Posts Tagged ‘Herpes 1’

Genital Herpes- Some Facts Everybody Must Know

Comments: 0October 18th, 2011 by admin



1. Genital herpes and oral sex-

If your partner has cold sores (carrier of virus type1), he/she can pass HSV1 to you by performing oral sex on you. You will contract Genital herpes.

2. Genital herpes is not life destroying-

Genital herpes is not life destroying. A large population is living with genital herpes without any serious problem. Control your triggers and outbreaks of herpes. A person suffering from genital herpes is more susceptible to get HIV. Maintain a healthy life style and you can live life normally.

3. Genital herpes cannot be transmitted through toilet seat-

The herpes virus cannot live long on dead surfaces such as toilet seats, towels, etc. It is rare to contact herpes from these objects.

4. Silent transmission-

An affected person, who does not have any signs of active sores, can also pass on the virus. That is called asymptomatic shedding of virus. So if your partner is suffering from genital herpes, you may also get it even if your partner shows no active outbreaks.

5. You may get the indication of herpes outbreak-

Before any herpes outbreak there is a period called prodrome. During this period you may get sensations such as- tingling, itching or some pain. That indicates that the genital herpes will break out in a day or two. Genital herpes can also spread easily during this prodrome period.

6. Prevention-

The best safeguard for genital herpes is to have a single partner who is free of herpes. If not, use of latex condoms and minimizing partners may reduce the risk.

7. Pregnancy & genital herpes-

A woman who is having active sores in or near vagina or having her first outbreak of genital herpes can pass on the disease to her newborn. In such cases herpes is controlled with anti-viral medications and cesarean delivery is performed to protect the new born from contacting herpes.

8. Reducing the spread of virus-

Anti viral therapy reduces the shedding of herpes virus considerably.

9. Cure-

There is no cure for genital herpes. The virus remains in the body for life. You should get treated whenever you get active sores (ulcers) to reduce the intensity and period of the outbreak.

10. Recurring episodes-

Some people get active genital herpes only once, while others may have several recurrences through their lifetime.

11. Affected Areas-

In men, the affected areas of genital herpes include- urethra, penis, scrotum, anus and buttocks. In women, the herpes appears on external genitals, vagina, cervix, buttocks and anus.

12. Transmission-

Genital herpes commonly gets transferred through skin cuts or mucous membranes. Oral cavity, vagina, anus and glans penis are all covered with mucous membrane.

13. Testing-

Herpes is tested with viral culture during active outbreaks. During dormancy (no visible signs), a blood test is performed. These tests are not very accurate and may need to be repeated.

14. Many people do not know that they have Genital herpes-

Many people who have genital herpes may not show any symptoms or the symptoms may be so insignificant that they ignore them.

This article is only for informative purposes. This article is not intended to be a medical advise and it is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Please consult your doctor for your medical concerns. Please follow any tip given in this article only after consulting your doctor. The author is not liable for any outcome or damage resulting from information obtained from this article.

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Genital Herpes is More Prevalent Than You Think

Comments: 0June 17th, 2011 by admin



There are two major problems we are facing with genital herpes today. One is the lack of testing leaving many people infected without knowing it. The other is the ignorance by many people of just how widespread it is making it all the more likely this incredibly annoying disease is not going to go away any time soon. Those who are sexually active and especially with multiple partners are all at risk.

Unfortunately, genital herpes is not curable, only symptomatically treatable. Many people don’t even know they have it. They may have only had one outbreak years ago and mistaken it for something else.

A friend of mine had a scare when a woman he had been seeing for several years (not exclusively) told me after he had had sex with her recently that she thought she was having a genital outbreak and he may have been exposed. She told him she had it years ago one time and took something like Valtrex and got rid of it and had never had a recurrence until recently. She was under the false impression that that meant she was no longer putting others at risk of passing it along.

Some quick facts on HSV (Herpes):

About 1 in 4 to 1 in 5 of those in the US over age 12 test positive for HSV 2 with a blood test that accurately distinguishes between HSV 1 and 2. The scary part is out of those who are positive, only 1 in 10 knew it before they were tested.

70% of new herpes infections are transmitted from someone showing no symptoms at the time they infected their partner.

For women, a negative pap smear for herpes doesn’t mean she isn’t infected.

The current test known as herpes select is a blood test that accurately distinguishes between types 1 and 2 and is available through the major labs Quest and Labcorp.

A positive test doesn’t indicate when you got it only that you do have it.

It’s also important to know it can take several months after exposure for you to test positive. So those who have multiple partners or move from partner to partner frequently are putting themselves and their partners at a much higher risk.

A study on risk produced the following facts:

The risk is about 10% per year that an infected male will transmit HSV 2 to an uninfected female. That is, if 100 infected men were having one-on-one sex with 100 uninfected women, about 10 women would get infected per year. It’s a little less likely for a woman to pass it to a man – about 4 men out of 100 will get it.

This study was based on no condom use, no sex during herpes outbreaks and no use of daily herpes medications.

Talking about STDs can take all the spontaneity and romance out of sex. Talk about a mood killer. But rather you kill the mood than get something that’ll kill you. Or better yet, get all this unpleasant talk out of the way long before getting physical with somebody.

If you’ve been having your fun and have managed to avoid catching it, don’t forget, the next new partner you hook up with may be carrying it and pass it to you without knowing it until after the fact.

When you are out there whether it’s on dating sites or where ever you are meeting a sexual partner, many people claim they are STD free and tested regularly. While that may be true, what most people don’t realize is that it usually only means they get tested for HIV, chlamydia, gonorrhea and maybe warts (which are easy to spot). Unless you specifically request a herpes test, you most likely didn’t get tested for it. This is something that should really be addressed in the public health arena.

A majority of the population has HSV 1 known as the cold sore virus. This can passed orally to give someone genital herpes type HSV 1. HSV 2 can’t be passed genitally to oral, only genital to genital. A person can have one and not the other, or they can have both. However, HSV 1 doesn’t turn into HSV 2 or visa versa. Having one type doesn’t make you immune to getting the other.

So, to summarize, HSV 1 can be transferred orally to genital or genital to genital. HSV 2 is only transferred genital to genital.

***UPDATE***I recently discussed this with a dermatologist who informed me that we’re still not for sure on whether HSV 2 can be transmitted from genital to oral. So it looks like things aren’t figured out yet. Your best bet is to keep your immune system strong though healthy lifestyle choices and being careful out there. Sorry spontaneity is exciting, but it can also result in some unfortunate consequences.

Herpes testing should be made mandatory as part of your annual blood work testing if you are sexually active – not just HIV. although hsv isn’t fatal, it still carries a social stigma with it.

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Q and A – How Can You Tell If Someone Has Herpes?

Comments: 0August 31st, 2009 by admin



The herpes simplex virus can go unnoticed and undetected for years to a person who has the virus. For this reason there is no real way to do a spot check to confirm whether or not a person has it. The most obvious indication that a person is having an outbreak is the actual outbreak itself. However the skin symptoms associated with herpes can look like anything from a puffy red blister to a small zit. While type 1 will usually surface on or near the mouth, type 2 can literally appear anywhere below the waist. It is not just isolated to the genital area. People who have type 2 often report having outbreaks on their inner thighs, lower back or pelvis area.

The only true way to know if someone has the virus is by suggesting a mutual blood test that would pick up the herpes virus. More than half of the people who have HSV don’t know it – so even the most honest and well intentioned person can unknowingly pass the virus to someone else. Genital herpes has been demonized by the general population, but the truth is herpes type 1 (oral herpes) is just as contagious as genital herpes. Not only that but oral herpes can be passed during oral sex and caused genital herpes.

HSV 1 and 2 can be transmitted even when there are no outward signs. This can happen during the period known as viral shedding. The herpes virus lays dormant inside nerve cells and when it activates it travels through the nerve cells to the surface of the skin. Once it reaches the skin it does what is referred to as “shedding”, sometimes skin lesions result and sometimes they do not. When a person with herpes is in the viral shedding stage they are contagious. Viral shedding occurs at random and isn’t always marked by symptoms.

The best way to know that someone has the herpes virus is through blood testing and the best way to avoid getting the herpes virus is through safe and responsible sex. If you suspect that you may have it, get tested as soon as possible.

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Herpes – Testing For Herpes

Comments: 0June 11th, 2009 by admin



Genital herpes is a sexually transmitted disease passed from skin to skin sexual contact. If you think you have been exposed to the virus, it is a good idea to visit a doctor to get a proper diagnosis. Many people do not get diagnosed with genital herpes because oftentimes the virus is not accompanied by symptoms, or the symptoms can easily and frequently get mistaken for other conditions. This lack of diagnosis, of course, leads to the high numbers of genital herpes cases.

If you experience the following symptoms and/or believe that you have been exposed to the genital herpes virus, you may want to consider going to get tested by your physician or at a sexual health clinic.

- Flu-like symptoms: fever, aches and soreness, swollen lymph nodes
- Tingling, itching, burning or pain in the genital area
- Appearance of painful red spots, which, within a day or two, develop into clear, fluid-filled blisters
- Painful urination
- Abnormal genital secretions

The best time to go to the doctor or clinic for herpes testing is when you first experience any of these symptoms, because a visual diagnosis may be made. Genital herpes can be caused by either herpes type 1 or type 2, so other testing besides a visual diagnosis is necessary to determine the exact type of herpes virus that you have.

Upon your doctor visit, you can expect to first be given a medical survey which will provide information about your medical history: general health, previous conditions and current and previous symptoms. This evaluation will probably include questions about your personal life, like how recently you participated in sexual activity, whether you used condoms, if you have had an STD before and if you have any reason to believe that you have been in contact with herpes. Answering these questions as candidly and truthfully as possible will help the physician in evaluating the chance that you have been infected.

Next, to verify HSV diagnosis, the doctor may suggest one or more tests (a swab test or a blood test) to conclude whether you have HSV-1 or HSV-2. Type 1 is the virus more usually associated with facial herpes, while HSV-2 typically causes genital herpes, although cross-infection can occur. Knowing which virus you have helps determine protocol for future outbreaks. You may need to schedule another appointment to get blood work. Once blood work is done, the doctor will discuss the results with you.

Once you are diagnosed, it is common to be shocked or nervous. You may want to schedule a follow-up appointment just to discuss the implications of your genital herpes diagnosis Here are some questions you may want to ask your doctor after diagnosis is confirmed:

- How did I contract genital herpes?
- How often can I expect outbreaks?
- How can I identify a genital herpes outbreak?
- Can I prevent future outbreaks?
- What are my options for treatment?
- How can I decrease the chance of spreading herpes to my sexual partner?
- Will I be able to have sex without infecting my partner?
- How does genital herpes differ from cold sores/facial herpes?
- What are additional resources?
- Are there any support groups in my area?

Once you have discussed this with your physician, you should ask him/her about treatments that can reduce herpes outbreaks. Natural treatments have proven to be very affordable and lack the side effects of pharmaceutical drugs.

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The Truth About Genital Herpes

Comments: 0April 3rd, 2009 by admin



Genital Herpes is a misunderstood illness, and I hope to dispel some myths with the publication of this article. Perhaps the first thing to note is that the majority of people are infected with one strain of herpes – HSV 1, also known as the common cold sore! Of course it has less of a stigma attached, so let’s look at the facts about genital herpes:

What symptoms does genital herpes carry?

The trouble with herpes is that in many people, the symptoms are so mild that they may pass unnoticed. This is good on one level as it won’t affect your life, but on the other hand, you’re at risk of passing the HSV 2 virus onto another unawares, who may suffer far more discomfort than you.

If symptoms do appear, They tend to appear periodically in “episodes” (or “outbreaks”). As for when, again it varies from person to person. It may be days after contracting the virus, it could be months to years. When it first strikes, the sufferer typically feels flu-like symptoms – fever, headaches and pains in the back and leg. The good news is that these symptoms usually are only present in the first outbreak of HSV 2.

From then on, most genital herpes episodes produce small blisters which then break to form painful shallow sores. After 1-2 weeks, these scab over and then heal. Often the first outbreak is significantly more uncomfortable than future episodes.

If you’re thinking this sounds like a cold sore, but for the genitals, you’re right. Although HSV 1 (cold sores) is not the same as HSV 2, the symptoms are similar enough for you to think of genital herpes as a cold sore that forms around the genitals, anus, buttocks and thighs. And like cold sores, the virus stays in the body once the genital herpes symptoms have vanished, and can cause recurrent outbreaks at any time.

Are recurrent outbreaks linked to any behaviour?

Yes and no. Triggers for outbreaks of genital herpes can be linked to sex, menstruation, general illness or stress, but often you’ll see no explanation and an episode appears without a trigger.

It’s important to note that recurrent attacks are caused by the dormant virus in the body and not by re-infection. In most causes the repeat episodes become less frequent over time, and some sufferers can look forward to a time when the attacks stop altogether.

How is HSV 2 spread?

The HSV 2 virus is spread through skin to skin contact, which means sexual contact is largely the cause. Remember that as many people show few to no symptoms, it’s possible to pass on the virus to someone even if the sufferer shows no symptoms.

How do I prevent transmission?

There’s no sure-fire way to prevent transmission, because it can be passed with no obvious sores, but there are ways of minimising the risk. The first is to avoid having any kind of sexual contact with someone immediately before or during an outbreak of genital herpes. Condoms will stop transmission across the area covered, but of course they only cover the penis, so if sores are elsewhere transmission can still occur.

There are a number of dating sites set up to match singles with genital herpes – of course, people cannot be reinfected, so sufferers having sexual contact with each other are not at risk from the disease!

I think I have it – what’s does the test for herpes involve?

The herpes test involves taking a sample from the area of the body infected during an outbreak. The HSV 2 virus will usually grow in a swab taken from a open blister. It can then be determined which type – HSV 1 or 2 – you have. HSV 1 is rarer in a genital infection.

The other herpes test is taken via a blood sample. The advantage of this is that you don’t need to be having an outbreak to take the test, but it has downsides too. It can’t tell you which part of the body is infected (lips or genitals), it can’t tell you whether you are likely to display symptoms or not and if can’t reveal if general symptoms you’ve had are down to the HSV virus. Consult your doctor to discuss which herpes test is for you.

Is there a risk of transmission through childbirth?

Pregnant women with genital herpes may pass the virus onto their baby during delivery causing serious illness. This thankfully isn’t common, but the medical staff should be told if you carry the virus so that risk of complications can be minimised.

Is there a cure for genital herpes?

Sadly there is no cure for HSV 2, and once the virus is in the body it is there for life. There are ways of managing the symptoms though, thankfully. Iodine paint will dry out the blisters and help prevent secondary infection, while salt baths are good at relieving discomfort.

Anti-viral medication can also be prescribed, and this will help reduce the severity of an outbreak If taken early enough (within 3 days of the symptoms appearing is best). For the unlucky few who suffer from regular outbreaks, some antiviral drugs including aciclovir, famciclovir and valaciclovir can be taken continuously. This will stop most outbreaks from occurring allowing minimal disruption.

Genital herpes has a very bad reputation, but as STDs go, it’s actually comparatively harmless and certainly is no bar to living a full, happy and sexually fulfilled life. If in doubt, get a herpes test – you have very little to worry about even if you are infected!

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