Common herpes myths

Herpes is a common infection. There’s a lot of information available on this topic and unfortunately a lot of misinformation—and hence a lot of misconceptions that cause people who know they have it to feel stigmatized.

This section addresses the most common herpes myths (widespread beliefs that are false) and the lack of scientific reasoning behind them.

So, let’s dive in!

Myth 1. HSV-1 means the oral area is affected and HSV-2 means the genital area is affected

This isn’t true. Both HSV-1 and HSV-2 can affect either the oral or genital area.

Commonly, HSV-1 affects the oral area and HSV-2 affects the genital area (that’s where their nicknames came from). However, the following are facts:

HSV-1 causes about 43% of herpes located in the genital area.
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.

Myth 2. Only “certain” people get herpes

This isn’t true. Herpes affects everyone regardless of race, sexual orientation, sexual activity, ethnicity, gender, or socioeconomic status.

It’s a fair statement that the more sexual partners you have, the more likely it is that you’re herpes-positive.

But both of the following are true:

Virgins can have herpes
Even though herpes has the stigma of being a sexually transmitted disease, it can be transmitted in a nonsexual way. People can get it from their friends and family members via touch, kissing, and sharing utensils (this applies especially to HSV-1).
A person who has had only one sexual partner can be herpes-positive
Herpes (HSV-1 and HSV-2 together) affects up to 90% of people and is easily transmitted via skin-to-skin contact. This means that people who are sexually monogamous (conservative, straitlaced—however you want to characterize them) can acquire the herpes infection.

Myth 3. People always know when they have herpes

Absolutely not! Only 20% of herpes-positive persons have ever had any herpes-related symptoms or signs. That’s why most infected people are unaware of their herpes status and continue to pass it to their sexual partner(s) unknowingly.

As mentioned in the Testing section), it’s not a common practice to test people for herpes. People are usually unaware of their herpes status. Testing for herpes is mainly done when a person has some symptoms (to rule out other more serious conditions) or when it’s specifically requested at the time of the testing.

Myth 4. Herpes causes frequent painful outbreaks.

Not true! Though herpes is a lifelong infection, the annual number of outbreaks (if any) gradually decreases (herpes is a regressive condition). And every outbreak tends to be less severe and shorter than the last one.

(Unfortunately, these facts aren’t necessarily true for people with a compromised immune system—those with advanced HIV or other immunosuppressive conditions or who are receiving chemotherapy or other medication that affects the immune system.)

Myth 5. A full (or complete) STD panel include herpes testing

This isn’t true. The majority of clinics do not include herpes testing when you undergo “full” or “complete” STD testing. Moreover, CDC does not recommend getting tested for herpes unless you have herpes symptoms or signs.

Herpes testing is mainly done in these situations:

You’re having a herpes outbreak and need to establish what’s causing it.
You’ve had a herpes-positive partner and want to know your herpes status.
You’ve requested all possible STD tests and specifically asked that HSV-1 and HSV-2 be included.

Myth 6. People with herpes can’t have “normal” kids

This isn’t true. You can be herpes-positive and have “normal,” healthy kids.

However, let’s talk about some facts about herpes and its effect on reproduction:

Effects of herpes on male fertility

Several studies have shown the negative effect of the herpes infection on male fertility. Though herpes does not affect sperm’s quality, it reduces sperm count (the number of reproductive cells in semen) by almost 50% and may affect sperm motility (i.e., its ability to move).

Effects of herpes on female fertility

Herpes does not affect the fertility of females.

Effects of herpes on a fetus

Herpes cannot be transmitted to a fetus (a baby inside the womb) during pregnancy and does not cause any health problems to the unborn child.

Herpes transmission during delivery

Herpes can be passed during childbirth. Your gynecologist should be aware of your herpes-positive status and carefully examine your genital area before you give birth. They may ask you to consider a C-section if you’re having an active outbreak to protect your baby from exposure to herpes.

Myth 7. People with genital herpes can’t get oral sex

This isn’t necessarily true. It depends on where the virus is residing in your body. Both types of the herpes virus can affect either the oral or genital area. Yes, it’s true that type 1 mostly affects the oral area and type 2 mostly affects the genital area, but that’s not necessarily the case.

Myth 8. Passing herpes to family members is inevitable

No! Herpes is an extremely common condition but it’s not easily passed to members of your household because the herpes virus can’t survive for very long outside the body. Here is a short overview of herpes transmission to household members:

When you have symptoms

Nonsexual herpes transmission happens mainly when an infected person has herpes symptoms. The skin with the sores must come into contact with another person’s skin. There is a low risk of passing it via sharing utensils, kissing, or touching.

To protect your family members, the following are recommended:

Wash your hands with soap right after you touch your blisters or sores.
Avoid sharing utensils during outbreaks.

When you have no symptoms

If you’re herpes-positive but you have herpes-related signs and symptoms, the chance of herpes transmission non-sexually is almost zero.

Myth 9. Herpes can’t be transmitted if you use protection

This isn’t true. You can pass herpes even if you use protection.

Condoms reduce the chance that you’ll pass herpes by only 50% (there’s up to a 10% transmission risk using condoms and up to a 20% transmission risk not using condoms) because areas of the skin that aren’t covered by a condom may contain herpes virus and pass it via skin-to-skin contact.

If you have oral herpes, you can transmit it via a kiss or unprotected oral sex.

Myth 10. Herpes can be passed only during an outbreak

Not necessarily! Though the chance of symptomatic transmission is higher than the chance of asymptomatic transmission, you can transmit the infection via direct skin-to-skin contact (20.1% vs. 10.2%). (Even when you’re not having symptoms, the virus still lives in your body.)

Seventy-five percent of herpes transmissions occurs on outbreak-free days because of what’s called silent shedding. Read more about it in the “Odds of getting herpes section.”

Myth 11. HSV-1 is transmitted orally and HSV-2 is transmitted genitally

Not necessarily. To know what part of your body transmits herpes, you need to know where the virus resides in your body (where it’s stored).

For herpes transmission to occur, the area of your skin where the virus resides must come into contact with your partner’s skin.
Transmission usually happens during an outbreak but it can happen between outbreaks too.

Here are a few important things to keep in mind about herpes testing and what it can tell you about the location of herpes in your body:

A blood test cannot identify the location of herpes

A blood test can tell you the type of herpes you have but not the location of the virus inside your body. You can only make assumptions based on the herpes type and general statistics for that type: HSV-1 is mainly in the oral area and HSV-2 is mainly in the genital area.

Example: You may test positive for HSV-2 (so-called genital herpes) through a blood test but have herpes outbreaks exclusively in your oral area. This would mean that you got the “genital” form (HSV-2) in your oral area. Please keep in mind that you could have gotten it from sex (this is more common) or in a nonsexual way.

Only testing of an actual outbreak can determine what part of your body the herpes virus lives in.

If you have an outbreak and have it tested with a swab test (herpes PCR or herpes culture), then you will know the location of the virus, the type of virus causing it, and the way you will pass it to other people. Again, for transmission to occur, that skin area (oral or genital) must come into contact with your partner’s skin. Transmission can occur at the time of the outbreak (this is more common) or at any other time.

Myth 12. If you have herpes, it’s the end of your sex life

No! Even though you can pass the herpes infection through sex, you need to be aware of the following:

Herpes is an extremely widespread infection and a lot of people are herpes-positive (there is a high chance that your partner also has it).
Herpes is not a life-threatening condition.
You can diminish the chance of passing it by doing the following:
- Using protection during sex (this decreases the chance of herpes transmission by 30%–50%)
- Taking antiviral medications (this decreases the chance of herpes transmission by 50%)
- Avoiding having sex during outbreaks (this decreases the chance of herpes transmission by 50%)