What Is It? Genital herpes is a sexually transmitted infection
that can cause blisters and skin ulcers in the genital and anal
area. It can be caused by either of two types of herpes simplex
virus, HSV-1 or HSV-2. HSV-2 is the more common cause. HSV-1
more commonly causes sores on the face and mouth. HSV spreads
from person to person through kissing and skin-to-skin contact,
as well as through vaginal, oral or anal intercourse. An
infected person often transmits the virus when skin blisters or
ulcers are visible, but the virus also can be spread when there
are no symptoms or skin sores at all. Herpes virus can be
transmitted by people who don't know they are infected. In a
pregnant woman with HSV infection (usually HSV-2), the virus can
pass to the baby during delivery, causing infections of the
newborn's skin, mouth, lungs or eyes. If the herpes virus
spreads through the baby's bloodstream, it can cause serious
infections of the brain and other vital organs. Many people with
genital herpes infection have no