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Prevention
By Mayo Clinic staffThe suggestions for preventing genital herpes are the same as those for preventing other sexually transmitted diseases. The key is to avoid being infected with HSV, which is highly contagious while lesions are present. The best way to prevent infection is to abstain from sexual activity or to limit sexual contact to only one person who is infection-free. Short of that, you can:
- Use, or have your partner use, a latex condom during each sexual contact
- Limit the number of sex partners
- Avoid intercourse if either partner has an outbreak of herpes in the genital area or anywhere else
Open communication with your partner or potential partner is important.
If you're pregnant, be sure to tell your doctor that you have HSV or, if you're unsure, ask to be tested for HSV. Watch for signs and symptoms of HSV during pregnancy. Your doctor may recommend that you start taking herpes antiviral medications late in pregnancy to try to prevent an outbreak from occurring around the time of delivery. If you're having an outbreak when you go into labor, your doctor will probably suggest a cesarean section to reduce the risk of passing the virus to your baby.
- Goade D. Genital herpes. In: Cohen J, et al. Infectious Diseases. 2nd ed. New York, N.Y.: Mosby; 2004. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/130330290-4/0/1209/247.html?tocnode=49353813&fromURL=247.html#4-u1.0-B0-323-02407-6..50078-7_2618. Accessed April 7, 2009.
- Gupta R, et al. Genital herpes. Lancet. 2007;370:2127.
- Albrecht MA. Epidemiology, clinical manifestations, and diagnosis of genital herpes simplex virus infection. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed April 7, 2009.
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, et al. Sexually transmitted diseases treatment guidelines, 2006. MMWR Recommendations and Reports. 2006;55:1. http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/rr5511a1.htm. Accessed April 8, 2009.
- Xu F, et al. Trends in herpes simplex virus type 1 and type 2 seroprevalence in the United States. Journal of the American Medical Association. 2006;296:964.
- Wald A. Prevention of genital herpes virus infections. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed April 7, 2009.
- Genital herpes. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. http://www.acog.org/publications/patient_education/bp054.cfm. Accessed April 6, 2009.
