How The Herpes Virus Can 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 the 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. Contact with the infected area is very risky during this time.
In the few days just before and after an outbreak there may be a small chance of spreading the virus, even when no symptoms are present. This is scientifically referred to as asymptomatic or Viral Shedding.
Although it is hard to predict when viral shedding is occurring it is estimated that it only occurs approximately 5% of days during the year and this is usually during the few days just before, during and after an outbreak.
It is a good idea to use latex condoms or latex barrier protection in-between outbreaks for additional protection . The herpes virus does not pass through latex condoms, and when properly used latex condoms are likely to reduce your risk of spreading or getting herpes, however even the best condoms do not guarantee total safety.
Im Pregnant How Could Genital Herpes Affect My Baby
If you are pregnant and have genital herpes, prenatal care visits are very important. Some research suggest that a genital herpes infection may lead to miscarriage or make it more likely to deliver your baby too early. You can pass herpes to your unborn child before birth, but it more commonly passes during delivery. This can lead to a deadly infection in your baby . It is important that you avoid getting genital herpes during pregnancy. Tell your healthcare provider if you have ever had a genital herpes diagnosis or symptoms. Also tell them about any possible exposure to genital herpes.
If you have genital herpes, you may need to take anti-herpes medicine towards the end of your pregnancy. This medicine may reduce your risk of having signs or symptoms of genital herpes when you deliver. At the time of delivery, your healthcare provider should carefully examine you for herpes sores. If you have signs or symptoms of genital herpes at delivery, a C-section is likely to occur.
What Causes Herpes Simplex
Herpes simplex viruses spread from person to person through close contact. You can get a herpes simplex virus from touching a herpes sore. Most people, however, get herpes simplex from an infected person who does not have sores. Doctors call this asymptomatic viral shedding.
How people get herpes around their mouth
A person with HSV-1 can pass it to someone else by:
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Touching the persons skin, such as pinching a childs cheek
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Sharing objects such as silverware, lip balm, or a razor
How people get herpes on their genitals
You can get genital herpes after coming into contact with HSV-1 or HSV-2. Most people get genital herpes from HSV-2, which they get during sex. If someone has a cold sore and performs oral sex, this can spread HSV-1 to the genitals, and cause herpes sores on the genitals.
Mothers can give the herpes virus to their baby during childbirth. If the baby is born during the motherâs first episode of genital herpes, the baby can have serious problems.
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How Can I Reduce My Risk Of Getting Genital Herpes
If you are sexually active, you can do the following things to lower your chances of getting genital herpes:
- Be in a long-term mutually monogamous relationship with a partner who is not infected with an STD
- Using latex condoms the right way every time you have sex.
Be aware that not all herpes sores occur in areas that are covered by a latex condom. Also, herpes virus can be released from areas of the skin that do not have a visible herpes sore. For these reasons, condoms may not fully protect you from getting herpes.
If you are in a relationship with a person known to have genital herpes, you can lower your risk of getting genital herpes if:
- Your partner takes an anti-herpes medication every day. This is something your partner should discuss with his or her doctor.
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This Is Why A Herpes Treatment Isnt Always The Right Answer Why Treat Your Hsv
Think about is this way. You go to your doctor at the sight of a cold sore on your mouth. Your doctor tells you that youve contracted Herpes. He gives you an entire breakdown and treatment plan that includes creams, ointments, and pills whenever you have an outbreak. In the meantime, when you arent suffering from the horrible, uncomfortable symptoms, you have to disclose to everyone that youre even remotely intimate with that you have herpes. This isnt just limited to potential romantic intimacy, but even friends and family members. You typically dont think twice about eating off of a family members fork, but with herpes, you have to avoid any and all oral contact with others even when you arent mid-outbreak. Is that really how you want to live your life? Constantly hiding behind the restrictions of HSV 1?
You dont have to live that way. How much better would it be that instead of getting a lifetime supply of prescription medication, you were told that there was a natural herpes cure 2019? Instead of living a life of never-ending ointments, creams, and pills, that there was a natural way to stop herpes from taking over your body?
The great news is that you dont have to wait for researchers to find a cure. Theres an all natural herpes cure that you can take advantage of right now.
Stop treating your herpes, and cure your herpes!
If youre ready to say goodbye to your herpes once and for all, download the Herpes Cure Secrets, now!
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What Are The Causes Of Herpes Infection
The various causes of herpes infection are:
- Herpes infection spreads from one person to another through direct skin-to-skin contact and is highly contagious.
- Touching or kissing is the main cause of HSV 1 transmission, whereas, sexual contact is the main cause of HSV 2 transmission.
- If a healthy person shares personal items like toothbrushes, utensils, spoons, etc. with an infected person, then he/she may also get infected.
- Herpes infection can also spread through the eyes.
- This infection can spread by touching the mouth sores of an infected person.
- Having sex without protection can lead to herpes infection of the genitals.
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How Is Herpes Simplex Treated
Some people have few to no herpes outbreaks and choose not to have treatment. But many people prefer to use medications that shorten outbreaks and reduce symptoms.
During an outbreak, you may use an antiviral ointment or cream to help lessen your symptoms and help them go away faster, but it only works if you start it soon after you start an outbreak. Many people with HSV-2 take daily oral medications to keep outbreaks at bay.
Your provider may prescribe a topical medication or oral medication such as:
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Valacyclovir Lowers Herpes Transmission Rates
If you have herpes, youve probably taken valacyclovir before as part of an outbreak or initial infection treatment protocol. Valacyclovir is extremely helpful in the management of herpes. During an outbreak, it can speed up the rate of recovery and quickly remove herpes sores.
When it comes to preventing the transmission of herpes, valacyclovir can be helpful but shouldnt be relied on as a 100% effective solution.
Study data shows that people with symptomatic herpes who take valacyclovir are almost 50% less likely to transmit the virus to others than non-medicated people with herpes. In one study, the HSV-2 acquisition rate was reduced from 3.6% to 1.9% using valacyclovir treatment.
Other studies show a similar reduction in herpes transmission rates when the infected person used valacyclovir.
For example, in a 2004 study, researchers noticed that people with non-symptomatic genital herpes were 50% less likely to transfer the virus to their sexual partner. People with herpes symptoms had an even higher drop in transmission ratea reduction of 77 percent.
Its important to remember that this still means there are cases where herpes is transmitted between sexual partners, even when the infected person takes valacyclovir.
In short, while valacyclovir doesnt completely block genital herpes transmission through sex and genital contact, using valacyclovir does lower your risk of catching herpes from a sexual partner.
How Does Genital Herpes Affect A Pregnant Woman And Her Baby
Neonatal herpes is one of the most serious complications of genital herpes.5,16 Healthcare providers should ask all pregnant women if they have a history of genital herpes.11 Herpes infection can be passed from mother to child during pregnancy or childbirth, or babies may be infected shortly after birth, resulting in a potentially fatal neonatal herpes infection. 17 Infants born to women who acquire genital herpes close to the time of delivery and are shedding virus at delivery are at a much higher risk for developing neonatal herpes, compared with women who have recurrent genital herpes . 16,18-20 Thus, it is important that women avoid contracting herpes during pregnancy. Women should be counseled to abstain from intercourse during the third trimester with partners known to have or suspected of having genital herpes. 5,11
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What Happens During An Outbreak
During a herpes outbreak you may feel the following symptoms:
- flu-like symptoms like fatigue, fever, headache
- difficulty in peeing or finding it painful to pee
- vaginal discharge
Your first outbreak of herpes will last around 2 to 4 weeks. Recurrent outbreaks after this are usually much shorter with less severe symptoms.
The blisters that form may break and cause ulcers. These ulcers can be painful and will take a few weeks to heal completely.
If you are pregnant and have herpes, you should speak to your doctor or midwife immediately. The infection can potentially spread to your newborn baby during childbirth. Babies do not have a well developed immune system like adults, so neonatal herpes can be very serious for a baby. Depending on how far along you are in your pregnancy, your doctor might consider starting you on antiviral medication.
If youre pregnant, avoid having sexual contact with partners you know to have genital herpes or any other STI.
What Are The Best Ways To Get Rid Of A Cold Sore
Unfortunately, theres no cure for cold sores, and it can take between two to four weeks for a cold sore to heal on its own. But, there are things you can do to make them go away faster.
Here are three things that can help soothe a cold sore or make it clear up faster:
1. Try home remedies. When used early, there are several remedies that can help ease the pain and reduce swelling and may even shorten the duration of a cold sore:
- Cold, damp washcloth
- Pain relievers, such as ibuprofen and acetaminophen
2. Apply topical creams and ointments. There are a few over-the-counter anesthetic ointments and creams that can help control pain, such as lidocaine or benzocaine. Some products, such as those containing docosanol or benzyl alcohol, may even promote faster healing when used early and in plentiful amounts.
3. Take prescription medications. There are antiviral drugs that can help cold sores heal faster, including acyclovir, valacyclovir, famciclovir and penciclovir. If youre having frequent outbreaks or experiencing some of the serious side effects of having a cold sore, your doctor may consider prescribing antiviral medication.
To get rid of a cold sore quickly, the best thing you can do is start treating it as soon as possible, says Dr. Brown. A burning or tingling sensation on your lips or face can be an early warning sign that a cold sore is developing, and the earlier you start reducing swelling and treating the cold sore, the faster it will heal.
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How to Find Natural Treatments for Herpes?
There are a range of excellent natural treatments for herpes. The best way to find all of them at once is to get a natural treatment for herpes e-book today. This type of e-book is so easy to find online, especially in light of the fact that its filled to the brim with the most gentle, safe and effective natural treatment tips.
When you download this type of electronic book today, youll access the perfect template for natural herpes treatment. This means step-by-step instructions on how to tailor your lifestyle with a mind to preventing herpes outbreaks and reducing the severity of symptoms during outbreaks.
Without this type of e-book, you may miss out on learning about the best natural treatment options. Since an e-book wont cost much, youll find that its a cost-effective way to access the expert knowledge that you need. For example, an e-book of this type will allow you change your diet with a mind to combating herpes, while also giving you the ability to select the right supplements.
While these two tips just scratch the surface, they are definitely really important! What you put into your body has the power to make your herpes symptoms less drastic. It may even make them disappear.
When To See A Doctor
Most of the time, cold sores go away on their own within a couple of weeks. If your cold sore lingers beyond 2 weeks, it might be time to check with your healthcare professional.
If you feel like youre constantly dealing with cold sores several times a year or more thats another good reason to check with your doctor. You may benefit from a prescription-strength antiviral medication.
Other reasons to see your doctor:
- sores near your eyes
- sores that have spread to other parts of your body
If you have eczema, which is also called atopic dermatitis, you may have some cracked or bleeding areas on your skin. If HSV-1 spreads into those openings, it can cause complications, according to the National Eczema Association.
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Can I Be Treated To Prevent Genital Herpes Transmission To My Partner
Yes. A large study showed that if one partner has herpes and the other partner is uninfected, treating the infected partner with suppressive therapy can prevent transmission of symptomatic herpes in over 90% of cases. This is an option for couples who are interested in having unprotected sex or who are planning to become pregnant.
If you are entering into a new relationship and are aware that you have herpes simplex infection, you owe it to your partner to notify them before having sex.
Talk To Your Doctor About Antiviral Medications
There are two brands of antiviral medications available to treat herpes. Either can be used to take daily as a suppressive therapy or episodically when there is an outbreak. Discuss with your doctor how often you are experiencing outbreaks and your symptoms. Together you can decide which, if any, medication is best for you.
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How Can You Prevent The Spread Of Herpes In Sexual Relationships
Herpes viruses are most likely to be transmitted during an outbreak, so its better to not have sex during this time. Herpes can also be passed on to others in symptom-free phases, though. This risk can be reduced considerably by using condoms.
If you have genital herpes, there are some things you can do on your own to protect your partner from infection
- not having sex during an outbreak,
- using condoms during symptom-free phases, and
- talking openly with your partner about the disease.
Preventive treatment with antiviral medication may be an option for people who have genital herpes very frequently. This medication inhibits the activity of the virus, thereby lowering the risk of infecting partners.
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Myth #: A Blood Test Is The Best Way To Know If You Have Herpes
Blood tests are not always accurate and testing for herpes can be tricky. It can take two weeks to six months after being exposed to herpes before it is detected in the blood. To make matters more complicated, if you are low risk for herpes and asymptomatic, it increases your risk of a false positive result. Because of this, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends against routine testing for herpes unless you or your partner have symptoms. The most accurate test is when you are able to take a swab sample from a new herpes lesion, but often times the diagnosis is made by a clinician based on your history and report of symptoms.
Because the blood test can be expensive and inaccurate, it is not typically included in a sexually transmitted disease evaluation unless you ask your provider for it specifically.
In short, if you dont have symptoms, you dont necessarily need a blood test. If you do experience an outbreak, a skin swab not a blood test is your best bet for confirmation.
Of all the STIs, herpes might be the most misunderstood. From dire warnings and photos of serious infections in high school sex ed to jokes made on sitcoms to passing comments from friends, were constantly getting the message that getting herpes is the worst thing that could ever happen to a person. But thats more about STI stigma than it is about the reality of living with herpes.
So here are some common questions and the actual factswithout the scare tacticsabout herpes.
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