Embarrassing Illnesses

The following advice can help to prevent the herpes simplex virus (HSV) spreading to others.

Avoid all sexual intercourse

If you have genital herpes, you should avoid having sex, including vaginal, anal, and oral sex, until after any blisters, or ulcers, around your genital area have cleared up. It is best not to have sex if you have symptoms of genital herpes because at this point the condition is very contagious (even from the first tingle, or itch).

Always use a condom

You should always use a condom while you are having any kind of sexual intercourse (vaginal, anal, and oral) even after your symptoms have gone. This is particularly important when having sex with new partners.

However, while using a condom may help to prevent spreading genital herpes, the condom only covers the penis. If the virus is also present on your anus, or the surrounding area, it can still be passed on through sexual contact.

As HSV survives within the nerves of your skin, there is a chance that the virus can be present on your skin, even after you no longer have symptoms. Therefore, there is still a chance that you could pass it on.

Advise your partner to be screened for genital herpes

If you have genital herpes, you should encourage your partner to visit a genito-urinary medicine (GUM) clinic to be tested for the condition, even if they do not have any symptoms of genital herpes. As a first case of genital herpes often develops some time after exposure to the virus, they may be unaware that they are infected.

Avoid sharing towels or flannels with others

Although it is very unlikely that HSV would survive on an object long enough to be passed on, it is sensible to take steps to prevent this. Therefore, you should avoid sharing towels or flannels, to ensure that you do not spread HSV on to others.