Herpes simplex virus type 2 is a leading cause of genital ulcers that affects more women than men worldwide. Recent evidence indicates that protective immunity can be generated by specialized dendritic cells in the female genital mucosa. This article aims to provide an overview of the effector immunity required for protection from genital herpes, and to discuss the mechanism by which specific subsets of dendritic cells mediate induction of adaptive immunity following genital infection with herpes simplex virus type 2 in vivo.