How is herpes prevented?

                                                 How is herpes prevented?

Genital herpes is contracted by having vaginal, anal, or oral sex with a person who has the virus. Using condoms helps reduce the risk of transmitting or contracting herpes.

 

How to avoid herpes

Genital herpes is spread by skin-to-skin contact when you have vaginal, anal, or oral sex with someone who is infected. So the best way to avoid herpes and other STDs is to not have any contact with someone else's genitals or mouth.

However, most people have sex at some point in their lives, so knowing how to have safer sex is important. The use of protection, such as condoms and latex barriers, when having sex reduces the risk of contracting a sexually transmitted disease.

Herpes can live in areas of the body that condoms don't protect (such as the scrotum, buttocks, upper thighs, and labia), so the condom won't always protect you against herpes. However, it reduces the chances of getting herpes.

If you have a herpes outbreak, do not have sex with anyone, as this is the time when it is most easily transmitted. However, herpes is usually transmitted when there are no sores or symptoms, so it is important to use condoms and latex barriers, even if you look and feel fine.

How do I make sure I don't pass herpes on to anyone?

If you find out you have herpes, try not to panic. There are ways to avoid infecting your partners and spreading it to other parts of the body.

Always use condoms and latex barriers when you have oral, anal, or vaginal sex.

Talk to your doctor about taking antiherpetic medications every day, which can reduce the chances of spreading the infection.

Don't have sex during a herpes outbreak, or by using a condom. There may be sores in places that the condom does not cover.

Learn to recognize the beginning of an outbreak and stop having sex when you notice these signs. You may feel a burning, itching, or tingling that warns you that sores are about to come out.

Do not have sex until the sores are completely gone and the scabs have healed and fallen off.

Do not touch the sores, as you could spread the infection to other parts of the body or to other people. If you touch a sore, wash your hands with soap and water right away.

Do not wet your contact lenses with saliva, as this can spread oral herpes to the eyes.

If you have a sore in your mouth, don't kiss anyone, especially babies, children, and pregnant women.

 

Always inform your sexual partners that you have herpes before having sex, so that you can tackle the prevention of infection together. Telling someone you have an STD is difficult, but herpes is very common and does not lead to serious health problems. So try not to be ashamed or overly stressed about it.

People with herpes are twice as likely to get HIV as people who do not have it. People who have herpes and HIV are much more likely to pass HIV to their partners. So it is very important to use a condom to protect yourself and your partner.