Genital Herpes is a Std (Sexually Transmitted Disease) caused by a virus called Herpes Simplex virus. There are two different types of the Herpes virus, the one that generally targets the mouth (HSV-1) and the one that generally targets the genitals (HSV-2). Herpes Simplex Virus 1 is essentially the cold sores people get on there lips and mouth. Which really shouldn't be considered an Std since it can be contracted in many ways other than sexually. Genital Herpes is an extremely common Std with 1 in 4 women and 1 in 5 men currently infected with the std in the USA.