Quick Answer
HSV-1 typically causes oral herpes (cold sores) but increasingly causes genital herpes through oral sex. HSV-2 typically causes genital herpes. Both are incurable, manageable with antivirals, and shed virus even without symptoms.
- HSV-1: ~50% of adults have it; most acquired in childhood
- HSV-2: ~12% of U.S. adults; almost always sexually acquired
- Genital HSV-1 is rising due to oral sex
- Both respond to the same antivirals (acyclovir, valacyclovir)
Context Most Pages Skip
The boundary between HSV-1 and HSV-2 is blurring because oral sex moves HSV-1 to genital sites. Type-specific IgG blood tests distinguish them.
Presentation
HSV-1 causes fewer genital recurrences than HSV-2, so type matters for prognosis.
⚕️ This page is educational and does not replace advice from a licensed clinician. If you may have been exposed to an STI, get tested — most infections are manageable, and many are fully curable.
Sources & Further Reading
- CDC — Sexually Transmitted Infections
- CDC STI Treatment Guidelines
- WHO — Sexually transmitted infections fact sheet
- MedlinePlus — Sexually Transmitted Diseases
Figures reflect CDC surveillance and WHO estimates; they are population statistics, not personal risk predictions.