What causes genital herpes?

A virus: Genital herpes is a sexually transmitted disease. It can occur when you have unprotected sex with a partner that has herpes and is actively shedding the virus. The tricky part is that people can shed virus without having any symptoms. Condoms help prevent the transmission.

Virus: Caused by herpes virus and spread by skin-to-skin contact.

An STD caused by HSV: Genital herpes is only acquired from sexual contact. There are two viruses, herpes simplex virus types 1 and 2 (HSV1, HSV2). Each causes about half of all new genital herpes infections. HSV1 almost always is acquired by oral sex, HSV2 almost always by intercourse. Other important differences are HSV2 usually causes more frequent outbreaks and more often transmitted sexually to partners