Genital Herpes

Genital herpes is a common sexually transmitted infection (STI) caused by the herpes simplex virus (HSV). Genital herpes is very common and affects as much as 30% of the population globally. Genital herpes is highly contagious, even when no symptoms are present. The virus is spread through direct skin-to-skin contact, typically during sexual activity, including vaginal, anal, or oral sex.

Genital herpes is a lifelong disease which can cause painful blisters on the genitals and surrounding areas during an outbreak. Although there is no cure for genital herpes the symptoms can be effectively controlled using antiviral medications. These can help reduce the severity and frequency of outbreaks, and may also reduce the risk of spreading the virus to others.