Why are women at higher risk for herpes?

According to estimates from the World Health Organization (WHO), globally, approximately 11% of women and 9% of men aged 15 to 49 years were living with HSV-2 infection in 2016.

Women are more likely to have genital herpes. This might be because it is easier for the virus to transmit from a man to a woman via penile-vaginal sex.

Women are more biologically susceptible to genital herpes infection due to the larger mucosal surface area in the genital region, which may provide more opportunities for viral entry.

Additionally, hormonal fluctuations during menstruation or pregnancy can potentially increase susceptibility to infection or trigger outbreaks in women.

Higher reported prevalence rates among women

Women may be more likely to seek healthcare services and get tested for sexually transmitted infections (STIs) compared to men, leading to higher reported prevalence rates among women.

Men may be less likely to seek testing or medical care, which could result in underreporting of HSV-2 infections among them.

Genital herpes is relatively common

Genital herpes is a relatively common disease that affects nearly 10 percent of the population in the United States. It affects people as young as 12. The majority of people with genital herpes may not even know that they have this infectious disease.

This means a person can spread it to his or her sex partners. It affects both men and women, although women have a higher risk of acquiring it.