If You’re Sexually Active, Getting Herpes Is Practically Inevitable

TV: What can teens, especially young women, do to help protect themselves against STDs? (As you mentioned in your TEDTalk, condoms don’t prevent herpes. Does that meant there’s no way around it?)

Condoms don’t completely prevent the transmission of herpes, but that’s usually only the case when the person carrying the virus doesn’t know that they have it. Herpes is transmitted through skin contact, so even some classic naked spooning with a partner who is having a herpes outbreak could theoretically transmit the virus. It’s also often transmitted through oral sex, where someone with a cold sore goes down on their partner and gives them genital herpes that way. Cold sores are oral herpes! The best way to protect yourself from STDs is to get tested regularly and to know which STDs you have and have not been tested for. Knowing your status and discussing it with your partner can help you make decisions together about the best way to practice safe sex. I use consistently condoms with my sexual partners and have never had an issue.