Things that increase your risk of getting genital herpes include:

• Having more than one sex partner.
• Having a high-risk partner or partners (partner has more than one sex partner or has herpes-infected sex partners).
• Having unprotected sexual contact (not using condoms).
• Starting sexual activity before age 18.
• Having a weakened immune system.
• Being a woman. Women are more likely than men to become infected when exposed to genital herpes. And their symptoms tend to be more severe and longer-lasting. Women also are at a greater risk of having complications from a genital herpes infection.

Having herpes, especially if you have open sores, also increases your risk for becoming infected with HIV if you are exposed to HIV.

Any child with genital herpes needs to be evaluated by a doctor to see if it is the result of sexual abuse. For more information, see the topic Child Abuse and Neglect.