Herpes Simplex Virus type 2 is the usual cause of genital herpes. However, it also can infect the mouth during oral sex. A person who has genital herpes can pass or transmit the virus to an uninfected person during sex. Sometimes, sores also appear on other parts of the body where the virus has entered through broken skin. HSV remains in certain nerve cells of the body for life, and can produce symptoms off and on in some infected people.
Most people get genital herpes by having sex with someone who is has cold sores or blisters present.
When the sores are present, it means that HSV is active. Sometimes a person can have an outbreak and have no visible sores at all. A person with genital herpes also can infect a sexual partner during oral sex. The virus is usually not spread by touching objects such as a toilet seat or hot tub. Most people who have genital herpes don t know it because they never have any symptoms, or they do not recognize any symptoms they might have.