Herpes is perhaps the most common sexually transmitted disease in the world today. Genital herpes affects at least 80 million people in America. It is spread through sexual contact when it enters the body through tiny passages in the skin. Herpes is caused by two viruses: HSV-1 and HSV-2.

The virus is most easily spread when a sore is present, but, it can be transmitted at other times as well. The virus is most likely to be spread from the time these first symptoms are noticed until the area is completely healed and the skin looks normal again. You are most contagious when the sores are open, moist, or leaking fluid until the scabs heal and fall off.

Herpes can also be spread from one place on your body to another, such as from your genitals to your fingers, then to your eyes or to other parts of your body. It can also be spread from a mother to her baby when she gives birth if the baby passes through an infected birth canal.

In a sexual relationship with a person who is infected with the virus, the risk of contracting the infection will never be zero. Some couples have sexual relationships for years without transmitting the HSV virus just by avoiding sexual contact when signs or symptoms are present. Genital herpes is more common among 39% of women; with about 19% of men also suffer from infection.

HSV may play a role in the spread of HIV, the virus that causes AIDS. Because it can cause sores on the penis or inside the vagina, it also increases the risk of transmission of HIV, the virus that causes AIDS. Herpes can make people more susceptible to HIV infection, and it can make HIV-infected individuals more infectious.

It is a fact that 90% of those infected don't even know that they have it so it is not a severe condition in the vast majority of those who have it. Genital herpes is caused by the HSV which is from the same family of viruses that cause cold sores.

An increasing proportion of genital herpes outbreaks are due to herpes simplex Type 1 (cold sores) that can be transmitted via oral sex. Herpes is perhaps the most common sexually transmitted disease in America today. The condition is more common amongst women with about 39% of women and only 19% of men also suffer from infection.

Genital herpes is normally, but not always, transmitted by sexual contact. Genital herpes and cold sores are both very infectious when an infected person has visible blisters or sores. Cold sores are herpes too, and many cases of genital herpes are actually the type 1 herpes simplex virus instead of type 2 virus.