People with oral herpes must also take precautions: A doctor will advise the mother on the best form of delivery. To prevent this, birth by Caesarian section is recommended. Pregnant woman with genital herpes and who have active symptoms can transmit the virus to the baby as it passes through the birth canal. Knowledge of a partner’s status helps couples to decide what steps are required to reduce the risk of transmission. Because genital herpes can be transmitted during and between outbreaks, patients should:
These steps are particularly important with genital herpes. During active outbreaks, people should keep affected areas away from other people until the symptoms have healed. People with the herpes virus must take precautions to avoid spreading the virus to other people.
