7. 如何预防？
最好的对抗生殖器疱疹的方法是避免与任何有疱疹水疱或病灶的人发生性接触。反过来，任何确实有这些症状的人应该避免与人有性接触，直到疱疹愈合和消失为止。不幸的是，因为一些人甚至没有了任何症状对他人也具有传染性，上述的忠告尚不足以达到保护的目的。使用安全套也不足以达到保护作用，因为安全套不能遮盖住那些可能已经感染的身体部位。尽管如此，结合杀精子剂使用男用乳胶安全套和女用乳胶安全套（英文叫femidom，专门供女性放置在阴道内使用——译者注）无疑地是一种减少感染风险的重要方法。（病毒能够穿透用绵羊盲肠制造的“天然”避孕套。）（最早的避孕套大多用绵羊盲肠制造。这种避孕套在19世纪末期和20世纪初期被人使用，因为那时还没有人工的乳胶材料可供使用——译者注。）无论如何，弄清楚自己性伴的性生活史而且据此作出自己的决断是非常有用的。打算怀孕的妇女应该特别地小心才是，因为病毒还可能感染自己的宝宝。

Genital Herpes III

The best protection against genital herpes is to avoid sexual contact with anyone who has herpes blisters or sores. Conversely, anyone who does have these symptoms should avoid sexual contact until they have healed and disappeared. Unfortunately, since some people may be infectious to others even without having any symptoms, this advice may not be enough to offer sufficient protection. Using a condom is not enough either, because it does not cover every area that could be infected. Still, using a male or female latex condom in combination with spermicides is definitely an important way of reducing the risk of infection. (“Natural” condoms made from sheep gut can be penetrated by the virus.) In any case, it may be useful to know the sex history of one’s partner and to make one’s decisions on that basis. Women who plan to become pregnant should be especially careful because they could infect their babies.