Is It Safe to Have Sex With Someone Who Has Herpes?

There will always be a risk for infection when having sexual relations with a partner who is positive for the Herpes virus but it is reasonably possible to have a fulfilling sexual relationship if you or your partner has Herpes. Precaution should always be taken to avoid Vaginal, Anal and Oral sex when an outbreak is active and sores are present. Always use a condom for Vaginal and Anal penetration as well as fellatio. Dental damns can be used to help lower the risk of infection when performing cunnilingus or analingus. Use water based lubricants to diminish friction of the genital areas and thus lower the risk of infection because of skin irritation. While these methods do not provide a guarantee to prevent infection they do significantly lower the risk. Other sexual activities can be practiced that incur a much lower risk of infection, such as mutual masturbation. Antiviral treatments can also help to lower the risk of infection when practicing safe sex with a person infected with herpes.

Note: This article is not medical advice. Please consult your doctor for your specific condition.