It is a common infection. One in five New Zealanders are infected with HSV. There are two forms of the herpes simplex virus, HSV-1 and HSV-2. HSV-2 is the usual cause of infection around the genital or anal area.

Is having HSV-2 a big deal?

Millions of people have herpes, and plenty of them are in relationships. For most couples, herpes isnt a huge deal. Try to go into the conversation with a calm, positive attitude. Having herpes is simply a health issue — it doesnt say anything about you as a person.

Which country has the most HSV-2?

HSV-2 is more common in Sub-Saharan Africa than in Europe or the North America. Up to 82% of women and 53% of men in Sub-Saharan Africa are seropositive for HSV-2. These are the highest levels of HSV-2 infection in the world, although exact levels vary from country to country in this continent.

What population is most at risk for developing HSV-2?

HSV-2 infection is more common among women than among men; the percentages of those infected during 2015-2016 were 15.9% versus 8.2% respectively, among 14 to 49 year olds. This is possibly because genital infection is more easily transmitted from men to women than from women to men during penile-vaginal sex.

How likely is it to contract HSV-2?

According to a 2010 study conducted by Emily T. Martin and others, there is a high risk of herpes transmission during protected sex when one of the partners is herpes-positive. The probability reaches 50% to 70%. This is explained by the fact that Herpes is transmitted skin-to-skin or skin-to-mucosa.

Can HSV 2 spread to other parts of the body?

No. Genital herpes cannot be transmitted to another part of your body such as your arm, leg or hand after the first infection occurs. If you have genital HSV II, you will not get HSV II at another site in your body. The immune system produces antibodies that protect other parts of your body from infection.