What causes herpes?
Herpes simplex viruses spread from person to person through close contact.
You can get a herpes simplex virus from touching a herpes sore. Most people,
however, get herpes simplex from an infected person who does not have sores.
How people get herpes around their mouth
A person with HSV-1 (herpes simplex type 1) can pass it to someone else by:
Somebody can get genital herpes after coming into contact with HSV-1 or HSV-2. Most people get genital
herpes from HSV-2, which they get during sex with someone who has already been infected with the virus. If someone has a cold sore and
performs oral sex, this can spread HSV-1 to the genitals and cause herpes
sores on the genitals.
Things that can trigger outbreaks include...
Herpes simplex viruses spread from person to person through close contact.
You can get a herpes simplex virus from touching a herpes sore. Most people,
however, get herpes simplex from an infected person who does not have sores.
How people get herpes around their mouth
A person with HSV-1 (herpes simplex type 1) can pass it to someone else by:
- Kissing.
- Touching the person’s skin, such as pinching a child’s cheek.
- Sharing objects such as silverware, lip balm, or a razor.
Somebody can get genital herpes after coming into contact with HSV-1 or HSV-2. Most people get genital
herpes from HSV-2, which they get during sex with someone who has already been infected with the virus. If someone has a cold sore and
performs oral sex, this can spread HSV-1 to the genitals and cause herpes
sores on the genitals.
Things that can trigger outbreaks include...
- Emotional stress.
- Fatigue.
- Other infections, such as a cold or the flu.
- Physical injury, such as irritation, of the genital area.
- New sex partners.
- Menstration