What Causes Genital Herpes Infection?

Posted on Tue, 14 Apr 2015

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Tue, 14 Apr 2015 Answered on

Tue, 5 May 2015 Last reviewed on

Question : yes, I was just diagnosed with genital herpes after 15 years of marriage....my husband is now deceased and I have had 3 flare ups.....is there no way of entering into a relationship and not pass this on. I never cheated on my spouse. nor payed attention to his cold sores. while I am not in a relationship, I dread the idea of even having to expose someone else or bring it up.

Answered by Dr. Pavan Kumar Gupta (-5 hours later)

Brief answer..chances of passing it on can be lowered by using condoms but cannot be stopped completely
Detailed answer...
Hello,
Thanks for the query.
I have read your query and understand your concern.
I would like to detail few things to you...
Herpes cannot be cured completely.
There is no way by which it's spread to your partner can be prevented.
Chances of transmission can be lowered by using condoms but fact is that majority of cases occur due to intimate ( though not always sexual ) contact.
Even if you don't have sores, you can still pass on the virus to your partner by shedding of virus particles from the skin of an infected person and contact with the mucous membranes of other person ( asymptomatic transmission ).
In nutshell, maximum you can do is to avoid intimate contact if you are having active lesions and use condom when you are totally healed.
I hope it helps,however you may revert to me for any further query.
Best of luck
Thanks

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Shanthi.E