In recent years, more and more patients with genital herpes (GH) have been seen in the clinic, and most of them have been seen again because of recurrence. There is a young patient who has a relapse almost every 2 months or so. He has been afraid to have children and is always careful when having sex because of the fear of transmission and the impact on the fetus. What kind of disease is GH? GH is a sexually transmitted disease caused by the herpes simplex virus, characterized by rice-sized blisters or vesicles on the genital area, often accompanied by itching or tingling. GH is usually transmitted through sexual relations, and after infection, the virus forms latent in the sacral ganglia, which is reactivated later when the body’s immunity decreases, resulting in clinical recurrence. Each episode of GH can be cured quickly or spontaneously, but the latent virus cannot be removed yet, so until an effective vaccine is developed, the disease will continue to be transmitted in the population and will continue to increase. What are the risks of GH? Currently, GH cannot be cured and can recur. Each attack causes blisters or erosions on the pubic area and causes local discomfort, and because it is contagious, it is associated with anxiety and physical and mental pain. However, for most patients, this effect is relatively minor, as each recurrence heals itself within a week or so. In GH patients with AIDS or other immune deficiencies, in addition to the genital manifestations, they often develop disseminated infections in other areas, manifesting as widely distributed blisters or vesicles, which are difficult to control in the short term and are more likely to have frequent attacks and to develop drug resistance. In addition, GH in pregnant women can cause miscarriage in early pregnancy, premature birth in late pregnancy, and infection in the newborn during labor. Herpes virus infection in newborns often manifests as a disseminated infection in multiple sites and organs, and is often critical, and even if cured, it often leaves neurological sequelae. What can be done to prevent or reduce the risk of this disease? GH mostly recurs when the immune system decreases, such as colds, fatigue, excessive alcohol consumption, late nights, ultraviolet radiation, etc. In order to reduce its recurrence, it is necessary to avoid these triggering factors. The disease is transmitted through sexual relations and is still contagious when it does not occur. In order to reduce its transmission, sexual contact should be avoided when it occurs, and safety measures should be taken when sexual activity does not occur. Since the disease has a significant impact on fertility, couples need to be tested for GH infection before pregnancy and, if infected, should consult a medical professional and assess the risk of the newborn being infected with the herpes virus.