How To Prevent Herpes

If you are sexually active, it's important to know how to prevent herpes. This sexually transmitted disease, caused by oral or genital contact with someone who has the herpes simplex 2 virus, is not curable. About one in five adults has genital herpes, but many do not know they have the virus because they do not have symptoms. In order to avoid getting the disease, you must practice safe sex, even if your partner does not have herpes sores. Follow these tips to prevent herpes:

1. The best way to prevent herpes is to abstain from sexual contact. If you are not abstinent, you can prevent herpes by remaining in a long-term, mutually monogamous relationship with a committed partner.
2. Herpes is most easily spread through genital-genital or oral-genital contact during an outbreak of herpes sores. To prevent herpes, avoid sexual contact with a partner who is having a herpes outbreak.
3. Using a latex condom may help prevent herpes. However, since herpes sores can occur in areas not covered by a condom, using a condom does not guarantee that you will prevent contracting the virus that causes herpes. However, using a condom correctly every time you have sexual contact can reduce the risk for getting herpes.
4. Make sure you and your sexual partners have all tested negative for the herpes virus. Even if a person does not show herpes symptoms, he or she could still be a carrier of the virus. If your sexual partner has herpes, and is having an outbreak of herpes sores when you have sexual contact, your risk for contracting herpes is increased.