A sexually transmitted disease is a disease that you get by having sex with someone who already has the disease. Once you are infected, the virus stays in your body for life. You can give herpes to another person if you have sex when your herpes virus is active. HSV remains in certain nerve cells of the body forever, and can produce symptoms off and on in some infected people.
Herpes is spread through direct contact.
Herpes won't just show up on its own somewhere else on the body. Because herpes is spread through direct contact, it is important to avoid contact with infected areas. If a herpes infection is not localized, further complications may occur. For instance, a Herpes infection in the eyes can lead to severe complications, including blindness. Herpes is equally common in males and females.