If you have genital herpes and are pregnant you are undoubtedly worried about passing the herpes simplex virus on to your unborn child. Hopefully your doctor has talked to you at length about your options and how herpes will impact your pregnancy.In the event that you have not spoken to your doctor about this there are a few things that you should know:

1. For starters you must talk to your doctor immediately. Testing for certain sexually transmitted diseases and other viruses is common place during a pregnancy. If your doctor has yet to test you or if you contracted herpes after the fact – it is imperative that you disclose this information immediately.

2. You probably know this better than anyone else, but herpes is a virus that is transmitted from skin to skin contact. Your unborn child is at no risk while he or she is in the amniotic fluids.

3. Because herpes is transmitted through the skin, there is a chance that you can pass herpes to your baby during the delivery. If you have a vaginal delivery and also have an outbreak at the same time – you can give it to them at that point. Due to the position of the baby, they can get ocular herpes or oral herpes.

4. It is very easy to avoid passing herpes to your child, your doctor will likely suggest that you deliver via a Cesarean section, this is where they cut open your abdomen and pull the baby out. By avoiding a vaginal delivery you have eliminated the risk of passing herpes through a vaginal birth.

The most important thing for you to do is to be honest with your obstetrician. If you have contracted HSV II during the course of your pregnancy you have to tell them.

It sounds like a pretty shocking question to ask doesn’t it? When people think of herpes, they usually think of a nasty sexually transmitted disease that is transmitted between sexually promiscuous people. Although herpes can sometimes be transmitted through sexual intercourse, what most people don’t realize is that over half the population also have herpes simplex type I, more commonly known as oral herpes. You want to know something else? Most of those people contracted it as children from harmless playing and harmless kissing.

The herpes simplex viruses are transmitted by skin to skin contact. What this means is that you do not have to have sexual intercourse or be physically intimate with a person to get it. If you are a parent with oral herpes and you give your children good-bye kisses before they go to school, or good-night kisses before they go to bed, then it is possible for you give them oral herpes.

I know you probably want to freak out, but it is a commonly spread virus between children. Even if you do not have herpes type I, if a classmate of your child has it, and they share a drink, give playful hugs, put pencils in their mouths and then share them – it can also be spread that way. Because the virus is so easily spread, many doctors consider it “harmless”. It is in fact harmless to the extent that it is not fatal. However the cold sores or outbreaks themselves can be painful and very unsightly. If your child does happen to catch oral herpes, make sure they understand that they should not share cups, they should avoid touching their mouths and then rubbing their eyes and practice good hygiene in general.

There are two primary forms of the herpes simplex virus, herpes type I and herpes type II. Herpes simplex type I occurs primarily in and around the mouth and is more commonly referred to as oral herpes or cold sores. Herpes simplex type II, or genital herpes – occurs primarily below the waist line. Although it is called genital herpes, it is not restricted to just the genital area, but literally anywhere below the waist. This can include your lower back, pelvis, inner thighs and buttocks.

When a person realizes that the blister that they have on their lip that they once thought was a harmless sign of the changing seasons is actually herpes type I, one of the first questions they is whether or not they can pass it on genitally to their partner.

The very short answer to this question is, yes – you absolutely can pass on oral herpes to the genital area. Herpes simplex virus is transmitted by skin to skin contact through the mucous membranes. If you have an oral herpes outbreak and perform oral sex on your partner you can pass your herpes to them. When this happens, they will have genital herpes. Just like herpes type II, herpes type I outbreaks can be difficult to identify. Sometimes they look really bad like puss-filled blisters then there are other times when they look like simple pimples. Just as with genital HSV, if you think you are having an outbreak on your mouth, it is best to refrain from any sexual contact – including kissing.

Many people with the herpes simplex virus are are asymptomatic sufferers. What this means is that even when the virus is active, they show no outward signs. In herpes this period of asymptomatic outbreaks is known as viral shedding. When a person has viral shedding, the virus is active and they are considered contagious.

Due to the fact that there are no obvious outbreaks, it’s very difficult – if not flat out impossible to detect when a person is going through a viral shedding phase.There are still many things about herpes and transmission that are not fully understood at this point. One reason that the various forms of herpes are difficult to eliminate through normal medical treatment is that fact that they go dormant for long periods of time, which renders them relatively immune to treatment.

The asymptomatic shedding phenomenon makes it difficult, if not impossible to avoid passing herpes on to someone solely by avoiding sex during outbreaks. On the other hand, people who are essentially asymptomatic can learn to recognize the more subtle signs of activity even though they don’t get the painful outbreaks. The reason that so many people don’t recognize that they have herpes is not that there are no symptoms but rather the symptoms are mild enough to be ignored or mistaken for other kinds of problems.

Although the CDC estimates that 1 out of 6 adults has herpes, that percentage gets higher with increasing age, since it’s incurable. One estimate says that something like 80 to 90 percent of the population
has herpes type 1 by the time they reach 50 years of age.

If you or someone you are intimate with has herpes type 1 or type 2 (genital) it is important to know that the virus can be transmitted during viral shedding.

Here is one of the most common questions when it comes to dating someone who has herpes, when you do not.

Question: I just started dating this new guy and he has herpes. I really want to to continue seeing him but I’m concerned about contracting genital herpes. How easy is it to get herpes?

Answer: Your concern is a very valid one, especially since you do not have the herpes simplex virus. Oral and genital herpes is transmitted through skin to skin contact. It can be transmitted even when there aren’t visible indications (outbreaks) of the virus being present. What this means is that herpes can be passed from one person to the next during a phase caused viral shedding. Believe it or not, genital herpes can also be transmitted even when a couple uses condoms as protection. Your partner can drastically reduce the chances of you getting herpes by taking daily suppressive treatments like Valtrex. This, combined with the use of condoms should protect you, statitiscs state that the combination of suppressive therapy and condoms reduce the cross-infection rate by 98%

Many genital herpes infections are spread from persons who are asymptomatic “Shedders” of the virus.
For those who recognize their symptoms, asymptomatic transmission appears to be far less likely than spreading the virus when lesions are present. Many couples have had sexual relations for years without transmitting herpes. Some simply avoid having sexual contact when signs or symptoms are present. Others use condoms or other protection between outbreaks to help protect against asymptomatic shedding.

How many outbreaks have you had in the past year? If it was only one, it was one too many. You spend a great deal of your life, suffering physically and mentally. You wait for the next outbreak wondering if you could have prevented it. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if the current outbreak was to be your last?

What happens when you first get herpes?

Symptoms of herpes usually develop within 2 to 20 days after contact with the virus, although it could take longer. These symptoms may last up to several weeks, varying from one person to the next. In many people, the first infection is so mild that it goes unnoticed. In others, the first attack causes visible sores. Even so, subsequent recurrences of the disease may cause lesions. When the sores are completely healed, the active phase of infection is over. Healing of the skin usually leaves no scars. In either case, the virus retreats into the nervous system and lies dormant.

Typical symptoms

The virus starts to multiply when it gets into the skin cells. The skin becomes red and sensitive, and soon afterward, one or more blisters or bumps appear. The blisters first open, and then heal as new skin tissue forms. During a first outbreak, the area is usually painful and may itch, burn or tingle. Flu-like symptoms are also common. These include swollen glands, headache, muscle ache or fever. Herpes may also infect the urethra, and urinating may cause a burning sensation.

How do you get Herpes?

Herpes is spread by direct skin to skin contact. Unlike a flu virus that you can get through the air, herpes spreads by direct contact, that is, directly from the site of infection to the site of contact. For example, if you have a cold sore and kiss someone, you can transfer the virus to their mouth. Similarly, if you have active genital herpes and have vaginal or anal intercourse, you can give your partner genital herpes. Finally, if you have a cold sore and put your mouth on your partner’s genitals (oral sex), you can give your partner genital herpes.

When Is Herpes Most Likely To Be Spread?

Herpes is most easily spread when a sore is present, but, it is also often spread at other times too. Some people notice itching, tingling or other sensations before they see anything on their skin. These are called “Prodromal Symptoms” and they warn that virus may be present on the skin. Herpes is most likely to be spread from the time these first symptoms are noticed until the area is completely healed and the skin looks normal again. Sexual contact (oral, vaginal, or anal) is very risky during this time.

For most people, the first outbreak is the most severe and the most painful. Symptoms typically include sores or lesions, to appear in and around the vaginal area and within the cervix in women, and on the penis and scrotum in men. It is possible to develop lesions in the urinary tract, around the anal opening, and on the buttocks or thighs of both men and women.

Once HSV has infected an individual and during the genital herpes incubation period, the virus travels through the nervous system and settles at the base of the spine. When there are no outbreaks or other symptoms of herpes, the virus is considered dormant. It is common for the virus to later “wake up,” travel the nerve paths to the surface of the skin, and cause another outbreak. Periods of outbreak are typically a highly contagious time and sex should absolutely be avoided.

Another period of increased contagiousness is during shedding. Shedding can occur anytime after the genital herpes incubation period and can be asymptomatic (no symptoms are present and an individual will likely not know they are shedding). During these shedding periods, small amounts of the virus are present on the skin, often at the place of first infection. This reactivation without symptoms may also occur in rectal tissue or in fluids from the penis and vagina. It is believed that people with HSV-2 genital herpes tend to have more shedding than those with HSV-1. Also, people with new infections are more likely to shed the virus than those with an infection more than a year old.

Can I still get herpes if I use a condom?

Answer:

The short answer to this question is yes. Absolutely. Condoms will not protect you from either form of herpes, type 1 (oral) or type 2 (genital).  Herpes is transmitted via skin to skin contact through the mucous membranes (usually the mouth or genitals).

So if you have oral sex with someone who has genital herpes, or if you have oral herpes and perform oral sex on someone who does not have the virus – you can transmit it to them.

The internet often gives the worst case example of what herpes outbreaks look likes. But for many many people  affected with the herpes virus, their outbreaks can be small and virtually unnoticeable. This does not mean that the virus can’t be passed along. If a woman has intercourse with a man who has a small outbreak on his inner thigh for example, and it brushes against her vaginal area – it is possible for him to pass it on to her. The same can happen in reverse.

Our Recommendations for Natural Outbreak Treatments:

• Natural Herpes Outbreak Treatment

• Take Control of your Herpes

• Treat Outbreaks Naturally