You can get herpes by having sex with someone who has this virus. People who do not know they have herpes have the most risk in passing it on to someone else. You can pass the herpes through close contact when having vaginal, anal and oral sex and sometimes close skin-to-skin contact. (Oral sex for women is when your partner excites your vagina with the tongue. Oral sex for men is when the partner of the man sucks, licks and kisses the man's penis).

Symptoms:
Show up 1-30 days or longer after having sex.
Many people have no symptoms.
Flu-like feelings.
Small, painful blisters on the sex organs or mouth.
Itching or burning before the blisters appear.
Blisters last 1-3 weeks.
Blisters go away, but you will still have herpes.
Blisters can come back.

Do not have oral genital contact in the presence of any symptoms or findings of oral herpes. Using barriers such as condoms during sexual activity may decrease transmission, but transmission can occur even if condoms are used correctly. Condoms may not cover all infected areas.