P R O T E C T Y O U R S E L F + P R O T E C T Y O U R P A R T N E R
genital herpes
THE FACTS
• Genital herpes (JEN i tell / HER pees) is a
sexually transmitted virus.
• Genital herpes is common in both men and
women in the U.S.
• Most people who have genital herpes don’t
know it. There are often no symptoms.
• If you have symptoms, the most common ones
are painful blisters and sores.
• You can pass genital herpes to others without
knowing it.
• There is no cure for genital herpes, but there are
treatments for the symptoms.
• Genital herpes does not usually cause serious
health problems.
P R O T E C T Y O U R S E L F + P R O T E C T Y O U R P A R T N E R
HOW CAN I LOWER MY RISK FOR GENITAL HERPES?
• The surest way to prevent genital herpes is not to have sex or
to have sex only with someone who’s not infected and who
has sex only with you.
• Condoms can reduce your risk of getting genital herpes if
used the right way every single time you have sex.
But a condom protects only the area of the body
that it covers. Areas the condom doesn’t cover can become
infected.
• Washing the genitals, urinating, or douching after sex will not
prevent any sexually transmitted disease (STD).
HOW CAN I FIND OUT IF I HAVE GENITAL HERPES?
Ask a doctor. Blood tests may help determine if you have
genital herpes.
WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF
GENITAL HERPES?
Genital herpes often doesn’t cause any symptoms. If you do have
symptoms, you might notice:
• Painful blisters or sores on or around the genitals or anus.
These sores typically heal within two to four weeks.
• Feeling like you have the flu when the sores are present.
• Sores that come back several times within a year. The presence
of the sores is called an outbreak.
There are two types of genital herpes virus—HSV1 and HSV2.
Both types can cause sores or blisters on or around the genitals.
HSV1 can also cause sores on the mouth or lips, which are called
fever blisters.
HOW DOES SOMEONE GET GENITAL HERPES?
• You can get genital herpes by having sex with someone who
has it. “Having sex” means having anal, oral, or vaginal sex.
• You can also get genital herpes if your genitals touch the
infected skin or secretions (like saliva through oral sex) of
someone who has it.
• You can get genital herpes even if your partner shows no
signs of the infection.
WHAT CAN I EXPECT TO HAPPEN IF I HAVE GENITAL HERPES?
MEN AND WOMEN PREGNANT WOMEN
• You can expect to have several outbreaks • In rare cases, you could pass the
(usually four or five) a year. Over time you infection to your baby.
can expect to have fewer outbreaks.
• If you have active genital herpes when
• You have a higher chance of getting an HIV you go into labor, the doctor may do a
infection if you have unprotected sex with a cesarean delivery (“C-section”).
partner living with HIV.
• Be sure to tell your doctor if you or
• Knowing that you have genital herpes may your partner has genital herpes.
make you feel worried or sad. Talk with a
doctor about your concerns.
WHEN SHOULD I BE TESTED?
You should be tested for genital herpes if:
• Your partner has genital herpes or symptoms that might be
genital herpes.
IF I HAVE GENITAL HERPES, WHAT DOES THAT MEAN
FOR MY PARTNER?
• Your partner may have genital herpes, too.
• Be sure to tell your recent sex partners, so they can go to their
doctors to be evaluated and maybe treated.
• Avoid having sex with an uninfected partner when you have
visible sores or other symptoms.
• Be aware that even if you don’t have symptoms, you can still
infect your partner.
CAN GENITAL HERPES BE TREATED?
• There is no cure for genital herpes, but there are treatments
for its symptoms.
• Some medicines can prevent the blisters or make them go
away faster.
• If you have several outbreaks in a year, a treatment called daily
suppressive therapy can reduce your chance of passing the
infection to your sex partners.
A MESSAGE FOR EVERYONE
PROTECT YOURSELF AND YOUR PARTNER.
Always see a doctor if your partner is being treated for
genital herpes. Also see the doctor if you or your sex
partner notice any symptoms, such as an unusual sore.
If you have genital herpes, you should be tested for other
STDs. Be sure to tell your recent sex partners, so they can
get tested too. Talk openly and honestly with your partner
about genital herpes and other STDs.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
• Talk to your doctor.
• Call 1-800-CDC-INFO.
• Visit www.cdc.gov/std/herpes.
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