A sexually transmitted disease caused by the herpes simplex viruses type 2 (HSV-2), which enters your body through small breaks in your skin or mucous membranes. Once the virus enters your body, it travels to the nerve roots near the spinal cord, and settles there. Nationwide, at least 45 million people ages 12 and older have genital herpes. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the herpes simplex virus is present in as many as one in six teens and adults in the United States.

The typical signs of an infection are one or more blisters on or around the genitals or rectum. The first outbreak usually occurs within two weeks after the virus is transmitted. The first time you experience an outbreak the blisters break, leaving sores that may take two to four weeks to heal. You will also experience flu-like symptoms that include fever and swollen glands. After the first outbreak, another can appear weeks or month later but are always almost less severe and last less time. Herpes outbreaks are closely related to the functioning of the immune system. Women and men who have suppressed immune systems, because of stress, infection, or medications, have more frequent and longer-lasting outbreaks.

Genital herpes infections are more common in women than in men. Most people infected with genital herpes, are not aware that they have it. Most women with the virus have few or no symptoms, so therefore are oblivious to it. Many women have "atypical" outbreaks where the only symptom may be mild itching or minimal discomfort. Herpes cannot be treated but the number of outbreaks does decrease after a period of years.

Thanks to new treatments and medications outbreaks can be prevented all together as well as decreasing the chances of spreading the disease.