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Genital herpes

Pronounced: jen-i-tl hur-peez
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Getting it

You usually catch herpes by direct contact with sores during sex, though you can also catch it even when there are no sores present. The virus affects the areas where it enters the body. This can be by:

  • Kissing (mouth to mouth).
  • Penetrative sex (when the penis enters the vagina or anus).
  • Oral sex (from mouth to the genitals or genitals to the mouth).

Where to get help

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