This website is for participants enrolled in theTH HSV REC-003 Research Study

There are two types of herpes simplex virus (HSV). Type 1 more commonly causes oral herpes (also called cold sores), while type 2 is more associated with genital herpes. Each virus type can cause both conditions. Whether you get oral or genital herpes depends not just on the type of virus, but also on where the virus settles inside your body.

Many people have HSV in their bodies, and the virus can stay in the body for months or years before causing an outbreak. There is no easy way to know when, how, or from whom you got it. People may get infected but never experience any signs or symptoms and remain asymptomatic carriers.

The risk of transmitting the virus is greatest during an outbreak, so you should avoid sex and intimate contact as soon as you see or feel symptoms of an outbreak.

HSV can be transmitted even when you don't have symptoms, so it is important that you talk about it with your partner. Using condoms and taking antiviral medications can help lower the risk of transmission, but will not eliminate it completely.

Other conditions can cause symptoms similar to genital herpes, such as yeast infections, chlamydia (a sexually transmitted bacterial infection), and psoriasis (an autoimmune condition that affects the skin). A health care provider can diagnose herpes by asking about your symptoms, examining your lesions, collecting a sample of cells for laboratory testing, and testing your blood for herpes virus antibodies.

Even though millions of people worldwide have genital herpes, it can be a distressing diagnosis and difficult to talk about. But it is important to talk about it with your intimate partners. Genital herpes is simply a health issue—it says nothing about you as a person. Try practicing what you want to say out loud or with a trusted friend or loved one so you’re ready when the time feels right to bring it up.

Most women with herpes have a normal vaginal delivery. If you have genital herpes and become pregnant or are planning a pregnancy, it is important to let your health care provider know.

It is normal to take antiviral medications the first time you have an outbreak. Antivirals can shorten the length of the outbreak and decrease the severity of symptoms. Later outbreaks may not be as severe, and you can choose whether or not to treat them. It is best to start antiviral medication after the first symptoms arise, so having the medication handy helps you to be prepared.