Approximately 45 million Americans (ages 12 and up) are infected with genital herpes. That means, on average, one out of every five adolescents and adults have the HSV-2 virus. Women, however, are more often infected with HSV-2 than men. In fact, an average of one out of every four women has genital herpes.
The HSV-2 virus can be spread through vaginal, oral and anal sex. Direct "skin to skin" contact can also cause a person to be infected with the virus. Don't, however, fear the bathroom or the pool area. Genital herpes is not transmitted by sitting on a toilet seat, swimming in a pool, touching a doorknob or hanging out in a hot tub.
