Think you can't get genital herpes? Are you sure?

Every year, almost 4 million American teenagers get an STD.1,2 If you've had sex, you could be infected with one or more STDs, including genital herpes. Some STDs cause symptoms. Others don't. You could have one now and not even know it. Just because you don't know you're infected doesn't mean you're not being affected. Some STDs make you sick today and others cause problems later in life -- serious problems like cancer or infertility. So get your facts straight about GENITAL HERPES.

What is it? Genital herpes is a common infection caused by the herpes simplex virus, usually, HSV-2.3 One in five Americans 12 and older has genital herpes.4

Who gets it? Both men and women.

How you get it: From having sex (vaginal, anal or oral sex) with an infected person.5,6

How will I know if I'm infected? Most people with genital herpes infection (HSV-2) don't know they are infected.7 When symptoms are present, they often include blisters or sores in the genital area. Infected people can also have pain and burning when going to the bathroom. HSV-2 has a relative: HSV-1. Infection with HSV-1 causes cold sores and fever blisters, usually in and around the mouth. HSV-1 can also infect the genital area.

How do you treat genital herpes? Antiviral medications help the symptoms, but can't cure the disease. People who have one painful skin outbreak of genital herpes almost always have other outbreaks. If you have genital herpes -- even if you don't have blisters or sores -- you can spread the infection during sex. And if you have genital herpes and have sex with a person who is infected with HIV, your chances for catching HIV increase.

What can I do to avoid being infected with genital herpes? Abstinence from sexual intercourse is the only certain way to avoid being infected. If you haven't had sex, your chances of getting genital herpes are small. Already had sex? Get checked out -- and next time, get your facts straight.

References:

1 American Social Health Association. Sexually Transmitted Diseases in America: How Many Cases and at What Cost? Menlo Park, CA: Kaiser Family Foundation, 1998. Available at: http://www.kff.org/womenshealth/1445-std_rep.cfm. Accessed 2008 Aug 20.

2 U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Healthy People 2010: Understanding and Improving Health. 2nd ed. Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing Office, November 2000. Available at: http://www.healthypeople.gov/document/html/volume2/25stds.htm#_ednref28. Accessed 2008 Aug 20.

3 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;296(8):964-973.

4 Fleming DT, McQuillan GM, Johnson RE, et al. Herpes simplex virus type II in the United States, 1976-1994. N Eng J Med 1997;337:1105-1111.

5 Corey L, Wald A. Genital herpes. In Holmes, KK, et al., eds. Sexually Transmitted Diseases. 4th ed. New York: McGraw-Hill; 2008:399-437.

6 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.

7 Fleming DT, McQuillan GM, Johnson RE, et al. Herpes simplex virus type II in the United States, 1976-1994. N Eng J Med 1997;337:1105-1111.