Hi family doctor,

Thanks for posting your question.  Though I'm not a doctor, I do have herpes and think I can answer you.

It appears you are asking whether there is a potential to get herpes by having unprotected anal sex with a woman with genital herpes.  The answer is yes.  Genital herpes can affect many parts of a woman's body, including the vagina, clitoris, and anus, and outbreaks can occur in any of those places.  That is why herpes is one disease that isn't totally preventable even when using condoms, because there are areas outside of the protection of the condom that can have sores and be contagious.

So unfortunately having anal sex is not a way for you to have unprotected sex without exposing yourself to herpes.  You should still use a condom and refrain from having sex when your partner is having an outbreak.  

For more information on how to protect yourself, while still enjoying a healthy sex life, I suggest you check out the Transmission, Prevention, and Causes and Risk Factors pages of this site.  

PJ