the only sure-fire way to avoid getting genital herpes is to abstain from sex or have sex only with someone who is also herpes-free. short of that a latex condom offers some protection if it covers the infected area. remember you can get genital herpes by receiving oral sex (fellatio cunnilingus analingus) from someone with a cold sore on the mouth. likewise you can get oral herpes from someone's genitals by way of oral sex. if you know that a sex partner has genital herpes you can reduce your risk by having sex (vaginal anal or oral intercourse) only when he or she has no symptoms. nevertheless genital herpes can be contagious even when there are no visible symptoms so you should always use a latex barrier such as a condom or a dental dam.
if i don't have genital herpes now how can i avoid it in the future?