By Abigail Lewin

Men carrying the virus for genital warts may be at increased risk of developing HIV, a new study claims.

The study of Kenyan men has raised the possibility that vaccinating against genital warts could drive down the rates of infection of HIV, which is causing devastation in Asia and Africa.

Scientists from the University of North Carolina tested 2,168 Kenyan men at the start of the study and discovered that half tested positive for Human Papilloma Virus, which is the cause of genital warts and cervical cancer in women.

Over the course of 3.5 years, 6% of the men with HPV developed HIV, compered to just under 4% of those who at the start of the study tested negative for HPV. The researchers made controls for the risk factors for HIV and eventually showed that men with HPV were 80% more likely than those without to become infected with HIV.

In the latest study, even when researchers factored in the impact of circumcision on HIV infection, sexual history and whether the men had genital herpes, which is also associated with HIV, there was a strong link between HPV and AIDS.

The results suggest that the HPV virus itself may make someone more susceptible to HIV. The results are part of a wider study into HIV, which showed that circumcision reduces a man’s likelihood of developing HIV.

Genital warts is a very common sexually transmitted infection. Sufferers develop small warts around the genitals and anus. The warts can be controlled with topical creams like Warticon and Aldara. However though Warticon and Aldara can treat visible warts, the virus itself is incurable.

A vaccine for the strain of HPV that causes genital warts has however been developed, named Gardasil. Though vaccination programs have focused on young women, in order to reduce incidences of cervical cancer, Gardasil was recently approved to vaccinate young men.

While many Western governments have launched vaccination programs for women, the costs of a vaccination program in the third world, worst hit by HIV, would likely prove probative. However it is likely that the team, lead by Dr. Jennifer S. Smith, will conduct trials to see whether the vaccine could reduce rates of HIV transmission.

In a written statement, Smith said “Finding a vaccine to prevent HIV is the greatest hope for curbing the world’s AIDS pandemic, but so far there is no such vaccine. However, there is a vaccine to prevent specific types of HPV infection, and vaccinating young men before they become sexually active could potentially help prevent the spread of HIV.”

Abigail Lewin is a health writer specialising in sexual health and sexually transmitted infections such as genital warts. She has previous written about treatments such as Aldara and developments in the pharmaceutical world.

Additional Reading:

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

Positive Single – Support site for herpes members.

By Maggie M Turner

Nothing is worse for a young adult about to set out on the path of their life than discovering from one’s physician during a routine check up or through blood work that the young adult has unwittingly contracted a sexually transmitted disease. Worse yet, is the discovery that the disease in question is in fact genital herpes.

This is then compounded by the fact that there is no known cure for genital herpes, and there is no real effective medical treatment for the condition either. This has led many people so afflicted with the disease to the Internet, in search of other potential remedies, and this had led to the discovery of several types of herbal cures and natural herpes cures.

First, it will help to know a little bit about what genital herpes is exactly. Genital herpes is a form of the herpes simplex virus that effects the patient’s genitals with painful and uncomfortable flare ups, rashes, dry skin, pus filled blisters and painful and irritating soars throughout the pubic region.

There are also a host of other symptoms, including pain in the legs and arms, pain in the rectum and anus, pain during urination, nausea, involuntary urethral discharges for men, and involuntary vaginal discharges for women.

Worse yet, genital herpes is a chronic condition that there is no known cure for, and few viable medical treatments are available either. Though there are anti viral drugs, they are largely ineffective. So it is little wonder then that so many patients are seeking a natural herpes cure. And while there are many out there on the market, they too are largely ineffective at treating the actual herpes virus, or even the symptoms during a flare up.

There are two basic types of natural cures for genital herpes. There are the herbal treatments and there are the topical treatments. Technically there is a third method, which is basic attention to hygiene, but that is not so much of a natural cure for herpes as it is just plain common sense.

Herbal Treatments
Taken in the form of oral supplements or as an herbal topical solution, whole body healers and herbalists swear by the abilities of the herbs at their disposal to abate the flare ups of the herpes virus and to ease the pain, discomfort and frustration of the condition itself. Unfortunately there is little evidence that these herbal treatments are in any way effective.

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

Positive Single – Support site for herpes members.

By D. Ferrer

Herpes is a very contagious disease that spreads rapidly from point A to point B. So you might wonder, Can you get vaginal herpes from the mouth, then if the disease really is so contagious? Well, the first thing you have to know is how herpes works, you either can get it on your mouth, your genitals or many other places because the herpes is caused by a virus that stay in a latent stage in the verves until it get the right conditions to appear, and develop the herpes.

It can get into the glands beneath the skin and often can even destroy the underlying nerves. As I already told you it is caused by a virus that spreads easily and is highly contagious. Symptoms begin to show about two days after exposure or even three weeks, but once they do, they can be very painful and very itchy in sensitive areas.

So, can you get vaginal herpes from the mouth? Yes it is absolutely possible, it can be transmitted by oral sex, if one of the persons have the oral type anywhere on the oral area such as mouth lips, inner cheeks, gums. It also can be transmitted by touching the genital area with an infected finger with herpes; it is a very contagious disease.

There are a lot of fluids in the pustules and blisters forming the herpes lesions that´s why it can easily transfer to anything that it touches. Herpes is no joke, as it is highly contagious and will spread quick and fast. So if one has herpes on the mouth and transfers it to the genitals of another, you can get vaginal herpes from the mouth. In fact, it is very likely that it will transfer as the genitals and soon, after two days or two weeks, begin to show signs or having sores or other painful consequences.

So if you are still wondering if you can get vaginal herpes from the mouth because you already had contact with a herpes lesion and you still are not presenting any symptom, you just will have to wait few days, because it could even appear after 5 days after the exposure.

Practicing safety in intimacy is important to protect yourself and your health from any infection and viral spread of infection. There is no cure for herpes and you will endure the pain for a long time if you do not take precautionary methods in a timely manner. Staying safe means staying cautious and making sure that your partner doesn’t have anything that could potentially transfer to you. Keep in mind, also, that herpes doesn’t always present itself till later. That person might not even know that he or she has the disease and might spread it to you before their own symptoms are apparent.

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

Positive Single – Support site for herpes members.

By Savannah Francis

So you’ve been single with herpes for a little while, none of your friends are aware of the fact that you have herpes – but insist that it’s time for you to get out and start dating again. Being the caring friends that they are, they set you up on a blind date. Now in your mind, this is the worst thing that could possibly happen – however you decide to go on this date anyway as to not embarrass your friends. The date seems to be progressing well, but now you are faced with one question – should you tell your date that you have herpes?

First, let’s get a few herpes facts out of the way:

1. Herpes is spread through skin to skin contact, this includes kissing as well. If you have herpes of the mouth, you can spread it by kissing.

2. Herpes can be spread even when you show no outward signs of an outbreak.

3. Herpes of the mouth can be transmitted to the genitals during oral sex.

Now that you have been reminded of how herpes is spread, let’s answer the question of how and if you should tell your date. Although the herpes virus poses no threat to life, the disease is still very much misunderstood and demonized. Herpes is often the butt of the joke amongst the younger generations and this can make disclosing your status very uncomfortable. Unless and until you are very comfortable with the fact that you have herpes, it is not necessary to out yourself on the first date.

Before you consider telling a potential new partner about your herpes status there are a few things that you may want to think about:

1. Trust: Can you trust this person? No matter how comfortable you are with your herpes situation, not everyone needs to know that you are infected with the virus. If you tell this person, can you trust that they will keep it in confidence and not try to humiliate you amongst mutual friends or strangers?

2. Is there a future: Even though it’s just a first date, you have to ask yourself if you really see any future dates with this person. If you’re pretty certain that there won’t be any more dates, then save yourself the trouble. However if you believe there will be multiple dates afterward know that you will eventually need to tell your new friend about your oral or genital herpes.

Not every date leads to a relationship or intimacy, so you should not feel compelled to talk about herpes until you have really confirmed whether or not there is any long term potential. If the idea of dating outside of the herpes community scares you – there are dozens of online herpes dating sites available. Visit herpes dating advice today for more tips.

Additional Reading:

Positive Single – Support site for herpes members.

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