Sometimes a person with genital herpes or warts will have blisters, bumps or sores near or on their genitals, but sometimes they won’t have any at all! Genital herpes and warts can still be passed to someone even if they don’t have any herpes or warts that you can see.
Sometimes the blisters, bumps or sores come and go but the virus still stays in the body. When this happens, it’s still possible to pass the STD to another person.
Condoms are great at helping to lower chances of passing some STDs like Gonorrhea, Chlamydia and HIV. But, you can still get some STDs “skin-to-skin,” like herpes and warts, even when you use a condom if the infected area isn’t covered by the condom. “Skin-to-skin” contact means when your genitals (penis, testicles, vagina) or the skin around them touches someone else’s genitals.
Because of this, it’s important:
- To talk with your partner about any blisters, bumps or sores either of you have or have had in the past.
- To avoid touching blisters, bumps or sores or having any kind of sex if you see them until you get them checked out by a doctor or at the clinic.
- To get tested for STDs and talk with your doctor or clinician about any blisters, bumps or sores you’ve noticed on or around your genitals.
- If either of you do have genital herpes or warts, to get treatment from a doctor or at a clinic and follow her instructions about having sex in the future.