Recently Diagnosed with Herpes: Know the Facts!
August 2, 2009 by Natalia & Savannah
Filed under Herpes Information
Transmission is caused by close oral, anal, or genital contact, including intercourse, masturbation, kissing, or any direct skin-to-skin contact which allows for the transfer of bodily fluids.
A person is considered contagious when prodromal symptoms, active sores, and healing lesions are present.
Herpes is potentially contagious when no symptoms are present. That is, a person who has genital herpes is potentially always shedding active virus.
Approximately 1 in 6 members of the general infected population is thought to shed active virus occasionally without symptoms.
Some people do not get typical blister-like sores but harbor active virus in their saliva, vaginal, or penile secretions, and can shed the virus without knowing they have herpes.
Lesions can occur deep inside the vagina where they cannot be seen or felt, but can readily transmit the virus.
An uninfected individual has about a 75% chance of contracting herpes during intimate contact with someone actively shedding virus.
Oral herpes can be transmitted to the genitals, and vice versa. Symptoms are similar.
Auto-inoculation: An infected individual can spread the virus to other parts of his or her body by touching an area shedding virus and then touching, scratching, or rubbing another susceptible part of the body. Towels are especially conducive to this.
It is possible for a person to contract genital herpes if the partner with oral herpes performs oral sex. Oral herpes can be transmitted to the genitals, and vice versa. Symptoms are similar.
Environmental surfaces like toilet seats may be a source of contagion, but there is no evidence that this poses a real threat to the general population. Experts differ as to how long the virus can survive on its own. The primary cause of infection remains intimate contact.
Can I still get herpes if I use a condom?
May 18, 2009 by Natalia & Savannah
Filed under Herpes Transmission
Question:
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:
Information on Genital Herpes
May 17, 2009 by Natalia & Savannah
Filed under Herpes Information
Genital herpes is the sexually transmitted disease caused by the herpes simplex type 2 virus – also referred to as HSV2. It is also possible to contract genital herpes through having oral sex with someone who has cold sores, or the herpes simplex type 1 virus.
Herpes type I (cold sores) and Herpes type II (genital) are both caused by the same virus. The only difference between the two viruses is where the virus itself is located. The virus that causes genital herpes (herpes type II) is located in the base of the spine, this is what causes herpes type II related outbreaks to appear below the waist line. Genital herpes can appear anywhere below the waist, this includes the buttocks, thighs and pelvis.
Symptoms of herpes outbreaks typically begin with pain, tenderness, or itching in the genital area and may also include fever and headache. Bumps and blisters may appear on the vagina, penis, scrotum, anus, thigh, or buttocks. Blisters soon open to form painful sores that can last up to 3 weeks.
Other symptoms may include: pain or a burning sensation during urination; muscle aches; and tender, swollen glands in the groin area. After the first herpes infection, the virus can lie dormant without causing any symptoms. But the virus might reactivate later, leading to sores that usually don’t last as long as those during the first outbreak. The virus tends to reactivate following some type of stress, like a cold, an infection, hormone changes, menstrual periods, or even before a big test at school.
According to the CDC, ninety percent of the people affected with herpes type I or II are unaware of their status. The herpes virus can lie dormant for years. Often times, a person may have herpes symptoms that they mistake for something else. Because most herpes outbreaks aren’t major or that severe, it is easy to pass them off as shaving bumps, acne, allergic reactions or anything else that may cause small bumps.
Herpes is very contagious and is passed through the mucous membranes via skin to skin contact. Many people may not realize this, however condoms do not protect against herpes. This is because condoms do not completely cover the genital area. So if someone is experiencing an outbreak on their scrotum, and it rubs against a woman’s vagina or anus – the virus can be spread.
There is no cure for genital herpes, however there are suppressive treatments such as Valtrex. There are also natural treatments for herpes outbreaks.
If you have been diagnosed with genital herpes, the best thing you can do is to remain as healthy and stress free as possible. Stress and a poor diet are triggers to herpes outbreaks.
Our Recommendations for Natural Outbreak Treatments:
Information about Oral Herpes
May 17, 2009 by Natalia & Savannah
Filed under Herpes Information
Herpes Simplex I – also known as oral herpes or cold sores is a very common skin condition. It is estimated that somewhere between fifty to eight percent of the adult population in the United States has oral herpes with many of them receiving it as children through an innocent kiss from a friend or relative. Because it is so common, many people consider cold sores to be an “ok” form of herpes, while they consider herpes type II or genital herpes to be the “bad” type of herpes. The truth of the matter is, they are both caused by the same virus. Not only that, but a person with oral herpes can pass on their virus to a persons genitals (through oral sex) and the other person will now be at risk for genital herpes.
Much like genital herpes, oral herpes is contracted through skin to skin contact through the mucous membrane tissue. A person need not have any visible symptoms present to pass the herpes virus along to someone else.
Herpes Simplex is a very tricky virus because it will often lie dormant or have long periods of latency where there are little to no visible symptoms. A healthy immune system, diet and emotional stability will lead to less severe and infrequent outbreaks. It is important to eat well, avoid sugars, caffeine and stress.
While symptoms of oral herpes most commonly appear on or around the lips, oral herpes is not always limited to this area. For some, symptoms may appear between the upper lip, on or inside the nose, or on the chin or cheek. In these instances, herpes is referred to as oral-facial herpes.
Oral HSV-1 is especially common, with many people acquiring it during early childhood or adolescence. You have most likely seen someone experiencing an oral herpes outbreak before.
A primary infection with oral herpes can be similar to a first episode of genital herpes in that pronounced symptoms occur. During the first episode, classic lesions tend to form as small fluid-filled blisters that can appear as a single blister or in a cluster. Sores may also appear inside the mouth or on the back of the throat, and the lymph nodes in the neck may swell.
Much like genital herpes, however, symptoms of oral herpes can be very mild and go unnoticed. Subtle symptoms can be easily mistaken for another infection or condition such as a small crack or cut in the skin, chapped lips, bug bite, or a pimple, to name a few examples.
At least a quarter of people with oral herpes experience recurrences. Again, as with the first episode, symptoms vary from person to person. Lesions may appear as either a blister or a cluster of blisters or sores. It is possible that a recurrence will involve only the subtle symptoms described above.
The treatments available for oral herpes are the same drugs used for genital herpes including Valtrex and Acyclovir. There are also natural treatments for oral herpes outbreaks.
Our Recommendations for Natural Outbreak Treatments: