Genital Herpes

Genital herpes is an infection caused by the herpes simplex virus (HSV). There are two types of HSV, and both can cause the symptoms of genital herpes. HSV type 1 most commonly causes sores on the lips (fever blisters or cold sores), but it can cause genital infections as well. HSV type 2 most often causes genital sores, but it can also infect the mouth. However, many people who are infected with HSV never have symptoms.

Genital herpes is a sexually transmitted disease (STD). This means that it is a disease that you get by having sex with someone who already has the virus. Once you are infected, the virus stays in your body for life. You may or may not have a first episode or "outbreak" of herpes with symptoms. But if you do have a first outbreak, you will probably have further outbreaks from time to time. You can give herpes to another person if you have sex when your herpes virus is active.

If you have herpes, you are also more likely to get HIV (the AIDS virus) if exposed to it. An estimated 45 million Americans have genital herpes, and there are up to one million new cases each year.