This is a protocol for a Cochrane Review (Intervention). The objectives are as follows:

To estimate the effect of prophylactic antiviral medication provided to pregnant women near term on:
(1) the rate of recurrent genital herpes at delivery;
(2) the number of cesarean deliveries performed for clinical herpes simplex virus (HSV) recurrences or prodromal symptoms;
(3) the prevalence of HSV detection at delivery;
(4) the rate of neonatal HSV transmission.