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      Genital Herpes Home

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      Genital Herpes Guide

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      • Genital Herpes
      • Guide

      Overview & Facts

      About one in five U.S. adults and teens have had a genital herpes infection -- and most don’t know it. Learn about the herpes simplex virus and how to lower your risk.

        1. Genital Herpes Basics

          Genital herpes is an infection of the genitals, buttocks, or anal area caused by herpes simplex virus (HSV). Most genital herpes is caused by HSV type 2. Yet as people begin to have sex at younger ages the herpes type 1 virus has increasingly been shown to also cause genital herpes.

        1. Genital Herpes Causes

          Genital herpes is a highly contagious infection usually spread through intercourse, but it can be passed through oral or anal sex as well. Learn about it in this sexual health article.

        1. Are You at Risk?

          Lots of things can increase your risk of getting genital herpes, including stress, fatigue, and being a woman. Read more.

        2. Slideshow: What Herpes Looks Like

          See symptoms of herpes, genital warts, the clap, Chlamydia, scabies, HIV/AIDS, and other STDs, and get the facts on each.

        3. Genital Herpes Myths and Facts

          Take this WebMD quiz and find out if you know the facts about genital herpes.

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