The most common way in which genital herpes
transmission takes place is by having sex with
someone who is having a herpes outbreak. This
outbreak means that HSV is active. When
active, the virus usually causes visible sores in
the genital area. The sores shed viruses that can
infect another person.
In some cases genital herpes transmission
takes place when a person has an outbreak and has no
visible sores at all. There are times when the
herpes virus can be rendered active and run the risk
of genital herpes transmission; this particular
phase is called a symptomatic shedding. A person
with herpes does not have to have an actual outbreak
to actually promote genital herpes transmission.
People often get genital herpes by having sexual
contact with others who don't know they are infected
or who are having outbreaks of herpes without any
sores.
A person with genital herpes also can infect a
sexual partner during oral sex. There are those who
believe that genital herpes transmission can take
place by touching objects such as a toilet seat or
hot tubs. Genital herpes transmission rarely
if ever at all takes place in these ways.
Of course one must never discount the possibility of
genital herpes transmission taking place by toilet
seats, towels or hot tubs since the virus is known
to thrive off the human host for short periods of
time in warm moist environments. However, as noted
above, genital herpes transmissions rarely if
ever at all takes place via these mediums.
