How To Prevent Giving Herpes To My Partner

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.

Is Anyone Else Experiancing Outbreaks Every 2 Weeks:

taylor8

Im new to this site! Im 25 years old I caught genital herpes 3 years ago and only ever had my first outbreak..then for the past 3 months ive had the constantly every 2 weeks.doctor gave my supressive therapy but still ive experianced an outbreak now..does anyone else feel so down when they have outbreaks?

6 likes, 110 replies

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When Are The Most Contagious Times

The herpes virus is always contagious, even when no symptoms exist. However, the risk of transmission increases significantly when wet, open sores and blisters are present in the midst of an outbreak.

From the time that you begin to feel the itching or burning sensation of developing herpes sores, until your outbreak has completely scabbed and healed, consider the virus highly contagious for your partner.

If youre the susceptible partner in the relationship and want to learn how to not get cold sores from your partner, be sure to abstain from intimate contact until each herpes outbreak has cleared.

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Realistic And Unrealistic Expectations

People may just need a little time to assimilate the information. This is where having well-written information helps. Consider giving them reading the material or referring them to a Sexual Health Centre, the Herpes Helpline: 0508 11 12 13 or the herpes website www.herpes.org.nz, to verify the information youve given them.

Whatever the reaction, try to be flexible. Remember that it took you time to adjust as well.

Negative reactions are often no more than the result of misinformation. In some cases, they are brought on when a person fears that youre asking them to commit to a relationship, instead of just informing them of the situation. If your partner decides not to pursue a relationship with you simply because you have herpes, its better to find out now. It takes a lot more than the occasional aggravation of herpes to destroy a sound relationship.

Some people react negatively no matter what you say or how you say it. Others might focus more energy on herpes than on the relationship. These people are the exception, not the rule. This is not a reflection on you. You are not responsible for their reaction. If your partner is unable to accept the facts about herpes, encourage him or her to speak with a medical expert or counsellor.

All relationships face challenges, most far tougher than herpes. Good relationships stand and fall on far more important issues including communication, respect and trust.

Why Your Herpes May Not Be Your Partner’s Fault

• Frequently Asked Questions

There are two common misconceptions about getting herpes. The first is that your partner lied to you about not having herpes if you suddenly have an outbreak. The second is that your partner cheated on you since you haven’t had sex with anyone else in years.

While is possible that both are true, there are other explanations for why you may suddenly have had your first herpes outbreak. This articles explores some of the more common reasons and what you can do to prevent or treat a herpes infection.

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How To Reduce Your Risk Of Spreading Or Getting Genital Herpes

If you have herpes or are dating someone with herpes, this page tells you how reduce your risk of spreading herpes to you partners, or how to reduce your risk of getting herpes from your partner. By using these practices, many people have been successful in NOT spreading herpes to their partner. Many people who have herpes have actually NEVER spread it to a partner. There are no guarantees. Everyone has a different situation. But if you follow these practices, youll be doing yourself and your partners a favor.

Your partners unique health and immune system is also a factor. But if you use some or all of these practices, your risk of transmitting the virus to your partner might be much much lower.

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What Can I Do To Stop A Herpesoutbreak From Getting Worse

Unfortunately,once youve contracted herpes, it will have the virus for life. Therefore, youmay never be able to get rid of herpes forever. However, there are preventativemeasures you can take. These can help speed healing and reduce the number ofyour outbreaks. They can also help to relieve the severity of your symptoms.Keep these tips in mind:

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Who Might Get Herpes Simplex

People of any age can contract herpes simplex. You are more likely to get the virus if you:

• Were assigned female at birth.
• Have had multiple sex partners.
• Started having sex at a young age.
• Have a history of any sexually transmitted infection .
• Have a weakened immune system.
• Dont use condoms for intercourse and dental dams for oral sex.

Who gets HSV-1, commonly known as oral herpes?

Anyone can get HSV-1. Most people contract HSV-1 during childhood. It spreads when an adult who has the virus has close contact with a child, such as when a family member kisses a child.

Who gets HSV-2, commonly known as genital herpes?

Genital herpes affects sexually active teens and adults of all genders and races. It can spread if you have multiple sexual partners and dont use condoms or dental dams.

People assigned female at birth are more at risk. Delicate vaginal tissue can tear, making it easier for the infection to get in. Black people who were AFAB are especially vulnerable, with an estimated 1 in 2 people AFAB between the ages of 14 and 49 infected with HSV-2.

My Partner Just Told Me They Have Herpes I Dont Now What

ByAnna C.|June 30, 2014, noon

Pictured above: From

Has your new partner just informed you that he or she has herpes? People have many reactions when hearing this kind of news and, depending on how informed you are about herpes, your reaction might be tinged with panic or fear. If thats your instinct, try to keep those feelings in check: Your partner might be feeling very vulnerable, so its best not to react with shunning or shaming.

More than 80 percent of people with genital herpes are unaware of their infections.

Herpes is more widespread than most of us realize. It can be caused by one of two strains of the herpes simplex virus: HSV-1 or HSV-2. While HSV-1 is more commonly associated with cold sores and HSV-2 is more commonly associated with genital herpes, either virus can infect the genital area. One estimate states that 1 out of 5 American females and 1 out of 9 American males between 14 to 49 years of age have a genital HSV-2 infection.

Now that you know your partner has herpes, you might have some questions. How easy is it to transmit genital herpes from one partner to another? What can you do to minimize your chances of catching the virus? And, while it is certainly stigmatized in our culture, is herpes something to fear?

has not hindered my love life, inhibited my ambition, or limited my friendships .

An anonymous writer shared these inspiring words:

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If I Already Have Herpes How Can I Keep From Giving It To Someone Else

You can do several things to keep from spreading genital herpes:

• Consider sexual abstinence .

• Don’t have any kind of sex when you have herpes sores, itching or scabs. And remember that you can spread genital herpes even when you have no sign of a sore.

• Always use condoms when you have sex.

• Always wash your hands right after touching your genital area, even if you have no sores.

What Are The Symptoms Of Herpes

Symptoms depend on the type of herpes virus you have and which part of the body it affects. Many people with HSV-1 or HSV-2 dont experience any symptoms during an outbreak. This is called asymptomatic infection. With an asymptomatic infection, you are more likely to unknowingly spread the virus to others. When HSV-1 and HSV-2 do cause symptoms, the types of illness caused by both viruses often look and feel the same. The main difference is that if you are infected with HSV-2 in the genital area, you are more likely to have a relapse, or have outbreaks, than you would be if you were infected with HSV-1.

Symptoms of oral herpes can include:

• Pain, burning, tingling, or itching on the lips or mouth.
• Cold sores on the lips or around or inside the mouth, which may initially look like shallow ulcers and then crust over. Without treatment, these sores last several days to a few weeks before clearing up on their own.

Symptoms of genital herpes can include:

• Pain, burning, tingling, or itching on or around the genitals, buttocks, or inner thighs.
• Burning sensation while urinating if the sores are near the urethra .

Studies suggest that having genital herpes may also increase your risk of contracting HIV, the virus that causes AIDS. This is because herpes causes open sores on the genitals, which make it easier for the HIV virus to enter the body.

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Is It Safe To Breastfeed If I Have Genital Herpes

Yes- as long as there is no open lesion on chest or breast . If you have an active outbreak while breastfeeding, its possible to spread the infection to your nipples through touch. Careful hand-washing can prevent this spread. You shouldnt nurse from a breast that has herpes sores. You can pump breast milk until the sores heal. Dont give your baby expressed breast milk if the pump comes into contact with an open sore.

Your Vitamin D Deficiency

VitaminD is important for herpes treatment and prevention.It helps your body to absorb nutrients. Without it, you may develop softer andweaker skin. Lack of vitamin D can make you more vulnerable to viralinfections. In the case of herpes , that could mean more frequentoutbreaks. The lower your vitamin D levels are, the worse your herpes outbreaksare. In those cases, the symptoms will last longer and heal more slowly.

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Why Are My Herpes Outbreaks Getting Worse

Manypeople with herpes go to the forum and ask a so common question Why aremy herpes outbreaks getting worse? If youre in the same situation, thisarticle is for you.

Herpesis a common skin infection in the United States. It has 2 main types includingoral herpes and genital herpes . Accordingto the NCHS, half of Americans have oral herpes and 12% of adults have genitalherpes. This means that anyone can contract herpes at some point in theirlifetime.

Differentpeople may have different symptoms. While some people have 1 or 2 outbreaks peryear, others have more than 5 outbreaks. Without treatment, herpes can go awayon its own in 2-3 weeks. However, symptoms are very painful and you can developoutbreaks frequently. In some cases, herpes may get worse and there are manyreasons for this.

Suppressive Therapy With Valtrex

Suppressive therapy is the use of prescription Valtrex on a daily basis whether an outbreak is present or not. Whereas Valtrex is commonly used to stop an outbreak, it can also be used daily to prevent outbreaks from occurring to begin with. This daily use of Valtrex also reduces the proclivity of the virus to shed, i.e. be contagious as often. Its use appears in studies to reduce the viral shedding periods by 50%.

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Men vs. Womens Transmission Rates and Contagiousness

Because of the nature of male and female genitalia, it is easier for herpes to be transmitted to a woman by a man than vice-versa. This is because female genitals have more exposed soft tissue. This also accounts for why approximately 1 out of 4 American women have herpes, whereas 1 out of 5 American men does.

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What Can We Do To Reduce My Chances Of Getting The Herpes Infection

If you take the necessary precautions, the chances of getting the herpes virus from your partner are reduced. Genital herpes does not mean abstinence from sex or a reduced enjoyment of sex.

The risk of transmitting the herpes virus can be reduced by about 50% if you use condoms. The continued use of condoms in a long-term relationship is a personal decision that only the couple can make. Most find that as the importance of the HSV infection in their relationship is seen in perspective, that condom use becomes less relevant if this is the only reason condoms are being used.

However, most couples choose to avoid genital skin-to-skin contact during an active episode of herpes because this is when the herpes virus is most readily transmitted. This period includes the time from when your partner first has warning signs of an outbreak, such as a tingling or burning in the genitals, until the last of the sores has healed. Also, sexual activity prolongs the healing of the episode.

Herpes transmission risk is increased if there are any breaks in the skin. For example, if you have thrush or small abrasions from sexual intercourse, often due to insufficient lubrication. It can be helpful to use a lubricant specifically for sexual intercourse and avoid sex if you have thrush. A sexual lubricant is helpful right at the start of sexual activity.

If you or your partner has a cold sore, it is advisable to avoid oral sex as this can spread the herpes virus to the genitals.

Std Awareness: How Can I Protect Myself If My Partner Has Herpes

ByAnna C.|Sept. 30, 2013, noon

Has your partner, or potential partner, recently informed you that he or she has been diagnosed with genital herpes? After thinking about it, did you decide to continue with the relationship, despite not being infected with the virus that causes genital herpes yourself? Congratulations the two of you are now a discordant couple, which means that one of you has genital herpes and the other doesnt. While you might have come to the conclusion that acquiring a herpes simplex virus infection below the belt wont be the end of the world, you still might want to stay discordant and do everything you can to minimize chances of virus transmission.

Condoms, medication, and abstinence during outbreaks can reduce risk for herpes transmission.

You can read all about herpes elsewhere on this blog, but heres a quick rundown: Genital herpes can be caused by one of two strains of the herpes simplex virus: HSV-1 or HSV-2. While HSV-1 is more commonly associated with cold sores and HSV-2 is more commonly associated with genital herpes, either virus can infect the genital area. One estimate states that 1 out of 6 Americans between 14 to 49 years of age has a genital HSV-2 infection. Since genital herpes infections can also be caused by HSV-1, the number of people with genital herpes is actually higher.

Condoms

Herpes Medications

Abstinence During Outbreaks

Patient Education

Other Strategies

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Do Condoms Help Prevent The Spread Of Genital Herpes

Yes. To prevent transmission of herpes, we recommend that condoms be used 100% of the time. Many patients will shed the virus and be contagious when they dont have symptoms. Studies have shown that asymptomatic shedding occurs between 1% and 3% of the time in patients with HSV II genital infections. Many new herpes infections occur from partners who are shedding the virus asymptomatically, so condoms are highly recommended.

Condoms may not be an attractive option for monogamous couples or for couples who desire to become pregnant. Couples may opt to have serological tests to determine if either partner has an asymptomatic infection. In close monogamous relationships, the risks of transmission can be weighed against other relationship issues, such as intimacy and pregnancy.

What It Means For Partners

Your partner has genital herpes. Your support is very important in helping you and your partner to understand what this means. When your partner goes back to the doctor, you may wish to go too, so that you can find out more about the herpes infection. In the meantime, here are answers to some questions you may have.

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