The Herpes Virus, though quite common, can be a physically and emotionally painful experience when it involves the genital area. In general, Type I cause cold sores on the mouth and Type II causes genital lesions through oral-genital contact and vaginal or anal intercourse or simply close genital contact. While most genital lesions are of the Type II variety it is possible to get genital herpes from oral sex received from a partner with a cold sore.
Herpes is spread by skin to skin contact with an infected partner.
Transmission from infected mother to newborn is a rare but serious event, most likely when the mother is having her first outbreak during pregnancy. Signs or symptoms of Herpes usually manifest themselves two to twenty days after contact with an infected person. Once symptoms resolve the virus becomes latent or resting but can re-activate causing symptoms again. Each recurrence tends to be less severe than the previous one. The severity, frequency and duration of outbreaks depend on the body's immune system response.