To protect yourself from herpes abstain, be faithful to 1 partner you have tested with, or use condoms EVERY time you have sex. Herpes is passed by skin contact. Condoms form a barrier which prevents some skin contact. This means that condoms provide good protection from herpes. However, herpes sores sometimes appear in places which are not covered by condoms. In these cases condoms give little or no protection. Avoid sex when you have sores until they have gone COMPLETELY to prevent infecting your partner or letting in other infections such as HIV through your sores. It is possible to pass on herpes even when you have no sores.
Attribution: Straight Talk Foundation