How Does Someone Get Herpes
Herpes is transmitted through direct skin-to-skin contact. This happens when a contagious area comes into contact with a tiny break in the skin or mucous membrane tissue, usually on the mouth or genitals. Most skin on the body is too thick for the virus to go through.
Oral herpes can be passed on through kissing or oral sex. If a person with oral herpes performs oral sex, it is possible to pass along the infection to the partners genitals. If a person with genital herpes has sex, it is possible for his or her partner to get genital herpes. Any person who is sexually active can get genital herpes.
Genital herpes can be transmitted sexually both when symptoms are present and sometimes when symptoms are not present. There are several days throughout the year when the virus may be on the surface of the skin, but there are no symptoms. Herpes can be passed through sexual contact during this time.
There are no documented cases of a person getting genital herpes from an inanimate object such as a toilet seat, bathtub, or towel. Herpes is a very fragile virus and does not live long on surfaces.
What Is The Difference Between Genital Herpes And Genital Warts
Both genital herpes and genital warts are STIs, are spread through skin-to-skin contact, and are caused by a virus. But the viruses that cause genital herpes and genital warts are different:
- Herpes simplex virus is the virus that causes genital herpes.
- Human papillomavirus is the virus that causes genital warts.
There is no cure for either genital herpes or genital warts. But, different medicines can help manage the symptoms of herpes and treat the complications of HPV infections that can cause genital warts.
What Are Cold Sores Chickenpox Shingles And Genital Herpes
Cold sores are caused by a herpes virus that may be spread by kissing or other physical contact with the infected area of the skin. They are small, painful ulcers that you get in or around your mouth. It is not known if valacyclovir tablets can stop the spread of cold sores to others.
Chickenpox is caused by a herpes virus called Varicella Zoster Virus . It causes an itchy rash of multiple small, red bumps that look like pimples or insect bites usually appearing first on the abdomen or back and face. It can spread to almost everywhere else on the body and may be accompanied by flu-like symptoms.
Shingles is caused by the same herpes virus that causes chickenpox. It causes small, painful blisters to appear on your skin. Shingles occurs in people who have already had chickenpox. Shingles can be spread to people who have not had chickenpox or the chickenpox vaccine by contact with the infected areas of the skin. It is not known if valacyclovir tablets can stop the spread of shingles to others.
Genital herpes is a sexually transmitted disease. It causes small, painful blisters on your genital area. You can spread genital herpes to others, even when you have no symptoms. If you are sexually active, you can still pass herpes to your partner, even if you are taking valacyclovir tablets. Valacyclovir tablets, taken every day as prescribed and used with the following safer sex practices, can lower the chances of passing genital herpes to your partner.
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How Common Is Oral Herpes Hsv
Though this article focuses on genital herpes caused by HSV-2, oral herpes is extremely common. In fact, many cases of genital herpes are caused by oral herpes, nothing more than a cold sore or contagious period that passed to the genitals through oral sex.
- 50-80% of Americans have oral herpes .
- About 50% of new genital herpes infections in women are actually caused by oral herpes from HSV-1 .
Myth #: People With Herpes Know That They Have It
Fact: Most people who have oral or genital herpes do not have any symptoms, according to the WHO .
Therefore, a person may not know that they have herpes, which means that they could unintentionally spread it to others.
The WHO state that only of people who have HSV-2 report receiving a diagnosis of genital herpes.
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Do What You Can With What You Have Where You Are
The average herpes statistics can be somewhat of a surprise. This virus is more prevalent and close to home than many may think and it is important for all of us as a human family to understand just what the reality of the situation is. Through our understanding we can come to see genital herpes in a broader perspective than its current position as a virus with many stigmas attached.
Can Genital Herpes Come Back
Yes. Genital herpes symptoms can come and go, but the virus stays inside your body even after all signs of the infection have gone away. The virus becomes “active” from time to time, leading to an outbreak. Some people have outbreaks only once or twice. Other people may have four or five outbreaks within a year. Over time, the outbreaks usually happen less often and are less severe.
Experts do not know what causes the virus to become active. Some women say the virus comes back when they are sick, under stress, out in the sun, or during their period.
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Myth #: Herpes Is Not Harmful
Fact: Most of the time, herpes is mild. However, it can cause serious complications in some cases.
For example, having HSV-2 can make a person three times more likely to contract HIV.
Also, if an infant has exposure to herpes during delivery, they are at risk of neonatal herpes. This can cause brain damage or death. Research suggests that neonatal herpes affects
Both types of herpes are most contagious when a person has symptoms. However, herpes can still spread when no symptoms are present.
Genital herpes spreads through sexual contact. The likelihood of a person spreading it will depend on:
- how often they have sex with another person
- if and how often they use barrier method contraception
- how long they have had herpes
Using barrier method contraception reduces the risk of spreading herpes to a sexual partner, but it cannot prevent it completely. Dental dams can reduce the risk of spread during oral sex, as herpes can pass between a persons mouth and their partners genitals.
Research shows that older herpes infections are less contagious than newer ones. In other words, if a person has had the virus for many years, they may be less likely to spread it than someone who has recently contracted it.
People can also get oral herpes through nonsexual contact with a person who has the virus. This contact may include kissing or sharing utensils or drinks.
How Many People In The Us Have Herpes
HSV-1 and HSV-2 are both known to cause genital herpes. It is estimated that, in the United States, 47.8% of people aged 1449 have HSV-1, while 11.9% of Americans in the same age group have HSV-2 . Theoretically, this means that over 195 million people in the United States might have genital herpes. But we know the number must actually be somewhere lower than this. Not every herpes infection actually causes symptoms, and if it does, it isnt always in the genitals. Herpes can cause a latent infection, meaning the virus can lie dormant in your system without causing any symptoms. Because of this, not everybody who has herpes knows it even though the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that there are 776,000 new cases of genital herpes in the US each year . And this means our estimations of how many people are infected could be way off.
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Are Canker Sores The Same Thing As Herpes
Cold sores and canker sores are often confused as the same thing, but theyre actually two distinct problems.
Herpes is a contagious virus spread from one person to another. Its an incurable condition that may present outbreaks of ulcers around the mouth or genitals from time to time. Herpes sores and ulcers are filled with pus and eventually burst and cause pain and discomfort until they heal.
Canker sores, on the other hand, are non-viral ulcers that form on the inside of the lips and cheeks. Experts estimate that 1 in 5 people are affected by recurrent canker sores. Unlike cold sores, canker sores resemble pink craters with a soft white border. Canker sores are usually minor, appearing a few times per year and lasting around one week.
What Should I Do If I Have Genital Herpes
If you have genital herpes:
- See a doctor or nurse as soon as possible for testing and treatment.
- Take all of the medicine. Even if symptoms go away, you need to finish all of the antiviral medicine.
- Tell your sex partner so they can be tested and treated if necessary.
- Avoid any sexual contact while you are being treated for genital herpes or while you have an outbreak.
- Remember that genital herpes is a lifelong disease. Even though you may not have a genital herpes outbreak for long periods of time, you can still pass the virus to another person at any time. Talk with your doctor or nurse about how to prevent passing the virus to another person.
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Can I Breastfeed If I Have Genital Herpes
Yes, you can breastfeed if you have genital herpes, but not if you have a herpes sore on one of your breasts. If you have genital herpes, it is possible to spread the infection to any part of your breast, including your nipple and areola.
If you have any genital herpes sores on one or both of your breasts:
- You can keep breastfeeding as long as your baby or pumping equipment does not touch a herpes sore.
- Do not breastfeed from the breast with sores. Herpes is spread through contact with sores and can be dangerous to a newborn baby.
- Pump or hand-express your milk from the breast with sores until the sores heal. Pumping will help keep up your milk supply and prevent your breast from getting overly full and painful. You can store your milk to give to your baby in a bottle for another feeding. But if parts of your pump also touch the sore while pumping, throw the milk away.
Can I Be Tested For Herpes
There are different tests available for herpes. Some tests can be done if you are experiencing symptoms. Blood tests are available for people who may not have had symptoms or if the signs have already healed. Not all tests are accurate, however, and many healthcare providers are unclear on which tests to perform. To find out more about getting an accurate diagnosis, visit our section on testing.
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Is Herpes Treatable
Herpes is not curable. The virus remains in the body for life. People with oral and genital herpes live with intermittent outbreaks and periods of dormancy. During dormancy, the virus resides in nerve cells without causing symptoms. The frequency of episodes depends on an individual, the person’s underlying health conditions, and certain stressors.
However, antiviral medication can shorten the duration of outbreaks or prevent outbreaks in people who have them often. Preventive treatment can also reduce the risk of transmission to a sexual partner.
Treatment options include:
- Valtrex is the most widely used.
- Zovirax needs to be taken several more times during the day but is usually cheaper.
- Famvir is more often used to treat shingles but is still effective in treating HSV-1 and HSV-2.
All of these medications are equally effective in treating and preventing herpes. Treatment typically lasts seven to 10 days.
Treatment for herpes is most effective when started within one day of symptom onset or during the prodrome. The prodrome is the period in which some people can tell they are about to have an outbreak because they begin to feel achy and might have pain or tingling in the genital area before blisters appear.
How Is It Treated
Genital herpes can be treated, but it cannot be cured.Anti-viral medicines can make outbreaks:
Living with genital herpes causes some people to:
- Feel embarrassed or ashamed
- Worry about infecting a sexual partner
- Worry that having herpes will affect relationships with sexual partners
- Avoid dating or sexual relationships
Most people with herpes are able to live with the virusand manage their outbreaks. Talking to trusted healthcare providers and friends can help. Your health careprovider can talk to you about medicines that treatoutbreaks and about ways to reduce the chance ofpassing the virus on to a sexual partner.
Medicines can help lower the chance that you will pass the virus to others.
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What Do I Do If I Find Out I Have Herpes
Its normal to have lots of different feelings after you find out that you have herpes. You might feel mad, embarrassed, ashamed, or upset at first. But youll probably feel a lot better as time goes by, and you see that having herpes doesnt have to be a big deal. People with herpes have relationships and live totally normal lives. There are treatments for herpes, and theres a lot you can do to make sure you dont give herpes to anyone you have sex with.
Millions and millions of people have herpes youre definitely not alone. Most people get at least one STD in their lifetime, and having herpes or another STD is nothing to feel ashamed of or embarrassed about. It doesnt mean youre dirty or a bad person it means youre a normal human who got a really common infection. The reality is that herpes can happen to anybody who has ever been kissed on the lips or had sex thats a LOT of people.
Herpes isnt deadly and it usually doesnt cause any serious health problems. While herpes outbreaks can be annoying and painful, the first flare-up is usually the worst. For many people, outbreaks happen less over time and may eventually stop completely. Even though the virus hangs around in your body for life, it doesnt mean youll be getting sores all the time.
And tell anyone you have sex with that you have herpes. Its not the easiest conversation, but its an important one. Here are some tips:
How Common Is Hsv
HSV-1 is a very common virus.According to the World Health Organization, an estimated 3.7 billion people aged 50 or under are infected by HSV-1, which amounts to around 67 percent of the global population within this age group.
HSV-1 is a common virus in both developed and developing countries. Most people infected with HSV-1 acquire it during childhood or young adulthood, with the typical age of acquisition ranging from five to nine years of age in Central Europe to 25+ in Northern Europe.
Rates of HSV-1 infection are highest in Africa, where WHO data estimates an 87 percent infection rate, and lowest in the Americas, where the infection rate is estimated at 40 percent to 50 percent.
Interestingly, women are slightly more likely to have HSV-1 than men , although the virus is very common in both sexes.
Simply put, HSV-1 is extremely common. The majority of the worlds populationparticularly people aged 50 or belowhave HSV-1, with most people experiencing few or no outbreaks despite being infected.
This means that if you have HSV-1, theres no reason to panic. Its a common virus that most people live with, and its effects are easy to control using widely available, affordable antiviral medicationlikevalacyclovir.
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Is There A Cure Or Treatment For Herpes
There is no cure for herpes. Antiviral medications can, however, prevent or shorten outbreaks during the period of time the person takes the medication.11 In addition, daily suppressive therapy for herpes can reduce the likelihood of transmission to partners.11
There is currently no commercially available vaccine that is protective against genital herpes infection. Candidate vaccines are in clinical trials.
How Is Genital Herpes Treated
Herpes has no cure. But antiviral medicines can prevent or shorten outbreaks during the time you take the medicine. Also, daily suppressive therapy for herpes can lower your chance of spreading the infection to your partner.
Your doctor will either give you antiviral medicine to take right after getting outbreak symptoms or to take regularly to try to stop outbreaks from happening. Talk to your doctor about treatment options.
During outbreaks, you can take the following steps to speed healing and prevent spreading herpes to other parts of your body or to other people:
- Keep sores clean and dry.
- Try not to touch the sores.
- Wash your hands after any contact with the sores.
- Avoid all sexual contact from the time you first notice symptoms until the sores have healed.
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Complications Of Herpes Infection
- Other skin problems: Herpetic whitlow, erythema multiforme, and eczema herpeticum
If a person does not receive treatment for herpes, the lesions will go away on their own. However, a person never gets rid of the virus. It stays in nerve cells.
Rarely herpes infection can spread to other parts of the body, such as the brain, where it can lead to encephalitis and brain inflammation. Neonates and people with weakened immune systems have the most significant risk for this complication.
Outside of antiviral therapy, people can treat the pain associated with herpes outbreaks with Tylenol or Advil . A cool compress to the genital area can relieve the burning pain. People with open sores that burn during urination can try urinating in a tub of water instead.
People can treat oral herpes sores with topical numbing medicines and lip balm.
It is also vital to keep oral and genital sores clean with regular soap and water to avoid an additional bacterial infection. Do not pick at the sores. Wear loose-fitting cotton clothing.