Herpes is a very common virus: the CDC estimates that as many as 45 million people ages 12 and older are infected with genital herpes.  This is about one in five adolescents and adults.  This means that it is very likely that you or someone you know have this virus.

Many people that have genital herpes may not know that they have it because they either have very mild symptoms or they mistake the symptoms – such as painful urination in women – for another condition such as a yeast infection.

Just by taking some simple precautions, including using a condom and taking anti-herpetic medicine, you can protect yourself and your partner from getting the virus. Another way, possibly the most effective way, to prevent herpes (or any other STD) transmission is for you and your partner to be tested and known to be uninfected.

What is genital herpes?

Genital herpes is caused by herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2), which can invade the body through a crack in the skin or through the mucosa of the mouth or genital areas. Signs of a HSV-2 infection are usually one or more blisters on or around the rectum or genitals. When the blisters eventually break, they leave tender ulcers or sores. Those can take two to four weeks to heal after the first breakout. Typically future breakouts will be less severe and have a shorter healing time.

Viral activity tends to decrease with time. This means that as time progresses, somebody with herpes will have less frequent and less severe outbreaks.

Did you know?

Genital herpes can spread whether or not there are symptoms present or if there have never been signs or symptoms.
Herpes is likely to be spread 3-5 days before a breakout.
Having genital herpes can make you two to five times more susceptible to HIV infection.
Condoms do not fully protect you against HSV-2 because the virus can infect areas not covered by the condom.
Even if you are not having a herpes outbreak, you may still “shed” the virus.

How can you protect yourself and your partner?

Abstinence is the only 100 percent effective way to ensure against the spread of any STD including genital herpes. Herpes can also be spread without the presence of signs or symptoms. Condoms act as a physical barrier against the spread of the virus, but they are only effective at protecting the area that it covers, which is probably not the only part of you that is coming in contact with your partner when you are having sex.

There are also over-the-counter as well as prescription medicines that one can take to suppress the frequency and severity of the outbreaks.  In doing so, they also reduce the risk of transmitting the virus. If you are interested in this, the best thing to do would be to ask you doctor about your options

Because such a high number of people are unaware that they are infected with genital herpes, testing for herpes is the best way to determine your status. A long-term mutually monogamous relationship with a partner who has been tested and is known to be uninfected is one of the best ways to remain disease-free.

*For the original article, please refer to http://www.hivtestingblog.com/original-articles/

“People are very shy talking about it,” he says on the line from his Sunshine Coast home. “They suffer feelings of shame, guilt, of feeling dirty….For some people, having herpes can feel like having leprosy.”

There are several varieties of the virus, like herpes zoster (chicken pox and shingles) and human-papillomavirus, one of the most common sexually transmitted viral infections. Then there is herpes simplex, which can cause sores around the mouth or in the genital area. The last type affects nearly one-quarter of American adults, according to this month’s issue of the University of California, Berkeley’s, Wellness Letter, and about 500,000 new cases occur each year. And it’s genital herpes that causes the most anguish.

“The psychological or emotional impact is worse than the physical effects,” Scipio says. “For people who are in relationships with someone who’s not infected, the stress of potentially infecting a partner is a prime trigger for outbreaks.

“One of my clients is a 17-year-old girl who got herpes from her first boyfriend. She’s completely traumatized. That’s the last thing you want to deal with when you’re just starting your sex life….I’m sad to report that a large number of people are now celibate or cut back on their social lives because of having herpes.”

According to Health Canada, genital herpes is most commonly spread during sex by direct contact with open sores. That includes oral sex, from cold sores on the mouth. Once you have herpes, you are infected for life. Symptoms include tingling or itching around the genitals within a week of having sex with an infected partner. That’s followed by the appearance of a cluster of tiny blisters that burst and leave painful wounds for as long as three weeks. The first outbreak often comes with or is preceded by flulike symptoms such as chills and fever. Once the sores heal, the virus retreats to nerve cells and stays dormant until the next attack.

According to the Wellness Letter, it’s not clear why the virus reemerges: “Many people believe that emotional stress brings on attacks of both genital and oral herpes, and there’s some evidence to support this.”

Scipio subscribes to the theory that stress can trigger outbreaks, a phenomenon he sees as one of virus’s positive aspects.

“It’s a very good barometer; it’s a warning sign when you’re out of balance,” he says. “If you’re not in balance, you’ll have problems. So having herpes forces you to eat healthily, to deal with stress in a constructive way, and to examine your lifestyle. It forces you to stay away from caffeine, cigarettes, too much sugar and processed foods; things you should be staying away from anyway.”

He also says he believes the virus can have a beneficial effect on your personal life. “It’s a litmus test for who really cares about you,” Scipio says. “If you’re in a relationship and you tell them you have herpes, if all of a sudden they aren’t interested anymore–or if they are still interested–it’s affirmation of their desire for you.”

Having the virus also forces carriers to be honest and to practice safe sex, he notes, adding that with a few precautions, herpes doesn’t mean people can’t have good sex lives. Using a condom is vital, even when there are no visible sores, but the areas of the skin, including the anal area, that aren’t covered by a condom aren’t protected, Health Canada states.

There’s no cure, but treatment can shorten attacks and reduce the pain of the sores.

Conventional treatment involves taking prescription antiviral drugs like Zovirax (acyclovir), Valtrex (valacyclovir), and Famvir (famciclovir). They help promote healing and suppress future outbreaks. According to a new study published in the January 1, 2004, issue of the New England Journal of Medicine, taking valacyclovir every day can cut the transmission of genital herpes by as much as 48 percent. GlaxoSmithKline, which manufactures the drug, sponsored the study.

Taking daily medication for a year or more is an approach known as suppressive therapy. The Wellness Letter states that suppressive therapy keeps herpes from recurring in 60 to 90 percent of people. “These drugs have been extensively studied and appear to be very safe, with few side effects, even if taken for years,” it says.

Scipio disagrees, arguing that prescription drugs can have side effects worse than the illness they’re supposed to fight. When he starting taking pharmaceuticals years ago, he found himself experiencing migraine headaches for the first time in his life. Scipio says antivirals do have a place in herpes treatment, particularly among those who have just been diagnosed and need some time to adjust to the shock, but he notes the drugs are costly, as much as $200 a month.

He has developed a protocol consisting of herbs and homeopathic agents that he claims is effective and inexpensive. Each client’s regimen is different, but he generally suggests combining internal and topical remedies. The most common herbs he uses include lemon balm, olive leaf, and desert parsley. He sometimes incorporates Bach Flower Essences, which he says can help people deal with emotional strain. While Scipio is convinced, many conventional health professionals would likely argue that the efficacy of herbal substances to treat herpes isn’t proven, and that just because something is natural doesn’t mean it’s safe.

Scipio offers regular clinics around the Lower Mainland, including in Vancouver (on the 14th of every month). He also offers an on-line clinic which he says appeals to many because it’s private. (For details, go to his Web site at www.natropractica.com/.)

Although Scipio understands people’s desire for secrecy, he hopes that will change.

“I counsel people to make peace with the disease,” he says. “I encourage people not to be ashamed and to have the courage to speak out, to not feel like a leper.”

Step One

There are three basic steps you need to take to successfully engage in sexual intercourse while having a genital herpes outbreak.  First and foremost is the protection of your partner.  You absolutely must use a condom.  A condom doesn’t always offer full protection, but covering the genital warts on your penis is definitely the first step towards healthier sex.

Second, you need to treat the genital herpes directly.  There are many medical solutions to herpes available, and probably the best is Valtrex.  You can buy generic Valtrex online, as well.  Valtrex’s biggest advantage is that in addition to treating herpes, it also minimizes the risk of transmission to an uninfected partner.  These two solutions can help put you at ease, which would definitely give your performance in bed a positive boost.  Talk to your doctor about possible allergies or side effects, but Valtrex is safe for the majority of the population.  If you’ve never had an allergic reaction to a drug in the past, then it’s probably ok for you.

Thirdly, and possibly most importantly, you can treat the erectile dysfunction directly.  Drugs like Viagra, Cialis or Levitra can give you a quick boost if you’re experiencing a little performance anxiety.  Sometimes all it takes are a few drug assisted successful performances in bed to get your self esteem up, and your anxiety back in line.

For the complete article, please refer to http://www.pro-medics.com/

Do you have un-protective sex and don’t use a condom? If you have multiple sex partners, then you are at high risk of getting an STD. STD’s are spreading across the world, so you should be careful who you have sex with. In the genital area, do you have blisters? If so, then you will need to go to the doctor in order to get checked for the herpes virus. How do you know if you have herpes? Well, continue reading this article in order to find out.

Are you afraid that you might have herpes? Unless your sex partner has a herpes outbreak at the time of intercourse, you will not know if they have this disease of not. Many women and men do not even realize what they are dealing with until they visit the doctor. Then, when they visit the doctor, they give a cold, blank stare when the truth is revealed.

There are many different signs of herpes. For one, itching and burning of the genital area is a sign. Yes, we know that this is also a sign of yeast infections. Urinating when you have herpes can be very painful as you will have a burning sensation. Take note that currently there is no known cure for this virus. However, scientists are constantly studying it. There is a plant out there that may hold the cure inside it. This has not been released yet and has to go through further studies.

If you are experiencing problems in the genital area, then you should consult medical attention right away. STD’s are never fun to deal with. How do you know if you have herpes? Honestly, you will not be able to fully tell if you have this virus until you visit your doctor and have some tests ran. The symptoms of herpes are a lot like the symptoms of a yeast infection.

For the full article, please refer to http://ezinearticles.com/?How-Do-You-Know-If-You-Have-Herpes—Warning—Too-Many-Sex-Partners-Can-Cause-Herpes&id=2419453 ]]> http://herpestestingblog.com/2009/07/10/herpes-information/how-do-you-know-if-you-have-herpes-warning-too-many-sex-partners-can-cause-herpes/feed/ 0 http://herpestestingblog.com/2009/06/30/herpes-treatment/cannabis-may-help-combat-herpes-viruses/ http://herpestestingblog.com/2009/06/30/herpes-treatment/cannabis-may-help-combat-herpes-viruses/#comments Tue, 30 Jun 2009 19:41:07 +0000 herpes_test http://herpestestingblog.com/?p=39 ScienceDaily (Sep. 24, 2004) — Tampa, FL (Sept. 22, 2004) — The compound in marijuana that produces a high, delta-9 tetrahydrocannbinol or THC, may block the spread of several forms of cancer causing herpes viruses, University of South Florida College of Medicine scientists report.

Once a person is infected with herpes, the viruses can remain dormant for long periods within white blood cells before they burst out and begin replicating. This reactivation of the virus boosts the number of cells infected thereby increasing the chances that the cells will become cancerous.

The USF team found that this sudden reactivation was prevented if infected cells were grown in the presence of THC. Furthermore, the researchers showed that THC acts specifically on gamma herpes viruses. The chemical had no effect on another related virus, herpes simplex-1, which causes cold sores and genital herpes.

Small concentrations of THC were found to be more potent and selective against gamma herpes viruses than the commonly used antiviral drugs on the market.

It was emphasized that more studies are needed. “We have not evaluated the effect of THC in an animal model yet so we do not recommend people start using pot to prevent or treat cancers.”

In fact, Dr. Meveczky said, THC has also been shown to suppress the immune system so smoking marijuana could “do more harm than good” to patients whose immune systems are often already weakened.

The findings, published Sept. 15 in the online journal BMC Medicine, could lead to the creation of antiviral drugs based on nonpsychoactive derivatives of THC.

For the complete article, please visit http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2004/09/040923092627.htm

Women over 18 years of age are advised to have a regular pap smear. Even women who are not sexually active and have gone through menopausal stage need to get Pap tests. It is vital to have Pap smear as a routinely health care to detect and prevent any instances that will lead to a more risky illness.

On rare cases, a Pap smear may indicate the presence of damaged cells that have been infected with the Herpes Simplex Virus type 2. At this point however, Pap smear tests are not reliable as a test for Herpes virus detection.

The accuracy of Pap test in detecting Trichomonas (a sexually ¬transmitted vaginal infection), Candida (yeast) or large amounts of bacteria, usually Gardnerella (the most common bacteria normally found in the vagina). Pap smear test involves a sample from the vaginal discharge while PCR or viral culture will involves scraping off of a tissue out of the skin lesions in sores and blisters during an outbreak.

Whether Pap smear shows the genital herpes infection, it is extremely important to prevent the risk of getting infected. When the lesions are present during an outbreak, avoid touching the sores because it is highly contagious at this time and to avoid spreading the virus to other parts of the body.

For the complete article, see http://www.forces-of-nature.net/topics/herpes/Will_Pap_Smear_Show_Genital_Herpes.htm