Thursday, March 21, 2024

How Do I Live With Herpes

Sexual Relationships And Herpes

What You Need to Know About Genital Herpes

People with recurrent genital herpes may reconsider some aspects of sexual intimacy. For example, using non-genital forms of sexual contact when skin blisters or herpes ulcers are present. It also means considering, if, how and when you are going to tell a sexual partner . Many people do not understand what it means to have genital herpes or realise how common it is. Most people react supportively when told and appreciate and respect your honesty. People who choose not to tell a sexual partner risk the burden of fear, guilt and secrecy.

In an ongoing relationship where both partners fully understand the chance of herpes transmission, the use of condoms becomes less relevant.

In a long-term monogamous relationship, when one person gets herpes and the other person is not symptomatic, it is most likely both parties have the virus, so practising safe sex is not necessary as they cannot re-infect each other.

For people who experience very frequent herpes recurrences, suppressive antiviral therapy, which reduces the frequency of herpes recurrences, can help reduce the impact the herpes recurrences can have on sexual activity and may reduce the risk of herpes transmission.

When To Call The Doctor

Even though HSV sores can hurt and be unsightly, most cases of herpes do not cause serious illness. The sores go away in a few days. Contact the health provider if:

  • Sores are present and you think it might be a first herpes infection. The diagnosis is usually made by examining the sores. If the sores have not healed, sometimes a laboratory test is done.
  • Sores do not heal by themselves or show signs of infection such as pus, spreading redness or fever.
  • Sores are near the eyes.
  • You have another health condition with a weakened immune system.

What I Told My Boyfriend About Living With Herpes

I’ve been with my boyfriend for almost three years and I know he wants to marry me. We have a very satisfying sex life. We use condoms for sex and practice abstinence whenever I have any shadow of a doubt. I have outbreaks a few times a year now, not very many. I abstain for seven to 10 days. I like to give it a few extra days to be on the safe side.

We do go without condoms at times. That’s our choice. He’s aware of the risks and he’s had no complaints to date. I told him from the very beginning what it was, how I wanted to protect him, when we couldn’t have sex, what kind of protection was best. Everything. I made sure to tell him that herpes as a transmissible condition, but it comes and goes. It’s like the turtle with its head in a shell it sticks its head out when it wants.

As told to Louise Sloan

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Genital Herpes Treatment In Pregnancy

You may be offered antiviral treatment:

  • to treat outbreaks in pregnancy
  • from 36 weeks to reduce the chance of an outbreak during birth
  • from diagnosis until the birth if you first get herpes after 28 weeks of pregnancy

Many women with genital herpes have a vaginal delivery. You may be offered a caesarean, depending on your circumstances.

What To Do When Youre Diagnosed With Herpes

Consequences of Herpes

It can be shocking to hear the word herpes in the doctors office. If youre caught off guard or overwhelmed, you may not register what your medical provider is telling you, says Dr. Navya Mysore, family doctor and primary care provider.

Mysore says genital herpes can be caused by HSV-1 or HSV-2. HSV-1 is most commonly related to cold sores, which a large amount of the population have. However, HSV-1 can also be the virus that causes genital herpes and HSV-2 can be the virus that gives you cold sores, she says.

While at the doctors office, dont be afraid to ask all the questions you may have, and make sure you ask for clarification if you dont understand something.

there is no cure for herpes , sexual health expert Dr. Bobby Lazzara says you can manage it enough to reduce the number of outbreaks and minimize the risk of transmission to future sexual partners.

He says herpes outbreak prevention may involve taking a once- or twice-daily antiviral medication, and the treatment of active outbreaks involves topical treatment, an antiviral medication, and sometimes a painkiller. Maintaining a consistent medication schedule is key to successfully managing herpes and preventing active outbreaks, he explains.

Between your appointments, create a list of questions you have about your diagnosis. That way you wont forget anything.

Read Also: Can I Test Myself For Herpes

How Long Can A Cat Live With Feline Herpes

The forecast. Although feline herpes can be eradicated, infected cats can live healthy, long lives with proper management however, it is not a curable condition. Because this condition has no effect on a cats lifespan, you should not be concerned if your pet has contracted it.

When cats come down with feline herpes, they have the same symptoms as people who have a cold or a flu. Adult cats that are infected with a parasite can live longer and healthier lives if properly managed. Herpes can be fatal for kittens, as it affects the immune system and can cause infections in kittens.

If your cat has contracted herpes, you can take some precautions to make him feel better. First and foremost, make sure hes getting plenty of water and plenty of air. Fresh air and a healthy diet are important aspects of living. Place him in a warm, dry area away from humans and other animals so that he stays away from them. If the symptoms are severe, consult a veterinarian. There are several things you can do if you suspect your cat has feline herpesvirus to help him feel better. Second, keep cats to a minimum in your home. If you plan to bring your cat into contact with other cats, make sure they are both FHV-1 vaccinated. Your cat should also be kept an eye out for any behavioral changes. You should take your dog to the veterinarian if he appears to be sick.

Physical Treatment For Herpes

While there is no cure for herpes, treatment can shorten the length of an outbreak and manage any pain associated with lesions. Here are some oral treatment options:

All three drugs work pretty much the same, and one study showed that all of them tend to speed up healing time by about one to two days. But the key is to start treatment as soon as you notice signs of an outbreak â herpes treatment is most effective when itâs taken within 48 hours of first symptoms, which is a tingling, itching, or painful sensation on the site of the infection.

You can also use acyclovir topical ointment to treat lesions, which works for both oral herpes and genital herpes.

If youâre experiencing a lot of pain, you may want to ask your doctor to prescribe a painkiller or take some over-the-counter pain medication. Here are some other ways to manage pain during a herpes outbreak:

  • Apply cold compresses to the infected area
  • Keep the lesion clean and dry
  • Wear loose clothing and underwear that breathes

Recommended Reading: Topical Cream For Genital Herpes

Can A Cat With Herpes Be Around Other Cats

Yes, a cat with herpes can be around other cats, but it is important to take precautions to prevent the spread of the virus. The virus can be spread through direct contact with an infected cat, or through contact with contaminated surfaces. It is important to keep infected cats isolated from other cats, and to clean and disinfect any surfaces that they have come into contact with.

A herpes virus is one of three types of viruses. When you are infected with the herpes virus or flare up, you will experience nothing more than cold symptoms. Your other cats are more likely to have contracted the virus. If other cats live in your nest, there are few things you can do to protect yourself. Stressed cats have a higher risk of developing herpes virus flare-ups. The virus can cause serious illness in young kittens, elderly cats, and cats with weakened immune systems. If your cat exhibits symptoms of this condition, you will most likely be forced to admit him to the hospital. It is always a good idea to consult with your veterinarian before making any changes to your pets diet, medication, or physical activity routine.

Your Dating Life Is Not Over

‘I’m not a walking health risk’ – woman living with genital herpes

If youve recently found out that you have genital herpes, its easy to assume that your dating life is over.

This is a normal, common reaction. Finding out you have a sexually transmitted infection isnt an enjoyable experience, and its completely normal to assume that catching herpes will mean the end of your sexual and romantic life.

The reality, however, is that genital herpes isnt as big of a deal as you think.

First, genital herpes doesnt affect everyone the same way. Many people with genital HSV-1 or HSV-2 have are asymptomatic, or exhibit very mild symptoms that are either mistaken for other skin conditions or go completely unnoticed. Other people only occasionally deal with outbreaks, and some people can get several outbreaks a year.

Our guide to what you can expect from your herpes outbreak frequency goes through every question you might have about it.

Second, even if you do experience herpes outbreaks, try to remember that theyre temporary. Herpes outbreaks can happen frequently or infrequently, depending on the type of virus you have, your immune system and other factors every person is different.

However, the physical symptoms of a herpes outbreak dont stick around for long. Usually, your body will repel the virus and heal within two to three weeks, giving you months in between each outbreak for you to enjoy a normal dating life.

For more information on this, we have a guide to When is it Safe to Kiss Someone After a Cold Sore?

Read Also: What Medicine Is Good For Herpes

Dont Be Afraid To Get Emotionally Intimate

An open and honest conversation about your diagnosis can require emotional intimacy that may be scary to have in a new relationship. Harbushka says to relax and realize that it can be sexy to communicate with your partner about sex and other important intimate topics.

With the right information and adequate protection, you can still enjoy a healthy sexual relationship. Here are some tips to help you and your partner stay safe during sex.

Can Genital Herpes Be Treated

Your physician can prescribe different medications to help reduce your symptoms and speed up the healing of an outbreak. These medicines work best when you start them soon after an outbreak occurs.

To reduce pain during an outbreak:

  • Sit in warm water in a portable bath or bathtub for about 20 minutes. Avoid bubble baths.
  • Keep your genital area clean and dry, and avoid tight clothes.
  • Take over-the-counter medications, such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen. Avoid aspirin.

Let your physician know if you are worried about your genital herpes. He or she can recommend a support group to help you cope with the virus.

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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.

Mental Health Care For Herpes

Living with Herpes: Diagnosis, Management, and Dating Advice

After you receive treatment for your first outbreak, the next thing to do is take care of your mental health and learn how to cope with your diagnosis.

You may want to find a support group in your area for people living with herpes. Meetup hosts the following herpes support groups in Toronto and Vancouver:

Joining a support group will accomplish two things:

  • Build your knowledge of what itâs like to live with herpes
  • Show you that youâre not alone in your experience with herpes

If you need to speak to a counsellor about your herpes diagnosis, you can also call the Ontario Sexual Health Infoline at 1-800-668-2437.

Also Check: Acyclovir Dosage For Herpes Outbreak

Over The Counter Medicine For Cat Herpes

There is no specific over the counter medicine for cat herpes, but there are a few general treatments that may help. These include antiviral medications, topical ointments, and homeopathy. If your cat is displaying symptoms of herpes, it is important to take them to the vet for a diagnosis and treatment plan.

By combining feline herpesvirus, feline AIDS, FIV, calicivirus, and FeLV treatments, you can make certain that your cat is well cared for. Stress causes viral flareups because it triggers them, so supplements provide an effective treatment at home. Medicine and diet tips from the Internet can be used in conjunction with conventional veterinary care. Ariels supplements for herpes can help improve the quality of life for your cat. When an infected cat coughs, sneezes, or comes into contact with another cats eye, nose, or mouth discharge, he or she is infected with the cat herpes virus. If you feed a low-carbohydrate, novel-protein diet to a large number of FIV cats, you will almost certainly live a normal life. Cat leukemia virus is a highly contagious virus that can cause severe illness in cats.

In cats, the Feline Herpes Virus 1 causes upper respiratory symptoms such as conjunctivitis and a stuffy nose. A retrovirus that causes cancer in cats, known as the Feline Leukemia Virus , compromises the cats immune system. FeLV cats may benefit from holistic treatments in order to improve their quality of life.

Patience And Time Heal Everything

Its difficult in the real world knowing you have something many people do not have. But with patience and time, everything will be healed. Even when you feel all hope appears to be lost, the moment you are patient and bear in mind that someone is waiting to have you out there, this will go a long way to help you. Many individuals who are diagnosed with herpes probably feel as if the world has ended for them, but with patience, you will progress from that level and discover that it is indeed pretty common and so many people are not even aware that you have it.

Therefore, ensure to know someone really closely and also continually inform them before any sexual intercourse, you wouldnt want to spread any disease of any kind intentionally. It will simply make you feel worse that just having it.

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Grapefruit Extract For Herpes

The grapefruit extract has antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral and antiseptic properties. It is used to reduce the severity of the herpes sores and minimize the irritability. This is the most effective treatment for herpes which can give you relief from pain and itching right after the application. To apply this you just have to dip a cotton ball into the grape seed extract and apply directly on the affected side.

Follow this procedure three times in a day or until you see improvement. After few days you can see that sores are healing. This is the ultimate cure for herpes sores. Apart from herpes, this can cure lots of health complications from stomach ulcer to skin infection and cold sores. One bottle of this seed extract will stay for one year. It is said the taste of this extract is thick and little bit sour. The grapefruit seed extract is in a yellowish color.

This is one of the best ingredients which has so many health benefits. One of the best parts of this ingredient is you can buy this from any medical store very easily. As you know that this is a natural ingredient so the chances of getting side effects by this are low comparatively. See, you can get so many reasons to use natural treatment but for that, you have to wake up. By waking you up, I mean to say you have to understand that using medicine will not going to give you effective results.

Read Also: How To Get Tested For Herpes 2

Follow Easy Hygiene Best Practices

I have herpes: Should I Worry?

Several hygiene best practices serve as easy preventative measures to avoid accidentally spreading the virus to your partner.

  • Keep the infected area clean and dry
  • Avoid touching sores
  • Wash your hands immediately after any possible contact with sores
  • DON’T pick at sores since this will cause infection
  • DON’T make choices that you know can trigger an outbreak

Also Check: How Doctors Test For Herpes

Be Informed Of Not Contracting Another Std

Despite the fact that you have an STD, you still have to be cautious of not contracting other types of STDs. There are some STDs that have different types, just like herpes. Herpes has type 1 and type 2, while HPV has various types too, and some can even cause genital warts. Therefore, you dont have to be scared to ask for additional information on a particular STD, and even to request for medical evidence. You are presently in a bad circumstance please do not add to it.

Before You Tell Them Practice

The one person youll definitely need to have the chat with is your sexual partner/s. This is very important even if you rarely experience herpes outbreaks, as genital herpes can be spread from an infected person into an uninfected person even without any visible outbreak symptoms.

Coming out as herpes positive can feel stressful and difficult, especially when its directed at a person you care about and with whom youd like a romantic or sexual future. Luckily, dating with herpes doesnt have to be such a big deal if you know how to address it.

One way to get over the nervousness of telling a partner you have herpes is to practice ahead of time. Make note of the key points you want to include and practice the script a few times in front of the mirror until you feel comfortable talking about.

Read Also: When Should You Tell Someone You Have Herpes

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