Herpes and Sex Life

Having genital herpes does not have to mean an end to your sex life. Here are some things you may wish to think about before getting involved in a sexual relationship.

The herpes simplex virus (HSV) is most often transmitted from one person to another through sexual contact. However, genital herpes can be spread to someone without sexual penetration.

Direct contact is necessary for transmission of genital herpes. If a person has genital herpes they can easily pass the virus to an uninfected person in an environment that contains heat and moisture—such as sexual contact. Genital herpes can be spread in a variety of ways including vaginal, oral, and anal sex. But the genital herpes virus can also be present on the skin surrounding the genital area, and skin-to-skin contact in this area can also spread the virus. Rarely is the virus spread without direct sexual contact; to learn more about this and some myths about herpes transmission, see the myths and misperceptions section.

Physical symptoms do not have to be present to spread genital herpes to another person. Some people are unaware that they have genital herpes because their symptoms are so mild (eg, bump or rash), and they unknowingly spread the virus to others. You can also be contagious and spread the herpes virus, but not have any signs or symptoms at all. This is called asymptomatic viral shedding. It's important to know that transmission of the herpes virus can occur in heterosexual and homosexual relationships (both men and women).

Whether you are a man or a woman who has genital herpes, it's important to learn what to do during outbreaks, as well as between outbreaks, to help protect your partner from getting genital herpes.