Having herpes simplex type-2 viral infection is no simple concern. Approximately 21% of the American population aged 12 and older are infected with the virus, be it in the form of a cold sore of genital herpes. The scary thing about herpes infections are that they are asymptomatic, you may have already come in contact with a person who has it, yet you don't have any idea that you are already infected because there aren't any physical manifestations of their condition.

Medications like Valtrex (valaciclovir) may do well and prevent breakouts from happening, but there is still no known cure for this viral infection. Once you have it, all you can do is manage it so that you do not experience a recurrence of the breakout.

Let us concentrate on the more serious form of herpes ? genital herpes. Genital herpes can be acquired through direct contact. That is by having sex with an infected partneer. Sadly, a carrier may have genital herpes even without showing breakouts or any form of physical sign that he is a carrier. So unless you see sores and blisters on your partner's genital area, or you trust your partner's choice of previous sexual partners with your life, then there's no way of telling who's infected.

Protecting yourself against genital herpes can be very tricky because although herpes sores usually appear in areas that are covered by a latex condom, there is still a possibility that there are hidden sores in other adjacent areas. Using condoms only minimize the risk of getting infected, but does not eradicate the possibility of acquiring herpes simplex type-2 infection. Agreeing to be in a sexually monogamous relationship works well because it limits the number of sexual partner your partner has. This means of prevention falls next to the most effective way of protecting yourself from genital herpes ? abstinence. No sex (oral, anal, or vaginal) means no contact to possibly infected mucous secretions or open sores.

Because genital herpes is asymptomatic, a lot of people tend to incubate it until it gets worse. It may even lead to various serious medical complications such as:
Encephalitis
This condition is an inflammation of the brain that comes as a result of an untreated viral infection.
Meningitis
This complication is an infection of the brain's meninges (the three membrane that encases the central nervous system) and the cerebrospinal fluid (the liquid cushion of the brain inside the skull) which can also result from an untreated viral infection.
Inflammation of the lumbar spinal area and surrounding nerves
This complication may stem out into more complications like the inability to urinate, constipation, and dulled sense of feeling and muscle strength for the lower extremities.
Widespread infection to different organs in the body
This includes viral infections of the liver, lungs, and joint. This complication is most common in people with impaired immune systems that develop genital herpes.
Pregnancy related complications
A pregnant woman who develops genital herpes during her term may pass on her infection to her unborn baby. The baby may end up coming out prematurely, or develop abnormalities in the brain, skin, or the eyes.

This is why it is important for men and women to be careful when having casual sex. There are too much threat of sexually transmitted diseases like genital herpes that you can't afford to be careless. If possible, set a regular appointment with your doctor every three or four months to have yourself checked for any possible infection.