Genital Herpes

Genital herpes is a contagious sexually transmitted infection (STI) that causes you to develop painful blisters (or sores) on your genitals. The sores can affect your:

• Vulva (external genitals including your vaginal lips).
• Vagina.
• Cervix.
• Penis.
• Testicles.
• Anus (butthole).
• Rectum.
• Buttocks.
• Groin or inner thigh area.

The herpes simplex virus (HSV) causes genital herpes. There are two types of HSV: HSV-1 and HSV-2. Both types can give you genital herpes, although HSV-2 causes it much more frequently.

Genital herpes mainly spreads through vaginal, oral and anal sex. But you can also get genital herpes from someone with oral herpes. Oral herpes can spread from the mouth to the genitals and become genital herpes.

There’s no cure for genital herpes. Once you have the virus in your body, it stays in your body for the rest of your life. Taking medication can help your symptoms and lower the risk of spreading the infection. Using a condom, taking medication and avoiding sexual intercourse when you have a genital herpes outbreak can prevent you from giving it to your partner.

How many people have genital herpes?

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) estimates that up to 50 million people in the U.S. have genital herpes. Estimates show almost 600,000 people are newly infected each year in the U.S.

Globally, about 491 million people between ages 15 and 49 have HSV-2, the most common cause of genital herpes.