- Home
- Parents Home
- Allergy Center
- Asthma Center
- Cancer Center
- Diabetes Center
- A to Z
- Emotions & Behavior
- First Aid & Safety
- Food Allergy Center
- General Health
- Growth & Development
- Flu Center
- Heart Health
- Helping With Homework
- Infections
- Diseases & Conditions
- Nutrition & Fitness Center
- Play & Learn Center
- School & Family Life
- Pregnancy & Newborn Center
- Pregnancy & Baby
- Q&A
- Recipes
- Sports Medicine Center
- Doctors & Hospitals
- Videos
- Para Padres
- Home
- Kids Home
- Asthma Center for Kids
- Cancer Center for Kids
- Movies & More
- Diabetes Center for Kids
- Getting Help
- Feelings
- Puberty & Growing Up
- Health Problems of Grown-Ups
- Health Problems
- Homework Center
- How the Body Works
- Illnesses & Injuries
- Nutrition & Fitness Center for Kids
- Recipes & Cooking for Kids
- Staying Healthy
- Stay Safe Center
- Relax & Unwind Center
- Q&A for Kids
- The Heart
- Videos for Kids
- Staying Safe
- Kids' Medical Dictionary
- Para NiƱos
- Home
- Teens Home
- Asthma Center for Teens
- Be Your Best Self
- Cancer Center for Teens
- Diabetes Center for Teens
- Diseases & Conditions (for Teens)
- Drugs & Alcohol
- Expert Answers (Q&A)
- Flu Center for Teens
- Homework Help for Teens
- Infections (for Teens)
- Managing Your Medical Care
- Managing Your Weight
- Nutrition & Fitness Center for Teens
- Recipes for Teens
- Safety & First Aid
- School & Work
- Sexual Health
- Sports Center
- Stress & Coping Center
- Videos for Teens
- Body
- Mind
- Para Adolescentes
teens
If Someone With Herpes Has No Sores, Can They Pass the Virus to Others?
If someone has herpes but no sores, can it still be passed on to another person?
Yes. Even when no sores are present, the herpes is still active in the body and can spread to others.
If you or your partner has herpes, here's how to reduce the risk of spread:
- Use a condom every time you have sex (vaginal, oral, or anal). The herpes virus can live outside of the area that a condom covers, though, so a condom may not always prevent the spread.
- Avoid sex during outbreaks (herpes is much more likely to spread during outbreaks).
- Make sure the infected person takes antiviral medicine every day as prescribed by their health care provider.
The only way to completely prevent herpes and other STDs (sexually transmitted diseases) is to not have sex (oral, vaginal, or anal).
Medically reviewed by: Amy W. Anzilotti, MD
Date reviewed: November 2018
- Is it Normal to Get Pimples Near the Vagina?
- I Have Bumps on My Penis. Is This Normal?
- How Can I Find Out if My Partner Has an STD?
- Should I Worry About Getting an STD?
- Getting Tested for STDs
- Can You Get Genital Herpes From a Cold Sore?
- STDs (Sexually Transmitted Diseases)
- Genital Herpes
- Condoms
- Telling Your Partner You Have an STD
- Talking to Your Partner About STDs
- Talking to Your Partner About Condoms