According to the research conducted by the United States National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, the disease that affects more than one-fourth of all women over the age of twelve is none other than genital herpes.  It is more widespread than other women-related diseases such as breast cancer and osteoporosis.  It is also one of the most common sexually-transmitted diseases worldwide.
A sexually transmitted disease (STD) or sexually transmitted infection (STI) is an illness that is spread by sexual contact.  The causes of STDs (usually a virus) are passed from one host to another by sexual or close contact that involves the genitals, the mouth and the rectum.  If a pregnant woman has STD, it is also possible that she can pass this disease to her baby.  Some examples of STDs or STIs are chlamydia, genital warts or human papillomavirus (HPV), gonorrhea, hepatitis B, syphilis, trichomoniasis, scabies, pubic lice, HIV (that causes AIDS) and of course, genital herpes.  Some types of HPV can cause cervix cancer in women, while HIV and syphilis could lead to death.  Most STDs, however, can be treated and cured, like genital herpes.
Genital herpes is an infection in the genitals, buttocks and anal area.  It is caused by a virus called herpes simplex virus (HSV).  A virus is a bundled nucleic acid that looks just like any particle of dust.  It has no life of its own.  But it comes alive when in contact with mucous membranes.  These membranes are tissues that release a slippery liquid that protects and moistens certain body parts, such as the mouth, rectum, and vagina.  The HSV becomes alive as it settles on the genitals.  This HSV infection causes sores and skin blisters, but most often, these symptoms do not show.
There are two types of the HSV, the type 1 and the type 2.  The HSV type 1 often attacks the mouth and lips, producing fever blisters and cold sores.  Cold sores are clusters of angry pink blisters on the lip and outer edge of the mouth.  These sores release a clear liquid and become scabs after about eight to ten days.  These sores will heal on their own, but until they have hardened, they are very contagious.

The HSV 2, is the virus that causes genital herpes, but it may also affect the mouth.  This viral infection also produces the same characteristic sores, but this time these clumped tender sores occur in the genital area.  The first time these sores appear, they will take about a month to be cured.  Then, the next outbreak will take a shorter period of time to heal and the sores will be more tolerable.  Genital herpes may remain in a person’s body for many years.  This is why some people will experience an outbreak only once in their lifetime, and some will have several outbreaks, that fortunately become less severe.