This means that people who are sexually monogamous (conservative, straitlaced-however you want to characterize them) can acquire the herpes infection. Herpes (HSV-1 and HSV-2 together) affects up to 90% of people and is easily transmitted via skin-to-skin contact. People can get it from their friends and family members via touch, kissing, and sharing utensils (this applies especially to HSV-1).Ī person who has had only one sexual partner can be herpes-positive
It’s a fair statement that the more sexual partners you have, the more likely it is that you’re herpes-positive.Įven though herpes has the stigma of being a sexually transmitted disease, it can be transmitted in a nonsexual way. Herpes affects everyone regardless of race, sexual orientation, sexual activity, ethnicity, gender, or socioeconomic status. HSV-2 rarely affects the oral area but it is possible to transmit HSV-2 from the genital area to the oral area via oral-to-genital sex.HSV-1 causes about 43% of herpes located in the genital area.
Both HSV-1 and HSV-2 can affect either the oral or genital area.Ĭommonly, HSV-1 affects the oral area and HSV-2 affects the genital area (that’s where their nicknames came from).
HSV-1 means the oral area is affected and HSV-2 means the genital area is affected
