5 Things You Need to Know About Spreading Herpes

1. Virus Causes Blisters

Herpes, or herpes simplex as it's known in the medical field, is a virus. Herpes simplex is the same virus that causes genital herpes and mouth sores. When mouth sores appear on the lips, they are often called fever blisters. When they are inside your mouth, they are usually called cold sores or ulcers.

2. Not Always an STD

Genital herpes is not always a sexually transmitted disease. You may spread herpes to your own genitals when you have a cold sore. Cold sores and genital herpes are both herpes simplex. You may have a cold sore or fever blister, touch it, and spread the virus on your fingertips to your genital area. You may also spread herpes to your eyes by way of your fingertips. That's why it's important to wash your hands thoroughly after you touch a cold sore or fever blister.

3. Herpes Is Easy to Spread

Spreading herpes is not hard to do, unfortunately. Many people think that oral sex is always safe. Kissing someone who has a cold sore and then kissing the genital area of that person not only turns oral herpes into genital herpes on that person, but you get herpes yourself. Herpes is highly contagious and has no cure. Once you are infected with herpes simplex, you have the virus for life.

4. Virus Is Especially Contagious Before and During Outbreak

The most likely time to spread herpes from one person to another (or to various parts of your own body) is when the sores or ulcers are visible. Herpes forms painful blisters, sores and ulcers during an outbreak. The infection is most contagious when the blisters break open and form ulcers or raw places on the skin. Special care must be taken during this time. Avoid sexual activity with others and pay careful attention not to touch your own sores. Another time when spreading herpes is particularly easy is just before an outbreak. You may feel extra tired, have a headache and feel achy all over your body just before an outbreak of herpes, especially genital herpes. The skin where you may have had sores during previous outbreaks gets painful before the sores actually appear. During this time, you are especially contagious.

5. Condoms Give False Security

Condoms are not foolproof in preventing the spread of genital herpes. A condom may not cover all of the infected area. Condoms may also break and come apart, exposing infected skin. Herpes is often spread even before there are any symptoms so caution is vitally important. Use good judgment concerning sexual activity.