Jan 14, 2026 04:24pm

By Sabina Gaspirc

Under Herpes 101

3 min read

Can I Join the Army If I Have Herpes?

If you’ve been worrying that a herpes diagnosis automatically disqualifies you from military service, take a breath — that’s not the case. Herpes (whether HSV-1 or HSV-2) is incredibly common, medically manageable, and NOT considered a barrier to joining the U.S. military or most other national armed forces.

**Herpes Is Not a Disqualifying Condition**

The military’s medical standards focus on conditions that:

Affect physical performance
Interfere with operational readiness
Could cause serious medical emergencies during training or deployment

Herpes doesn’t check any of those boxes.

You can enlist if you have oral or genital herpes as long as:

Your symptoms are manageable
You’re not currently in a severe outbreak during the medical exam
You can perform your duties without limitation

The Department of Defense does not list herpes as a disqualifying condition.

What About Suppressive Medication?

If you take daily antivirals like:

Acyclovir
Valacyclovir
Famciclovir

…that’s totally fine.

These medications are safe, widely used, and allowed. Lots of service members take long-term medications for chronic but manageable conditions (allergies, migraines, asthma, etc.). Herpes antivirals fit right into that category.

You might be asked what you’re taking and why, but it won’t prevent enlistment.

One thing to note is that people in the army are usually not allowed to take CBD products.

**What Could Cause a Temporary Delay?**

While herpes itself isn’t a problem, a few scenarios might pause your process — but only temporarily:

✔️ A Severe, Active Outbreak

If you’re having a painful or widespread outbreak during your medical exam, they may delay your physical until the lesions heal.

✔️ Herpetic Whitlow, Severe Ocular Herpes, or Complications

These are rare complications. If they significantly interfere with duty performance, the military may ask for documentation or clearance.

But again: this almost never leads to disqualification unless it directly limits your physical capability.

Will the Army (or Any Military Branch) Test Me for Herpes?

Nope.

The military does not test for herpes during enlistment.

They screen for conditions that impact deployability, such as:

HIV
STIs with serious long-term health effects
Tuberculosis
Vision/hearing issues
Heart and lung conditions

Herpes isn’t on the list.

So unless you tell them, they won’t know.

**What If I Get Herpes After I Enlist?**

That’s also fine.

Herpes is common among service members, just like in the general population. You’ll get standard medical care, and it won’t affect your career, rank, or ability to deploy.

Does the Stigma Affect My Military Career?

No — and you don’t have to disclose it to anyone except a medical provider if you need treatment.

The military deals with herpes in a strictly medical, nonjudgmental way. It’s treated like:

Cold sores
Eczema
Athlete’s foot

It’s not a moral issue. It’s not a conduct issue. It’s not a fitness-for-duty issue.

Why Herpes Isn’t a “Big Deal” Medically

Herpes is:

One of the most common infections on earth
Usually mild
Treatable
Manageable
Non-life-threatening

Its biggest impact tends to be emotional, not medical — which means the stigma is what needs the most dismantling.

Bottom Line

If you have herpes, you can absolutely join the Army or any military branch.

Herpes = allowed

Active outbreak during exam = temporary delay

Need antiviral meds = totally fine

Your diagnosis does not make you less eligible, less capable, or less worthy of serving. Period.

Herpes Outbreak Toolkit