Herpes simplex virus (HSV) is a virus that causes herpes, a common sexually transmitted disease (STD) . There are two types of herpes simplex virus: HSV-1 and HSV-2.
-
HSV-1: This type of herpes simplex virus is responsible for causing oral herpes, which can result in cold sores or fever blisters on or around the mouth. It can also cause genital herpes, but most cases of genital herpes are caused by HSV-2. HSV-1 is mainly transmitted via contact with the virus in sores, saliva, or surfaces in or around the mouth. Less commonly, HSV-1 can be transmitted to the genital area through oral-genital contact to cause genital herpes. It can be transmitted from oral or skin surfaces that appear normal; however, the greatest risk of transmission is when there are active sores.
-
HSV-2: This type of herpes simplex virus is mainly transmitted during sex through contact with genital or anal surfaces, skin, sores, or fluids of someone infected with the virus. Genital herpes caused by HSV-2 affects an estimated 491 million (13%) people aged 15–49 years worldwide (2016 data) . HSV-2 infects women almost twice as often as men because sexual transmission is more efficient from men to women. Prevalence increases with age, though the highest number of new infections are in adolescents. HSV-2 can be transmitted even if the skin looks normal and is often transmitted in the absence of symptoms.
Both types of herpes simplex virus can be transmitted through intimate person-to-person contact, including kissing, oral sex, vaginal, anal, or oral sex with someone who has the virus. A mother infected with a herpes virus can transmit the virus to her baby during birth if the virus is active at that time.
It is important to note that herpes simplex virus infections are lifelong conditions, and there is no cure for herpes. However, treatment for herpes infections can lessen the frequency or intensity of outbreaks[[4]](https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/22855-herpes-simp...
