To most people the word "herpes" conjures up an image of genital herpes, the incurable virus that is transmitted through sexual contact and causes blisters on the genitals. However herpes is in fact a family of viruses that is extremely widespread and can cause a number of conditions affecting the skin, mouth, eyes, brain or, in rare cases, the whole body.
Some estimates suggest that as many as 1 in 6 people may carry some form of the herpes virus in their body, either active or inactive.
Forms of the herpes virus include herpes simplex type 1 (cold sores), herpes simplex type 2 (genital herpes), varicella-zoster virus (chickenpox), cytomegalovirus (mild hepatitis), Epstein-Barr virus (mononucleosis) and herpes-zoster (shingles). All of these conditions are caused by viruses in the herpes family.
Two similar conditions, herpes gestationis and dermatitis herpetiformis, both produce herpes-like blisters on the skin but are not related to or caused by any of the various herpes viruses.
The many diseases that are caused by the herpes virus may differ widely from one another, but they all share
a few common traits:
They are generally very contagious.
The viruses can survive in latent form for long periods of time after the initial infection.
They are not curable. (However, there are effective treatments that can render the virus dormant, even in genital herpes)
Estimates suggest that nearly 30 million Americans are infected with herpes simplex type 1 (HSV-1) and despite many studies over many years there has been little success in developing either a cure or an effective vaccine.
Many of the viruses in the herpes family do not recur after the initial disease outbreak, such as chicken pox for example. However all herpes viruses, when not active, remain dormant in your body, hidden in nerve tissues and escaping detection by the immune system.
It is unsure exactly how and why a latent herpes virus will suddenly trigger into an active infection, however it is known that certain stresses to the immune system appear to bring on an outbreak. These stresses that may lead to outbreaks include illness, injury, emotional stress, poor diet, over exposure to sunlight, and even menstruation.
A strong immune system seems to lessen recurrence of outbreaks, though outbreaks may continue throughout life. Studies show that chickenpox and shingles have a recurrence of nearly zero while HSV-1 has a recurrence rate of 14 percent and herpes simplex type 2 (HSV-2) has a recurrence rate of 60 percent.
It is HSV-2 that most commonly causes genital infections, and HSV-1 that most commonly causes infections of the lips; however either viruses can be passed from one location to the other.
Studies have also shown that herpes sores can also provide an entryway for other infections.
Women with the herpes virus may even have an increased risk of cervical cancer and it is important for any women who has had herpes to have a cervical smear test (Pap test) every one or two years.
Whether you have been diagnosed with some form of herpes or not, practicing common sense prevention can go a long way in controlling the spread of herpes. For instance, avoid kissing persons who currently have sores on their mouth or lips.
Always practice safe sex in non-monogamous relationships and avoid all sexual contact with any partner who is exhibiting symptoms of an active outbreak of genital herpes until symptoms have disappeared. While most, but not all, male genital herpes outbreaks are easily detected, female genital herpes outbreaks can many times go completely unnoticed. In fact, many women with genital herpes don't realize they have contracted the virus until they have passed it on to a partner.
Using
Help me have sex!
How do I navigate being young, sexually active, and having hsv1? I'm a 24 year old female, I live in new york city, I work, I have many friends, I date, I'm pretty normal. I've slept with 5 men in my life, I am definitely the most careful of all my friends about safe sex and std protection, I am not and have never been by any means promiscuous. <br>
About a year ago, after questioning someone I had gone out on a few dates with about his std history and being tested and getting the answer that he had been checked recently and he was all clear, I let him go down on me. It turned out he unknowingly had oral hsv1(which I know is ridiculously common something like 80% + of adult Americans have it and I assume most don't know) and by him going down on me, I contracted genital hsv1. After weeks of freaking out and crying and thinking my life was over, I read more, saw lots of doctors and learned how unlikely it is for me to give this specific type of hsv to someone else. Because it's hsv1 and it's genital, it significantly lowers the chance that I will ever get a breakout again after my first and also the shedding time is significantly reduced due to the fact that hsv1's primary location is oral. With the exception of a small dot which may or may not have been something, I have not had a second breakout since my first a little over a year ago. I eat healthfully, I exercise, I take care of myself. Additionally, I also take an anti-viral and would never have sex without a condom. With all of these factors, the chances of me passing this on to a partner are less than 0.5%. While I would never EVER do this, both of my doctors have said that there is such a low risk of me spreading this, if I use protection(which I always, ALWAYS would), I don't even necessarily need to tell future partners. But, there is still a chance and because of that, I will always tell someone first, plus I would never want dishonesty to be part of a potential future relationship.<br>
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Now, I am not dating anyone seriously and while I'd like to date someone seriously, it takes a while for something like that to happen. I'm not interested in casual sex with strangers, but unfortunately as a young person living in new york city, sex often comes before two people know for sure that they want to spend time with each other long term. After going on 4 or 5 dates with someone I think I could really like, I think it's part of the normal development of a potential relationship for us to have sex. In the past year, I have just stopped seeing people because I know I can't go further sexually with them unless I tell them, and I don't know how to approach this subject with a man that I'm not yet seriously dating.<br>
I would feel more comfortable asking, "would you be willing to take this risk?" if I knew that we both had a serious emotional investment in a relationship, but since that won't be the case, how do I do this? How do I tell someone I've only really known for maybe 2 or 3 weeks that I have this std and that I'd like them to consider sleeping with me anyway. It seems like too much to ask. While I know this is not a huge threat to either of us(it's not something that is a real medical danger or really affects ones life in anyway other than this way, the fact that you have to tell future partners) and whoever I sleep with is more likely to already have it (hsv1, not necessarily genital hsv1) than not have it, people hear herpes and that seems to be the end of the conversation. How do I navigate being sexually active with this virus? Please tell me this is not a death sentence for my sex life. I'm still young and I love sex!<br>
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Throwaway email = helpgetmelaid@gmail.com
Do I have HSV 2 now?
Had unprotected sex with someone who has Herpes HSV 2 and was having an outbreak on her back. Did not know it at the time. I am freaking out so badly I can not effectively google the topic and read the results. Please help me. She has HSV 2 on her back and was having an outbreak. We had unprotected intercourse and oral sex but I did not touch her back and she left her t-shirt and sweater on. She has an outbreak approximately 4 times a year.<br>
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Today, she told me that she also has HSV 2 on her vulva but has not had an outbreak during 2011. This was news to me. She did not disclose this when she told me about the outbreak on her back. Over the last two weeks I have performed cunnlingus several times.<br>
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<strong>Am I at risk for HSV 2 now? Even though she did not have an outbreak on her vulva any of the times we had sex? What about when we had intercourse/cunnlingus when she had an outbreak on her back?</strong><br>
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Please take it easy on me, I am freaking the fuck out. I have known her 10 years, she had been celibate for a long time, she is unable to have children. We were at a friends house, no condoms were around and we were not planning on becoming intimate, it just kind of happened. I know I made a bad decision but am just trying to explain what I was thinking.<br>
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I have already left a message on my doctors voice mail and hope to get in to see him tomorrow so I can talk to him, but I need some information, please help me out.
Is there any prophylaxis or pre-treatment for herpes exposure
Friend was possibly exposed to genital herpes, wonders if there is prophylaxis treatment before any symptoms would appear? Heard that possibly taking anti-virals may prevent infection. He went to small town doctor and he said "no" but asked me since I apparently know these things and live in the big city. Exposure was 3 nights ago. Female partner never had eruption before, but went to doctor today thinking she may be having 5 or 6th day of outbreak.
a condom may or may not prevent the spread of the herpes virus from one partner to another, whether one partner has an active outbreak or not; So while using condoms may be better than no protection at all, you should be aware that even condoms are not 100% effective in protecting against the transmission of the herpes virus.
If you have a history of herpes, avoid getting overtired or allowing yourself to get run down. When you are fatigued, your immune system cannot function as well, and you may be more vulnerable to a recurrence of herpes.
If you suspect you might have some form of the herpes virus or if you have a partner that has herpes, please see your local health care provider for a diagnosis and medical advise.
