Which STD is caused by the herpes simplex virus?

• A. Chlamydia
• B. Genital Herpes
• C. Gonorrhea
• D. Pubic lice

Answer: (B)

The main idea here is identifying which pathogen is responsible for this STD. Genital herpes is caused by the herpes simplex virus. There are two types, HSV-1 and HSV-2, with HSV-2 most commonly linked to genital infections, though HSV-1 can also cause genital herpes through oral-genital contact. It’s transmitted through intimate skin-to-skin contact, even when there aren’t visible sores, and it tends to cause painful genital blisters, itching, and sometimes flu-like symptoms. There’s no cure, but antiviral medications can lessen symptoms and reduce how often and how severely outbreaks occur, as well as lower transmission risk. The other options represent a bacterial STI (chlamydia and gonorrhea) or a parasitic condition (pubic lice), none of which are caused by the herpes simplex virus.