Herpes (pronounced: her-peez), also called genital herpes, is caused by the herpes simplex virus (HSV). There are two strains of the herpes virus called HSV-1 and HSV-2.  HSV-2 is passed to other people through sexual intercourse or intimate touching.  The HSV-1 virus can be passed via kissing or oral sex.

HSV-1 is the virus that causes cold sores and "fever blisters" that you sometimes get around your mouth. Although not as severe as HSV-2, it is still highly contagious and can be passed to other people by kissing, oral sex, or sharing items that have come in contact with the infected person's blisters such as towels, makeup, and other items.

HSV-2 is the more serious of the two viruses.  It is a sexually transmitted disease (STD) which causes herpes blisters to appear in the genital area. It is only transmitted by intimate sexual contact including vaginal, oral, and anal sex, and intimate touching or masterbating your partner. Wearing a condom is not guaranteed protection for contracting herpes because the sores or blisters can be anywhere in the genital area and not necessarily on the penis, or inside of the vagina. This means that you risk touching the infected area with your hands or other parts of your body.

If you are a female and you begin noticing itching and/or pain near, or inside of your vagina, and then you start experiencing sores or blisters within a few hours or a few days later, there is a good chance that you have become infected with HSV-2.

If you are a male and you begin to notice a pain in your testicles, and then you start to develop sores that appear anywhere in your genital area including your penis, scrotum, between your thighs, or on your anus or buttocks, then there is a good chance that you have become infected with HSV-2.

Most males and females begin to experience the symptoms within two to twenty days after contact with the infected person, but these times may vary so don't blow it off if you begin to get the symptoms sooner or later than the time period in this article.  If you have the sores, then you probably have herpes, no matter what time frame they developed in.

The oozing, bleeding, itchy, pussy, runny sores will dry up on their own after a few days to a few weeks.  So, when that happens, you're "cured" right?  Nope. You see, the herpes virus remains inside your body but goes dormant (falls asleep) for a while but it will reactivate itself whenever it wants to and all of the symptoms will appear again.
 
Most people experience three to five outbreaks of herpes each year.  Some will experience more, some less.
 
If you have genital herpes then you are at greater risk for developing the HIV (AIDS-related) infection because the HIV virus can enter your body more easily through the sores and blisters that herpes produce.
 
Sorry to tell you this, but the only way to prevent herpes is to not have sex or touch anyone in intimate areas of their body through petting or making out. Condoms will reduce the risk somewhat, but not 100%. Keep in mind that the infection can be passed even if no symptoms are currently present.
 
If you think that you have herpes then you need to see a doctor right away.  If you are afraid that your parents will find out that you had sex, don't let that stop you from seeing a doctor. Believe me, the consequences of having to deal with your parents are a lot less painful then not dealing with herpes.

Although there is no cure for herpes, the doctor will give you medicine that will ease the pain and help the sores to heal earlier than they will on their own.

Getting herpes sucks, getting HIV is worse.  Keep this in mind if you are tempted to "do the deed".  A lifetime of disease isn't worth a few minutes of pleasure.