Direct skin-to-skin or mucous membrane contact with an infected area during vaginal, anal, or oral sex
Contact with herpes sores, blisters, or infected genital/oral secretions
Kissing someone with oral herpes, especially during an active cold sore outbreak
Oral sex with a partner who has oral or genital herpes
Genital-to-genital contact without penetration
Sharing sex toys that are not cleaned or covered between uses
Contact with infected skin even when no sores are visible, due to asymptomatic viral shedding
Transmission from mother to baby during childbirth
Rarely, contact with infected saliva or secretions through broken skin or mucous membranes