you are like most people, you will have no symptoms at all. On the other hand, you could have symptoms such as painful outbreaks of blisters, sores or ulcers. You can also have pain and burning while urinating. Genital herpes infection also increases your chance of getting HIV.⁵

How do you treat genital herpes?
Once you get herpes, you always have herpes. There is no cure. However, some medicines can reduce your symptoms.⁶

Am I safe if I always use a condom?
If you always use condoms for vaginal sex, you can cut your chance of getting herpes by about half.^7,8 So far, there is no evidence that condoms reduce your chance of getting herpes during oral or anal sex.

What can I do to avoid getting infected?
Avoid sexual activity if you are single. Be faithful to one uninfected partner for the rest of your life. Already had sex? See a doctor and get checked.

References
1 Weinstock H, Berman S, Cates W Jr. Sexually transmitted diseases among American youth: incidence and prevalence estimates, 2000. Perspect Sex Reprod Health; 2004;36(1):6-10.
2 Xu F, Sternberg MR, Kottiri BJ et al. Trends in herpes simplex virus type 1 and type 2 seroprevalence in the United States. JAMA. 2006 Aug 23;296(8):964-73.
3 Corey L, Wald A. Genital Herpes. In: Holmes KK, Mardh PA, Sparling PF, et al., eds. Sexually Transmitted Diseases. 3rd ed. New York, NY: McGraw Hill, Co; 1999:285-312.
4 Jin F, Prestage GP, Mao L, et al. Transmission of herpes simplex virus types 1 and 2 in a prospective cohort of HIV-negative gay men: the health in men study. J Infect Dis. 2006 Sep 1;194(5):561-70. Epub 2006 Jul 28.
5 Corey L, Wald A, Celum CL, et al. The effects of herpes simplex virus-2 on HIV-1 acquisition and transmission: a review of two overlapping epidemics. J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr. 2004 Apr 15;35(5):435-45.
6 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Genital Herpes-CDC Fact Sheet. 2006. Available online at: http://www.cdc.gov/std/Herpes/STDFact-Herpes.htm. Accessed November 30, 2006.
7 Shlay JC, McClung MW, Patnaik JL, Douglas JM Jr. Comparison of sexually transmitted disease prevalence by reported level of condom use among patients attending an urban sexually transmitted disease clinic. Sex Transm Dis. 2004;31(3):154-160.
8 Wald A, Langenberg AG, Krantz E, et al. The relationship between condom use and herpes simplex virus acquisition. Ann Intern Med. 2005;143(10):707-713.

Authored by: Sheetal Malhotra, MBBS, MS
Date: May 2007
Reviewed by: Jennifer A. Shuford, MD, MPH
Date: July 2009