Thursday, March 28, 2024

Herpes Transmission Female To Male

How Does Genital Herpes Spread

Herpes Simplex Virus in Depth / Alynn Alexander, MD

Herpes can be spread when an infected person has lesions blisters and open sores on their body or when you do not have any symptoms. Taking antiviral medicine can help you reduce the risk of spreading genital herpes to your sexual partners. You can also:

  • Inform your sexual partner that you have genital herpes.
  • Use a condom every time you have sex.
  • Refrain from having sex when you have symptoms.
  • Abstain from performing oral sex if you have blisters or open sores around your mouth.

Protection Vs No Protection Transmission Risk

A study found that condoms can reduce transmission by 96% from men to women and 65% from women to men. The same study found that among heterosexual couples who do not use condoms, there is a 5 to 10% chance that a person with herpes could transmit the disease to their partner within their first year together.

Experts advise that using condoms during sex and not having sex during outbreaks can greatly reduce the risk of passing on herpes to a partner.

How To Prevent Herpes

But most people have sex at some point in their lives, so knowing how to have safer sex is important. Using protection like condoms and dental dams when you have sex helps to lower your risk of getting an STD.

Herpes can live on areas of your body that arent protected by condoms , so condoms wont always protect you from herpes. But they do lower your chances of getting herpes.

Dont have sex with anyone during a herpes outbreak, because thats when it spreads most easily. But herpes can also spread when there are no sores or symptoms, so its important to use condoms and dental dams, even if everything looks and feels A-OK.

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How Do You Get Herpes

The skin on your genitals, mouth, and eyes can be infected easily. Other areas of skin may get infected if theres a way for the herpes virus to get in, like through a cut, burn, rash, or other sores. You dont have to have sex to get herpes. Sometimes herpes can be passed in non-sexual ways, like if a parent with a cold sore gives you a peck on the lips. Most people with oral herpes got it when they were kids. A mother can pass genital herpes to a baby during vaginal childbirth, but thats pretty rare.

You can spread herpes to other parts of your body if you touch a herpes sore and then touch your mouth, genitals, or eyes without washing your hands first. You can also pass herpes to someone else this way.

Herpes is most contagious when sores are open and wet, because fluid from herpes blisters easily spreads the virus. But herpes can also shed and get passed to others when there are no sores and your skin looks totally normal.

Most people get herpes from someone who doesnt have any sores. It may live in your body for years without causing any symptoms, so its really hard to know for sure when and how you got it. Thats why so many people have herpes its a pretty sneaky infection.

Because the virus dies quickly outside the body, you cant get herpes from hugging, holding hands, coughing, sneezing, or sitting on toilet seats.

How Big Is The Risk Of Infection

Genital Herpes: Symptoms, Causes, Treatment, and Diagnosis

The likelihood of being infected with genital herpes during sex depends on many factors, including how often you have sex, whether and how frequently you use condoms, and how long your partner has already been infected. Someone who has had the virus for a long time is less contagious than someone who has just been infected. In general, women have a higher risk of becoming infected than men. Having other sexually transmitted diseases such as HIV also increases the risk of transmission.

In studies with couples where one partner had genital herpes, the other partner became infected within one year in 5 to 10% of the couples. The people in these studies only rarely used condoms, though and if they did, it was mostly during an outbreak. One of these studies showed that infection occurred in an estimated 1 out of 1,000 sexual acts.

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Herpes Is A Common Infection

Herpes is a super-common infection that stays in your body for life. More than half of Americans have oral herpes, and about 1 out of 6 Americans has genital herpes. So chances are a few people you know are living with herpes.

Theres no cure for herpes, but medication can ease your symptoms and lower your chances of giving the virus to other people. And the good news is, outbreaks usually become less frequent over time, and even though herpes can sometimes be uncomfortable and painful, its not dangerous. People with herpes have relationships, have sex, and live perfectly healthy lives.

When Should You Get Tested For Genital Herpes

On average, herpes takes about two to 12 days after sexual contact for herpes symptoms to appear. You should get tested for herpes if:

  • You’re experiencing symptoms like sores, flu-like symptoms, and a foul-smelling discharge from the genitals.
  • You’re pregnant and have had a partner with herpes. Pregnant people with herpes do have a small risk of having herpes simplex virus hepatitis , which is inflammation of the liver. Pregnant people with herpes can also pass on the virus to their babies.
  • You have multiple sex partners.
  • You’re a man who has sex with men since they are more susceptible to STIs.
  • You have sex with someone with HIV, increasing the chance of transmitting herpes since a weaker immune system can increase and worsen herpes breakouts.

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Hsv1 And Oral Transmission

The other commonly transmitted strain of the herpes simplex virus, HSV1, typically results in oral herpes, or cold sores around the mouth. This form of HSV is more readily transmitted via oral contact, such as kissing, than through genital contact.

Unlike HSV2, which usually lies dormant between outbreaks at the base of the spine, HSV1s latency periods are typically spent in nerve endings near the ear. Thats why its more likely to cause oral herpes than genital herpes.

HSV1 and HSV2 are genetically similar to each other and clinical symptoms are indistinguishable.

For this reason, having one form of the virus sometimes reduces the risk of acquiring the other form. This is because your body actively produces antibodies to fight the virus once you have it. However, its possible to contract both forms.

HSV1 and HSV2 can both have no symptoms or very mild symptoms that you might not notice. Not having symptoms doesnt mean you dont have the virus.

If you do have symptoms of HSV1 or HSV2, they may include:

  • a tingling sensation, itching, or pain, anywhere in the genital area or around the mouth
  • one or more small, white blisters that may become oozy or bloody
  • one or more small, red bumps or irritated-looking skin

Its important to see a doctor if you suspect you have acquired HSV1 or HSV2. Theres no cure for herpes, but antiviral medications can help reduce the number and severity of your outbreaks.

Female To Male Hiv Transmission

How to manage Herpes in young men? – Dr. Nischal K

It is believed that female to male HIV transmission rates are lower than the other way round. Let us delve deeper into this subject of HIV transmission probability through the following HealthHearty article.

It is believed that female to male HIV transmission rates are lower than the other way round. Let us delve deeper into this subject of HIV transmission probability through the following HealthHearty article.

HIV kills millions of people all over the world, and infects several others. It remains the most dreaded disease of the 21st century. The fact that HIV/AIDS has no permanent cure makes it even more threatening. Attempts are being made to control the rapid spread of this disease. There are several government and private agencies, which publish information on HIV transmission statistics from time to time. These statistics are often indicative of the extent to which HIV has spread in our society, and what are the most affected groups.

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How Do I Know If I Have Genital Herpes

Most people with genital herpes have no symptoms or have very mild symptoms. Mild symptoms may go unnoticed or be mistaken for other skin conditions like a pimple or ingrown hair. Because of this, most people do not know they have a herpes infection.

Herpes sores usually appear as one or more blisters on or around the genitals, rectum or mouth. This is known as having an outbreak. The blisters break and leave painful sores that may take a week or more to heal. Flu-like symptoms also may occur during the first outbreak.

People who experience an initial outbreak of herpes can have repeated outbreaks, especially if they have HSV-2. However, repeat outbreaks are usually shorter and less severe than the first outbreak. Although genital herpes is a lifelong infection, the number of outbreaks may decrease over time.

Ask a healthcare provider to examine you if:

  • You notice any symptoms or
  • Your partner has an STD or symptoms of an STD.

STD symptoms can include an unusual sore, a smelly genital discharge, burning when peeing, or bleeding between periods .

Chances Of Spreading Herpes On Antiviral Medication And Outbreak Abstinence

Valtrex, a drug prescribed to prevent genital herpes outbreaks, may prevent the spreading of the virus.

Once-daily Valtrex was found to lower the chance of a partner getting herpes from someone with no symptoms by about fifty-percent.

For partners with symptoms, the risk was lowered by 77%.

“This is the first time that a drug has been shown effective against the transmission of virally transmitted infections,” lead researcher Larry Corey, MD, tells WebMD.

â Herpes-female to uninfected male: 2% â Herpes-male to uninfected female: 5 %

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Herpes Transmission Rates Breakdown

  • The likelihood of passing genital herpes to a partner is highest during an outbreak .
  • When a person is not experiencing an outbreak, there is a 4-10% chance of transmitting it.

According to studies done by Valtrex, these are the rates of transmission per year of regular sex:

  • If partners avoid sex during outbreaks: 4% chance transmission from female to male 8% male to female
  • If partners also use condoms or antiviral medication: 2% female to male 4% per year male to female
  • If partners also use condoms and antiviral medications: 1% female to male 2% male to female

No Sex When Genital Lesions Are Visible

figure 1

It is important to know that the symptomatic herpes simplex virus is highly contagious. Thatâs why if one partner is herpes-positive, abstinence is a must during times when he or she has genital ulcers.7 This is true for oral sex if the herpes-positive partner has visible symptoms near the mouth.9 However, the absence of visible ulcers or blisters does not guarantee full protection from infection and there is still some probability of genital herpes transmission.7

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If Someone With Herpes Has No Sores Can It Still Be Passed On

If someone has herpes but no sores, can it still be passed on to another person? Spence*

Yes. Even when no sores are present, the herpes is still active in the body and can spread to others.

If you or your partner has herpes, reduce the risk of spread by:

  • using a condom every time you have sex . The herpes virus can live outside of the area that a condom covers, though, so a condom may not always prevent the spread.
  • avoiding sex during outbreaks
  • making sure the infected person takes antiviral medicine every day as prescribed by the health care provider

The only way to completely prevent herpes and other STDs is to not have sex .

  • *Names have been changed to protect user privacy.

Is Undiagnosed Herpes Contagious

Yes. Herpes can be transmitted with or without symptoms, and about 88% of people aged 14 to 49 do not know they have herpes. The virus is contagious about 10% of days for people without outbreaks. For those with outbreaks, it is contagious about 20% of days.

Among heterosexual couples who do not regularly use condoms, the transmission rate from a partner who has herpes to one who does not is 5-10% within one year.

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Why You Should Go To A Sexual Health Clinic

You can see a GP, but they’ll probably refer you to a sexual health clinic if they think you might have genital herpes.

Sexual health clinics treat problems with the genitals and urine system.

Many sexual health clinics offer a walk-in service, where you do not need an appointment.

They’ll often get test results quicker than GP practices and you do not have to pay a prescription fee for treatment.

Symptomatic Versus Asymptomatic Herpes Transmission

Can constant friction of genitals lead to Herpes? – Dr. Sudheendra Udbalker

This table summarizes the chance of transmission of herpes when a person is symptomatic and when he or she is asymptomatic .

The table presents information about the overall chance of getting a herpes infection over time, with multiple contacts. Please notice that infected people pass the infection regardless of whether they are symptomatic or asymptomatic.

The percentages mentioned bellow are general estimates and may vary from person to person based on immune system strength , skin condition , and race .

Disease manifestation
10.2%

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Genital Herpes Transmission Risk By Gender

About 12% of people aged 14 to 49 in the United States have genital herpes. The risk of genital herpes can differ depending on gender and sexual orientation.

The following are relevant findings pertaining to genital herpes transmission risk:

  • Women are more likely to have genital herpes. This might be because it is easier for the virus to transmit from a man to a woman via penile-vaginal sex.
  • About 16% of women aged 14 to 49 have genital herpes.
  • For men aged 14 to 49, the rate of genital herpes is about 8%.
  • The rate of genital herpes among men who have sex with men is about 16% to 28%, depending on ethnicity. Rates are higher among nonwhite men, and studies say this is likely because of less access to health care and higher poverty rates.
  • Rates of herpes transmission were lower among gay women than among bisexual women

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How Can I Make Sure I Dont Give Anyone Herpes

Is this herpes? First ever outbreak

If you find out that you have herpes, try not to freak out. There are a few ways that you can stop it from spreading to your partners and other parts of your body.

  • Talk with your doctor about taking herpes medication every day, which can lower your chances of spreading herpes.

  • Dont have sex during a herpes outbreak, even with a condom. There may be sores on places the condom doesnt cover.

  • Learn how to tell when an outbreak is coming, and stop having sex right when you notice these signs. You may feel a burning, itching, or tingling feeling that lets you know youre about to get sores.

  • Dont have sex until your sores are totally gone, and the scabs heal and fall off.

  • Dont touch your herpes sores, because you can spread the infection to other parts of your body or other people. If you touch a sore, wash your hands with soap and water right after.

  • Dont wet contact lenses with spit this might spread your oral herpes to your eye.

  • If you have a cold sore on your mouth, don’t kiss anyone especially babies, children, or pregnant women.

  • Always tell your sexual partners that you have herpes before you have sex, so you can work together to prevent it from spreading. Telling someone you have an STD can be hard, but herpes is super common and doesnt lead to serious health problems. So try not to be too embarrassed or stressed out about it.

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