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</ iframe > </noscript> <!-- End Google Tag Manager (noscript) --><div id="header"> <div id="CClogo"><a href="https://www.cookchildrens.org"><span class="srText">Cook Children's</span></a></div> <div id="CCsearch"> <form id="searchform" name="searchform" method="GET" onsubmit="return (this.q.value == '') ? false : true;" action="/CookChildrens/en/parents/"> <input type="hidden" name="search" value="y"/> <input type="hidden" name="getfields" value="description"/> <input type="search" class="search" name="q" id="q" maxlength="256" autocomplete="off" autocorrect="off" placeholder="Search"/> <input type="hidden" name="datasource" value="cookchildrens"> <input type="hidden" name="start" value="0"> <input type="hidden" name="rows" value="10"> <input type="hidden" name="lang" value="english"> <input type="hidden" name="section" value="parents_teens_kids"> <input type="submit" value="" id="searchButton" class="buttonImage"/> </form> </div> </div> <!-- If we have main navigation separated then it will reside here --> <div id="thelou" tabindex="-1"> </div> <div id="mainContentContainer" class="kh-article-page"> <div id="rsSearchBrowse"> <div id="rsBrowse" role="navigation"> </div> <div id="rsSearch"> <div id="rsSectionLabel">teens</div> </div> </div> <div id="khContentHeading" class="ar licH"> <h1>If Someone With Herpes Has No Sores, Can They Pass the Virus to Others?</h1> </div> <div class="clearBox"> </div> <div id="khcontent"> <div id="xp1"> </div><br clear="all" style="width: 0; height: 0; line-height: 0; font-size: 0;"><div id="khcontent_article" lang="en-us"> <div id="NavigatePage1"> <div id="whichRead_1"><span class="ISI_MESSAGE"><!-- The following article is brought to you by CookChildrens. --></span><div class="rs_skip rs_skip_en rsbtn_kidshealth rs_preserve" id="readspeaker_button1"><script> var theRSURL = (escape(document.location.href)); var rsAudioTitle = document.title.replace(/ |\'|\?/g,"_"); var whichReadPage = 1; var doesItGotFlash = ''; makeTheRSLinkEN(); var readSpeakerDownloadLink = "//app-na.readspeaker.com/cgi-bin/rsent?customerid=5202&lang=en_us&voice=Kate&speed=100&readid=khcontent_article&url="+theRSURL+"&audiofilename=KidsHealth_"+rsAudioTitle+""; </script></div><div class="rte-image"><!--<sly data-sly-test.buttonBorder="khb-noborder"></sly> --><h4>If someone has herpes but no sores, can it still be passed on to another person?</h4><p>Yes. Even when no sores are present, the herpes <script type="text/javascript" id="splatJS_virus_T" name="splat" src="/content/kidshealth/us/en/teens/splats/virus.js"></script><script type="text/javascript" id="splatDW_virus_T">document.write(def_virus_T);</script><noscript class="rs_skip"> virus </noscript>is still active in the body and can spread to others.</p><p>If you or your partner has <a href="/CookChildrens/en/teens/std-herpes.html">herpes</a>, here's how to reduce the risk of spread:</p><ul><li>Use a <a href="/CookChildrens/en/teens/contraception-condom.html">condom</a> 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.</li><li>Avoid sex during outbreaks (herpes is much more likely to spread during outbreaks).</li><li>Make sure the infected person takes antiviral medicine every day as prescribed by their health care provider.</li></ul><p>The only way to completely prevent herpes and other <a href="/CookChildrens/en/teens/std.html">STDs</a> (sexually transmitted diseases) is to <a href="/CookChildrens/en/teens/abstinence.html">not have sex</a> (oral, vaginal, or anal).</p></div> <div id="reviewerBox"> <div id="reviewedBy">Medically reviewed by: Amy W. Anzilotti, MD</div> <div id="reviewedDate">Date reviewed: November 2018</div> </div><span class="ISI_MESSAGE"><!--Thank you for listening to this KidsHealth audio cast. The information you heard, is for educational purposes only. If you need medical advice, diagnoses, or treatment, consult your doctor. This audio cast is Copyrighted by KidsHealth. All rights are reserved.--></span></div> </div> </div> </div> <!--googleoff:all--> <div id="relatedBoxParents" class="t1 "> <div id="navTabs"> <ul id="navTabsPKT" role="tablist" aria-labelledby="moreOnThisTopicHeader"> <li role="presentation" class="current" id="PKTtabTeens"><button class="PKTJSTButton" role="tab" id="teens_tab" aria-controls="relatedArticlesListTeens" aria-selected="true" tabindex="0"><span>for Teens</span></button></li> </ul> </div> <div id="mainBar"> </div> <div id="mrLinks"> <h2 id="moreOnThisTopicHeader">MORE ON THIS TOPIC</h2> <ul id="relatedArticlesListTeens" role="tabpanel" aria-labelledby="teens_tab"> <li><a href="/CookChildrens/en/teens/ingrowns.html?WT.ac=t-ra">Is it Normal to Get Pimples Near the Vagina?</a></li> <li><a href="/CookChildrens/en/teens/expert-penis.html?WT.ac=t-ra">I Have Bumps on My Penis. Is This Normal?</a></li> <li><a href="/CookChildrens/en/teens/std-talk.html?WT.ac=t-ra">How Can I Find Out if My Partner Has an STD?</a></li> <li><a href="/CookChildrens/en/teens/std-odds.html?WT.ac=t-ra">Should I Worry About Getting an STD?</a></li> <li><a href="/CookChildrens/en/teens/std-testing.html?WT.ac=t-ra">Getting Tested for STDs</a></li> <li><a href="/CookChildrens/en/teens/hsv1-sores.html?WT.ac=t-ra">Can You Get Genital Herpes From a Cold Sore?</a></li> <li><a href="/CookChildrens/en/teens/std.html?WT.ac=t-ra">STDs (Sexually Transmitted Diseases)</a></li> <li><a href="/CookChildrens/en/teens/std-herpes.html?WT.ac=t-ra">Genital Herpes</a></li> <li><a href="/CookChildrens/en/teens/contraception-condom.html?WT.ac=t-ra">Condoms</a></li> <li><a href="/CookChildrens/en/teens/stds-talk.html?WT.ac=t-ra">Telling Your Partner You Have an STD</a></li> <li><a href="/CookChildrens/en/teens/the-talk.html?WT.ac=t-ra">Talking to Your Partner About STDs</a></li> <li><a href="/CookChildrens/en/teens/talk-about-condoms.html?WT.ac=t-ra">Talking to Your Partner About Condoms</a></li> </ul> </div> <div id="boxBreaker"> </div> <div id="zeroTester"> </div> <div id="relatedButtonsHolder"> <div id="relatedButtonsBoth"> <ul> <li id="relatedPrinterButton"><a href="/CookChildrens/en/teens/transmit-hsv.html?view=ptr&WT.ac=t-ptr" rel="nofollow" onclick="printWindow(this.href); return false;" title="This link will open in a new window.">Print<span class="newWindowIcon_leftSpace"> </span></a></li> <li id="relatedEmailFriendButton"><a rel="nofollow" href="/CookChildrens/en/teens/transmit-hsv.html?view=emailto&WT.ac=s2af-en-teens-transmit-hsv.html" target="_blank" title="This link will open in a new window.">Send to a Friend<span class="newWindowIcon_leftSpace"> </span></a></li> </ul> </div> </div><br clear="all"></div><br clear="all"><script>window.onload=setVars('');PKTChoose(0,0,12,0);</script><div id="kh_lic_footer"> <nav aria-label="Content info"> <ul id="kh_lic_footer_links"> <li><a href="/CookChildrens/en/teens/editorial-policy-licensee.html">Editorial Policy</a></li> <li><a href="/CookChildrens/en/teens/policy-licensees.html">KidsHealth Privacy Policy & Terms of Use</a></li> <li><a href="/CookChildrens/en/teens/copyright.html">Copyright</a></li> </ul> </nav> <div id="kh_lic_footer_legalease"> <p><img lang="en" alt="A TeensHealth Education Partner" src="/images/n00/logos/THeduPartner3.svg"> Note: All information is for educational purposes only. 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