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.

CD Mohatta

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.

DoctorGoodSkin.com is a popular skin care guide where you can find a lot of information, articles and tips about STDs, skin diseases and conditions, skin treatments and procedures, skin care, skin care products, etc. You will also find information about hair and nails. You can try out some of the skin and health quizzes, to test your knowledge about various skin, hair and nail conditions. Other popular topics on the site include eczema, psoriasis, dermabrasion, hair loss, liposuction, cosmetic, sun damage, chemical peeling, etc. To learn more about Genital Herpes visit doctorgoodskin.com

Additional Reading:

Stop Herpes Now and From Coming Back For Good by Dr David Hoggs

Positive Single – Support site for herpes member.

Toronto, Ontario (January 20, 2008)

POSITIVESINGLES.COM adds new feature: “Ask STD counselor” – adding more support for its members than just dating services.

Finding your match when you are suffering from an STD can be easier than you think. Since January 15, 2008, members at PositiveSingles.com can ask a STD counselor questions as well as continuing to enjoy updated information about all STDs, various STD forums, uploading pictures, sending e-mails or winks to other members and you can have a limited free membership.

Thousands of people get STDs and don’t realize it. Having an STD could lead to confusion, resentment, anger, and isolating of yourself. One might even be filled with many questions.

According to the CDC, there are over 65 million Americans currently living with an STD, 19 million new STD infections each year, one in three sexually active men and women living with Herpes, and about 50% of all sexually active Americans are affected by HPV.
With STD, many people are afraid to reach out to the people whom they are closest to. The stigma attached to people with infectious diseases suddenly becomes personal. They are afraid of losing friendships and family altogether. This fear can quickly become a reality due to a lack of education.

PositiveSingles.com recently added a STD counselor to the site that has accurate information about STDs. The information that the STD counselor provides covers the most updated information about STDs. The STD counselor can answer such questions as: where to get HPV shots, support group listings, counseling services, relationship questions or any other questions a STD sufferer might have. Information regarding STD testing are also provided when requested.

Members get quality information in addition to the core dating services. Thousands of people on PositiveSingles.com meet, date and get married. Before the members meet they can talk to someone who is facing the same issues that they are facing and share with someone who has the same concerns. By talking about these issues, members can learn new ways to approach a person and stay emotionally stable. Some of the members of PositiveSingles.com are learning how to deal an STD that changed their lives. Some people are looking for a local relationship or partner who lives nearby. The sharing and support of a problem creates a healthy and positive atmosphere.

About PositiveSingles.com

PositiveSingles.com was launched in 08-Aug-2002, and markets its services around the world. The founding team’s vision is to build a community for people with STDs, where they can find friendship, support, and love! It is ranked the #1 website for online dating for those with STDs. 3/5 of those members are living with HSV, 1/5 with HIV/AIDS, 1/10 with HPV. There are more STDs. Hundreds of members join every day. Beyond the networking of relationships, PositiveSingles.com has medical information and success stories. Those affected by a disease and those around them are staying positive and strong. The family and friends of an individual with an STD can be very supportive as well. For more information, visit http://www.PositiveSingles.com.

*Source: http://www.plannedparenthood.org/health-topics/stds-hiv-safer-sex/herpes.htm

http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/expectmore/summary/10002162vositiveSingles.com

Lip herpes, or Herpes simplex 1 is a painful viral condition that produces red fluid filled blisters on the lips, mouth and even sometimes the nose. Also known as cold sores and fever blisters, they can also occur on the inside of the mouth and gums as well.

90% of all adults in the United States are exposed to the virus by the age of 60. 40% of people infected will experience the full blown symptoms of oral herpes. If you suffer from fever blisters, chances are that you picked it up as a child. 60% of all children are exposed to the virus by late puberty.

When someone becomes infected with herpes HSV1, the virus makes its way through the skin from the point of infection into a group of nerve cells in the brain known as ganglion. The virus lodges in the ganglion and becomes dormant. Some people are fortunate enough to never experience an actual outbreak of HSV1.

What causes the virus to become activated? Stress on the immune system which had kept the virus suppressed . Once activated the symptoms of a cold sore will begin. These typically are;

A tingling, prickly or itching sensation.
Slight redness, swelling and pain.
An eruption of a blister or cluster of blisters.
The blisters break down into yellowish shallow ulcers.
The emergence of a hard irregular crust, with bleeding.
After a period of 7-14 days the blister will recede and heal.

Once the infection becomes active, it can be spread to others by oral contact. During this time you should avoid kissing or other forms of contact with people. Do not share food, drink or dining and kitchen utensils. Do not share your toothbrush or dental floss. Do not share towels. Also its best to avoid contact with infants and people with a weakened immune system.

Certain stressful conditions are known to reactivate the dormant virus. Some of these are;

Exposure to sunlight, wind and cold.
Lack of sleep
Menstruation and hormonal changes.
Pain
Certain Foods
Drugs
Dental Procedures
Anything that stresses your immune system

Cold sores symptoms can be treated with topical applications of ice, alchohol or lip balm. Over the counter treatments include antiviral creams such as Decisional (Abreva), and Peniclovir (Denivar).

Timothy J Reeves

There is an All-Natural Permanent Cure Available http://www.guidetonaturalcures.com/how-to-get-rid-of-cold-sores.htm Timothy Reeves is a Holistic Health Researcher and Author.

Additional Reading: Stop Herpes Now and From Coming Back For Good by Dr David Hoggs

Genital herpes is a non-curable disease and it is desirable what we try to reduce the risk of contacting it. As we know it is mostly spread by skin-to-skin contact mainly during sexual act. To minimize your exposure to HSV follow the following- 1. Avoid any sex if your partner is having an active outbreak. Using condom may not protect transmission from exposed areas. Herpes virus is most active during active outbreak and any contact is best avoided during this period. Inform your partner if you are having an active outbreak. This includes the period called prodrome phase when the person realizes that active outbreak will be setting in soon. During this period tingling and or burning sensations occurs on the genital skin. 2. Most cases of Genital herpes are transmitted by people who are affected by it, but do not realize that. Get yourself and your partner tested to find out the presence of herpes antibodies. The good news is that if you and your partner have same kind of herpes you may not need to take precautions. 3. Use latex condoms during every sexual encounter. Use latex condoms even when no signs of an outbreak are present. Some people shed virus even if they show no outbreak. This is called asymptomatic shedding. Protection is never 100% with condoms because exposed areas may shed virus. 4. You and your partner may wish to consult your doctor about suppressive antiviral therapy. This therapy reduces the chances of transmission and increases the gap between active outbreaks.

CD Mohatta

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. More more information on Skin Care visit doctorgoodskin.com .The author also writes text and advises for content for myspace comments, and designs creative ideas for myspace layouts.

Additional Reading:

Stop Herpes Now and From Coming Back For Good by Dr David Hoggs

Positive Single – Support site for herpes members.