During a primary first outbreak, it is possible to pass the virus to another area of that person’s own body, by touching the sores and then touching another part of their body (e.g., rubbing a blister on their mouth and then touching their genitals).

Sharing sex toys without changing condoms or washing toys may also pass the virus. It also is possible to pass herpes if one person touches the part of their body that has herpes and then immediately touches another person’s mouth or genitals. Herpes is passed from person-to-person by direct skin-to-skin contact with a person who has the virus (e.g., through kissing or sexual activity, including oral sex), even without visible herpes sores. As a result, many people may not be aware that they have the virus. While herpes is very common, it also carries a lot of stigma that can lead to anxiety, fear and misinformation about herpes.įor many people, herpes is a minor skin condition that comes and goes without causing problems.

Most Canadians will have at least one type of HSV in their lifetime. Genital herpes is a sexually transmitted infection caused by one of the two types of the herpes simplex virus (HSV): herpes simplex 1 (HSV-1) and herpes simplex 2 (HSV-2).