Gambling with Genital HerpesDid you know that there is no evidence that condoms actually reduce the risk of getting genital herpes? Many young teenagers don't even understand what genital herpes really is or how you can get genital herpes. Young adolescents should know what the symptoms are if they become infected with a sexually transmitted disease such as genital herpes. Did you know that there is no cure for genital herpes and it is a lifelong disease? Treatments alone are too expensive for young teenagers to afford. Someone needs to inform these teenagers about the risks they face when they have sex due to their lack of responsibility in having sex. Young teenagers don't realize how risky it is to have sex even while wearing a condom. There are three ways to get genital herpes: oral sex, anal sex, and vaginal sex. According to the Washington Post, if a condom is used 100% of the time during vaginal sex, the condom reduces the risk of contracting genital herpes by only about 50% (Washington 2). It is even safer to use a condom to reduce your chances of contracting other sexually transmitted diseases. But teenagers should know that by being protected, the risks are only reduced by half. Rob Stein states that many teens and adults say they engage in oral sex as a less risky type of sex (Stein 2). Most of these teens consider oral sex to be a safer type of sex, but they don't understand that type 1 herpes starts around the lips and mouth. This still puts them at risk of contracting the herpes virus, which leads to herpes virus type 2 also known as genital herpes. The Washington Post also said there is no evidence that condoms reduce the risk of contracting genital herpes during oral or anal administration. sex (Washington 2). Knowing that there is no evidence that condoms actually reduce the risk of spreading or contracting genital herpes is even scarier. With this information alone, absolutely no one should have sexual intercourse with a carrier of genital herpes, with or without a condom. Young adolescents do not understand that genital herpes is highly contagious and can be passed on without them knowing. There are two types of herpes virus: “type 1 which usually causes cold sores on the lips and mouth, and type 2 which usually causes genital herpes (Wee 2).