Herpes Testing Blog

This article has the point of dispelling some common myths about genital herpes, and also of  spreading the news about prevention.

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.”

A study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine based on data from a trial of an experimental HSV-2 vaccine that ultimately failed found that consistent use of condoms can lower both women’s and men’s risk of contracting the virus that causes genital herpes.

The study of more than 1,800 adults considered at high risk of genital herpes because they’d had either an STD or four or more sexual partners in the past year, found that those who said they usually used condoms were one-quarter less likely to test positive for herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) than those who usually had unprotected sex.

Overall, just over 6 per cent of the men and women became infected with HSV-2 during the 18-month study period. The findings provide one more reason to use condoms consistently, however, it’s important for people who know they have HSV-2 to avoid sex when they are having a symptom outbreak.

In the event that you have genital herpes and your partner doesn’t, you still have some excellent options when it comes to protection.  A condom should always be your first line of defense, though its shortcomings are a little more noticeable when it comes to herpes.  Genital herpes tends to have outbreaks around the entire genital area, and a condom, while it helps, doesn’t offer full coverage.  So you still need to be careful.  If he’s hesitant about performing oral sex, then a dental dam might also come in handy.  Dental dams offer more coverage than condoms, as they cover the entire genital area.  If you don’t have a dental dam, try using saran wrap, or cutting a condom lengthwise before placing it on your genitals.  Sure, it seems awkward, but it’s nothing a good talk beforehand won’t solve – fully clothed.  You don’t want to spring this sort of thing on your guy when you’re already rolling around in the haystack.

It’s a good idea to seek treatment for genital herpes as well.  Studies have shown that taking a Valtrex regimen to treat herpes can not only reduce the severity of the outbreak, it can also reduce the likelihood of transmitting the virus to your sexual partners by up to 50%!  If you don’t want to go to a pharmacy, you can also buy generic Valtrex online.  Remember, though, that 50% is still only 50% — it’s important to take other precautions as well.

Use your own judgment to make sure that you’re fully covered.  Beyond physical contact, you don’t need to worry about spreading herpes in any other way.  The virus can only live for a few seconds outside of a human body, so transmission through clothing, a toilet seat, or bed sheets is highly unlikely.  Taking Valtrex or other anti viral medications can make accidental transmission even less likely, but you should still be wary of sharing drinks during a cold sore outbreak.

Congratulations!  You’ve finally decided to stop being ashamed of your genital herpes and address the issue straight on.  Lucky for you, you have some excellent options when it comes to treating genital herpes.

Valtrex is a drug specifically designed to attack herpes straight on.  It has three main uses.  Valtrex works wonders on cold sores, helps prevent outbreaks of genital herpes, and treats herpes Zoster, also known as shingles.  Valtrex is safe for almost anyone to use, except in a few specific cases.  If you’re pregnant, have a weak immune system, or suffering from a kidney problem, ask your doctor before taking Valtrex.  He may prescribe a lower dose, or an alternate medication.  If you’re allergic to acyclovir, you shouldn’t take Valtrex either.  If you’re currently taking probenecid or cimetidine, your doctor may also recommend a lower dosage.  Other than that, though, Valtrex is the perfect solution to your herpes problem.  Valtrex is available with a prescription at your local pharmacy, and generic Valtrex is readily available online.

As soon as you feel that slight tingling sensation on your lips, where you know you’re about to get that nasty looking cold sore, that’s when you know it’s time to break out the Valtrex.  The earlier in the outbreak you take them, the better and more efficiently it works.  That’s why it’s important to have a supply of Valtrex available, even before you feel your next outbreak coming on.  Take 2 grams of Valtrex two times in that first day, and you have a good chance at killing that cold sore before it even comes to the surface.

For genital herpes, you take the full regimen, twice a day for ten days (meaning you need a total of 20 1-gram pills), the first time you have an outbreak, because the first outbreak is usually the most severe.  After that, the next time you feel an outbreak coming on, take two pills, twice a day for three days (a total of six pills), and you can usually pre-empt any future outbreaks.

For more information, please refer to http://www.pro-medics.com/

Finding out you have genital herpes can be a bummer.  But it doesn’t have to spell the end of your social life!  Dating and herpes don’t have to be mutually exclusive.  Many people are out there actively dating with genital or oral herpes.  Here are some ways for you to deal.

Make sure to tell your partner before things get hot ‘n steamy.  Sometime towards the end of the second date is usually a good time for these sorts of disclosures.  Don’t wait until you’re already rolling around under the covers!  It’s very important to understand that when you tell him you have herpes, you’re not confessing anything – you did nothing wrong.  You have herpes, what’s the big deal?  It’s a simple condition, that’s very easily kept under control.  80% of the US population already has some sort of herpes, and most of them don’t even know it!  Keep in mind that the likely situation here isn’t that you have herpes and he doesn’t – it’s more like you know about you’re condition, and he’s less informed.  Knowledge can be an advantage!

If your partner is freaking out because of some silly virus, it might be a good idea to have HIM tested.  Chances are, he’s positive for herpes, or possibly something even more serious.  Either way, he’ll be assured that you’re together in the same boat, and possibly better informed about his own health (and so will you!).  Remember, if you’re testing for herpes, he needs to get tested at least 16 weeks after his last sexual encounter (which might also be a second date disclosure).  If you find out that you both have herpes, then it’ll at least make a great bonding experience – you can go together to the pharmacy with your Valtrex prescriptions, or sit at your computer and buy generic Valtrex online!

Pro-medics.com, the online pharmaceutical company, announced their sales addition of the new herpes medication, Generic Valtrex. This innovative drug treatment has just recently become FDA approved for the prevention and treatment of Genital Herpes.

Valtrex is an anti-viral medication that has been medically proven to treat both cold sores and shingles, as well as shorten the length of Herpes treatment time.

Ralphe Rowe, Company Product manager explained, “Unfortunately, Genital Herpes has been currently increasing in appearance amongst the American public, involving a series of embarrassing and uncomfortable symptoms.” “Pro-medics online is proud to offer its customers a discreet and medically effective solution to treating the virus.”

Pro-medics online, offers its clientele free anonymous phone consultations, providing customers with live medical advice and support. This unique form of customer service alleviates the requirement of a prior prescription or potentially embarrassing visit to the doctor.

Pro-medics pharmaceuticals is known for offering its customers first rate service and quality medications at highly discounted prices. The company therefore stocks the preferred generic version of Valacyclovir, otherwise referred to as Generic Valtrex. Generic Valtrex is just as effective as its name brand counterpart, only it’s available at less than half the original drug’s price.

Regarding this decision, Pro-medics President of Sales, Sarah Tenne, explained “Our Company places an emphasis on bringing its customers quality drugs at discount prices. We see no reason for product quality to come at the expense of customer affordability”.

About Pro-Medics
Pro-Medics.com is an online pharmacy website, offering customers popularly prescribed prescription drugs. Pro-Medics also specializes in erectile dysfunction and diet pills, offering a full line of both popular brand name medications as well as their discounted generic counterparts.

For the complete article, please refer to http://www.prweb.com/releases/2009/07/prweb2610284.htm.

Genital herpes is a sexually transmitted infection that is caused by types 1 and 2 of the herpes simplex virus and is extremely contagious and cause painful sores on the genitals and the area surrounding it that can last for weeks without treatment of any type.

It can be spread through skin to skin contact, but mainly is prevalent on the mouth or genitals; as other skin on the body is too thick for the virus to get through. Type 1 is spread by kissing, since it is oral herpes, but it is also spread when oral sex is performed, but turns into genital herpes for the other person. Type 2 is spread through sexual contact, having sexual intercourse, anal or oral sex.

To prevent yourself from getting either form of highly contagious herpes, you should not have any type of contact with a person with an outbreak of herpes. This can include cold sores, blisters, and sores on the genitals. If your partner has oral or genital herpes, do not have sexual contact with him or her when an outbreak is present.

Type 2 of the herpes simplex virus, (genital herpes), is not able to live on a non-living surface, such as a toilet seat, hot tub, or bathtub. Therefore, it is not possible to contract herpes from any of those objects. The virus that causes herpes is very delicate and it cannot live long or at all on such surfaces. It requires skin-to-skin contact or bodily fluid contact through sexual encounters in order to live and multiply.

Everyone who is sexually active has the possibility of getting herpes. The risk of getting it increases with age and with the number of partners. It is always best to talk to a partner and know their sexual history and to get tested before getting involved sexually.

For the complete article, see http://www.micronutra.com/journal/herpes/can-you-get-herpes-from-a-toilet-seat

Men who are circumcised are less likely to get sexually transmitted infections such as genital herpes and human papillomavirus (HPV), but not syphilis, according to a study of adult African men published this week in the New England Journal of Medicine.

In a previous study, the same research team found that adult circumcision could reduce the risk of HIV infection.

Efforts to increase the practice of male circumcision in areas with high rates of sexually transmitted infections, including Africa, could have a tremendous benefit, say the study’s authors. Genital herpes has been associated with an increased risk of HIV, and HPV can cause genital warts as well as a higher risk of anal, cervical (in women), and penile cancers.

Roughly three-quarters of U.S. adults have had at least one HPV infection, according to an editorial by Matthew R. Golden, M.D., and Judith N. Wasserheit, M.D., both of the University of Washington. Although vaccines against some of the most dangerous HPV strains have been approved for girls ages 13 to 26, the vaccines are expensive and routine Pap tests are still necessary to pick up cervical cancers.

It’s not clear why circumcision may affect infection rates. But the study authors suggest that penile foreskin may provide a moist, favorable environment for herpes and HPV to survive and enter cells on the skin’s surface. Once the foreskin is surgically removed, the risk of infection may be reduced.

They also note, however, that male circumcision is not completely effective in preventing sexually transmitted infections. Safe sex practices, including consistent condom use, are still necessary to provide the best protection.

For the complete article, please see http://www.cnn.com/2009/HEALTH/03/26/healthmag.circumcision.hpv.herpes/index.html?iref=newssearch.