For most people, having herpes does not affect their health or quality of life. To prevent passing on cold sores and genital herpes to others, a person can:
avoid kissing others when the virus is active
avoid having vaginal, oral, or anal sex when they have sores around the genitals, mouth, or anus
use condoms when having sex
avoid skin-to-skin contact during an active outbreak
avoid sharing towels, toothbrushes, and lipstick when they have sores around the mouth
wash their hands well after touching a sore
Having multiple sexual partners can increase the risk of
transmitting STIs such as herpes. People can decrease this risk by openly discussing STI status and prevention with any partners and practicing safe sex.
It is possible for a person to pass on herpes even when they are symptom-free.