How can contracting Herpes be prevented?

These steps can help to reduce the risk of infection and transmission:

Tell Your Partner. It is important to understand what herpes is and how it can be prevented. You and your partner will need to discuss which precautions are best and the social and emotional impacts of herpes.

Avoid sex during outbreaks as herpes is most contagious during this time. Many couples have had sexual relations for years without transmitting herpes. Some simply avoid having sexual contact when signs or symptoms are present, while others use condoms or other protection between outbreaks to help protect against asymptomatic shedding. Dynamiclear can be used to dry up and heal the outbreak, quickly and effectively, and to reduce any further episodes.

Avoid all contact with infected areas. Because of the highly contagious nature of this virus avoid any contact with an active herpes site, even if the blister is elsewhere on the body and not directly at a sexual organ. The fingers, eyes and other body areas can be accidentally infected by touching the sores. Preventing self-infection is simple. Do not touch the area during an outbreak, and if you do, wash your hands immediately.

Limit the number of sexual partners. By having sex with a non-infected partner who has sex only with you (mutual monogamy).

Use Latex Condoms between Outbreaks. Condoms offer useful protection against herpes protecting or covering the mucous membranes, the most likely sites of infection. The facts on condoms and foams:
- The herpes virus does not pass through latex condoms and, when properly used, latex condoms are likely to reduce your risk of spreading or getting herpes
- Even the best condoms do not guarantee total safety.
- When herpes sores occur in places not covered by a condom the condom is of little help in preventing transmission, if any.
- Condoms and foams should not be relied upon when herpes sores or symptoms are present.
- Spermicidal foams and jellies may offer additional protection. Spermicides used in contraceptive foams, film and gels kill or neutralize HSV in laboratory tests and may provide some protection when used in the vagina (recommended dose the same as for contraception).
- Some contraceptive foams contain ingredients (such as nonoxynol-9) that kill the herpes virus and other STDs in test tubes.
- Foams are best used along with condoms, not in place of condoms.
- Condoms do not provide 100 percent protection because a lesion may be found which the condom did not cover. Used consistently, however, condoms are the best available form of prevention aside from abstinence.

Women with any sexually transmitted disease (STD) may be at greater risk of developing cervical cancer than other women. All women should have regular Pap Tests at least once a year, as early cell changes can be detected by Pap Smears. Visit a local sexually transmitted disease (STD) clinic, hospital, doctor or health professional.