Sexual conditions health centre

Genital herpes basics

Genital herpes is a disease caused by the herpes simplex virus (HSV), of which there are two types. In most cases genital herpes is caused by the type 1 herpes virus (HSV-1). Type 1 (HSV-1) also usually causes oral herpes, an infection of the lips and mouth. Symptoms are commonly known as cold sores. It is now clear that HSV-2 can also be responsible for cold sores.

Genital herpes

HSV lives in the nerves. When it's active, it travels to the surface of the infected area ( skin or mucous membrane) and makes copies of itself. This is called "shedding" because these new virus cells can, at this time, rub off onto another person. Then the virus travels back down the nerve to a ganglion (mass of nerve tissue), usually at the base of the spine, where it lies dormant for a while.

Who gets genital herpes?

About 10% of all people in the UK have genital herpes, but an estimated 75% of people don’t know they have it. By comparison, experts estimate 70% of adults have cold sores.

More women than men are infected. One reason may be that the virus can infect a woman's genitals more easily than it can a man's. The more sex partners people have, the more common it is, too.

How is herpes (oral or genital) spread?

HSV-1 is usually passed from person to person by kissing. HSV-1 can also spread from the mouth to the genitals during oral sex (fellatio, cunnilingus, analingus). If this happens, it becomes a case of genital herpes.

HSV-2 is most often passed by vaginal sex and anal sex. But just as HSV-1 can infect the genitals and cause genital herpes, HSV-2 can pass from one person's genitals to another person's mouth, resulting in oral herpes.

HSV-2 cannot survive long on a non-living surface, so there is no real risk of getting it from a toilet seat for example.

How can genital herpes be prevented?

Using a latex barrier (a condom) during sex can protect you or your partner, but only if it covers the area where the virus is shedding. You should avoid having sex if you or your partner has visible sores on the genitals, and you shouldn't receive oral sex from someone who has a sore on his or her mouth.

It's important to know that HSV can be contagious even when no sores are visible.