If You Have Genital Herpes Already Can It Be Spread To Other Parts Of The Body Such As The Arms Or Legs
No. Genital herpes cannot be transmitted to another part of your body such as your arm, leg or hand after the first infection occurs. If you have genital HSV II, you will not get HSV II at another site in your body. The immune system produces antibodies that protect other parts of your body from infection. However, there are cases where a person has multiple site infections from the same virus. This is usually acquired at the time of the first infection. For example, if someone has never had herpes but then has oral and genital sex with an infected partner, they can acquire the infection at both sites.
Living With Herpes: Diagnosis Management And Dating Advice
I am a woman living with herpes. And while common stigma has taught us to think of herpes as “gross,” that’s far from the case.
My thoughts following my diagnosis were wrong on so many levels. I thought I was being punished, that I wouldn’t find love again. But I did find love again. And I wasnt alone very far from it, in fact. Herpes is extremely common, with the CDC estimating that, each year, as many as 776,000 people in the U.S. get new cases of genital herpes caused by the herpes simplex-2 virus. And nearly half of people in the U.S. are estimated to have herpes simplex-1 virus, which can cause oral herpes, and in some cases, genital herpes too.
Yet somehow, the stigma persists. And its baseless, fabricated, and entirely misleading. I didnt, and dont, have to feel this way, but society made me think I did.
I spoke with Dr. Vanessa Cullins, M.D., to clear up some misconceptions about the herpes virus. Its time to set the record straight: Herpes is not the end of the world. Read on for facts about this all-too-common diagnosis and answers to questions about living with herpes.
You’re Not Limited To A Herpes
I remember one particular night, sitting on the floor of my bedroom and reluctantly signing up for a herpes-positive dating site. It felt like my only viable option. Signing up felt embarrassing. It was another website filled with smiling partners claiming to have found love despite their positive status.
While some people appreciate these types of apps, I quickly learned that it was not the right space for me. As years passed and my understanding around stigma grew, I couldn’t help but feel that herpes and other STI-specific dating apps might be further reinforcing social stigmas.
With transparency and communication, STI-positive people can find love with STI-negative partners. I know, because I’ve experienced it.
Emily L. Depasse is a sexologist and sex educator redefining the narratives around sexually transmitted infections . Follow her on and @sexelducation.
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How Can I Prevent Hsv From Spreading
HSV is highly contagious. To help prevent it from spreading to others:
- Keep drinking cups and utensils as well as towels and washcloths separate from those used by other family members and wash them well after use.
- Dont kiss others and abstain from sex during the most infectious time, which is when any tingling or burning is felt in the infected area up until the sores have completely resolved.
- Wash your hands well and often and avoid touching your face and eyes.
- The consistent and correct use of condoms can help prevent the spread, but HSV can still spread from areas not covered by a condom.
Learn How To Manage Outbreaks
While there’s no cure for genital herpes, there is a lot that can be done to reduce the length and severity of outbreaks.
A number of proven medications speed up the healing process and reduce discomfort. Antiviral medications like acyclovir and valacyclovir offer a simple way to control and minimize herpes outbreaks.
Start taking acyclovir as soon as you notice the first signs of an emerging outbreak. This medication stops the herpes virus from growing and spreading during an outbreak, though it can’t remove the virus from your body completely. Most people experience relief within just a few days.
Improving lifestyle habits may also prevent future herpes outbreaks:
- Stay rested to support a strong immune system
- Eat nutritious foods to support your body’s innate healing response
- Use the Luminance RED
The Luminance RED nourishes the skin with red light, which is metabolized to accelerate the body’s healing process and to strengthen its defenses against future attacks. Regular use of the Luminance RED not only shortens the healing time of active outbreaks, but can also prevent future outbreaks altogether!
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What Is A Herpes Flare
When herpes flares up again, it is called a “recurrence” or “outbreak.” Herpes does not always recur, and if it does recur, the timing and severity are different from person to person. Some people rarely have recurrences. Others have them often. Herpes is most likely to recur in the first year after infection. Recurrences may be more frequent for people with weakened immune systems.
You may have some early warning signs before an outbreak occurs, like tingling, burning, or itching where sores were before. The warning signs may start a few hours or a day or so before the sores flare up. When symptoms recur, they are usually not as severe as symptoms during an initial herpes outbreak.
Follow Easy Hygiene Best Practices
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
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How Is Herpes Transmitted
Herpes is spread by skin-to-skin contact which happens often through sexual contact or sexual intimacy, but can also happen during touching or kissing of a completely non-sexual nature, like from a parent to a child. Although rare, genital herpes can also be spread from a pregnant woman to her baby during vaginal birth.
Herpes Coming Out Prompts: Existing Relationships
Option 1: âI have some news to share â I found out that I carry the herpes virus, and I think itâs important for you to get tested. I want to make it clear that Iâm not blaming you for my diagnosis, because a lot of people have herpes without any symptoms. Letâs talk about how you feel after youâve had some time to think.â
Option 2: âI need to have a chat about some news I got recently â I found out I have herpes. Iâve talked to a doctor and Iâve done some research, and itâs not a major problem â but youâll need to get tested and weâll need to start using protection. How do you feel about this?â
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Basic Facts About Herpes
- There are two main types of herpes simplex virus: HSV-1, most commonly associated with cold sores, and HSV-2, most commonly known as genital herpes.
- While HSV-1 mainly causes oral herpes, it can also cause genital herpes and be transmitted through oral sex.
- Most oral and genital herpes infections are asymptomatic ââ that means you can be living with herpes but never experience an outbreak.
- Symptoms of herpes include painful blisters or ulcers at the site of infection.
- While there is no cure for herpes, the disease is quite manageable with antiviral treatment and topical creams.
- Herpes is most contagious during symptomatic outbreaks, but it can still be transmitted without symptoms.
While this article is focused on how to live with herpes, you can learn more about the actual herpes virus here.
Know What Symptoms To Expect
Symptoms can vary depending on which areas of your body are affected and the type of virus you have. If you experience symptoms at all, they will likely be more severe after the initial infection than they are during recurring outbreaks. The most common symptoms to expect include:
- Sores around the genitals, rectum, or mouth
- Blisters or cold sores around the mouth
- Fever and other flu-like symptoms
- Small bumps that resemble an ingrown hair or pimple
There are two strains of the herpes virus to be aware of: HSV-1 and HSV-2. While HSV-1 is most commonly associated with oral herpes and HSV-2 with genital herpes, either strain can cause either version of the virus.
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Myth: If You Get A Cold Sore You Have Genital Herpes
Cold sores and genital herpes are two distinct strains of the herpes simplex virus. Many people get cold sores, but that doesn’t mean they have an Sexually transmitted diseases .
Herpes simplex virus type 2 is the form of herpes categorized as a sexually transmitted infection , and is the main cause of genital herpes. It doesn’t usually cause cold sores, which are caused by HSV-1. There is no cure for HSV-2, so it’s a lifelong disease.
How You Can Live A Normal Life With Herpes
When many individuals hear the word herpes it causes panic and makes them feel like they cannot live a normal life. This is not to be true! You can have a normal and happy life even if you have herpes. The dermatologists at Dermatology & Mohs Surgery Institute share how this is possible through different tips and treatments.
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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
Billions Worldwide Living With Herpes
About half a billion people worldwide are living with genital herpes, and several billion have an oral herpes infection, new estimates show, highlighting the need to improve awareness and scale up services to prevent and treat herpes.
About 13% of the worlds population aged 15 to 49 years were living with herpes simplex virus type 2 infection in 2016, the latest year for which data is available. HSV-2 is almost exclusively sexually transmitted, causing genital herpes. Infection can lead to recurring, often painful, genital sores in up to a third of people infected.
Herpes simplex virus type 1 is mainly transmitted by oral to oral contact to cause oral herpes infection sometimes leading to painful sores in or around the mouth . However, HSV-1 can also be transmitted to the genital area through oral sex, causing genital herpes.
Around 67% of the worlds population aged 0 to 49 had HSV-1 infection in 2016 an estimated 3.7 billion people. Most of these infections were oral however, between 122 million to 192 million people were estimated to have genital HSV-1infection.
Genital herpes is a substantial health concern worldwide beyond the potential pain and discomfort suffered by people living with the infection, the associated social consequences can have a profound effect on sexual and reproductivehealth says Dr Ian Askew, Director of the Department of Sexual and Reproductive Health and Research at the World Health Organization .
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Early Signs Of Herpes Outbreak
Prodromal symptoms are non-specific and can develop hours or days before an outbreak. Prodromal symptoms of genital herpes may include:
- Localized genital pain
- Itching, tingling, or shooting pains in the legs, hips, or buttocks
- Swollen lymph nodes in the groin
- Mild flu-like symptoms
Finally, suppressive therapy can reduce the risk of transmission. This preventive strategy requires the partner with herpes to take a daily antiviral pill like Zovirax to keep the virus under control. By doing so, viral shedding is reduced.
Suppressive herpes therapy is recommended for couples in whom one partner has HSV-2 and the other does not.
Mental Health Care For Herpes
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.
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Tips For Dating With Herpes
Receiving a herpes diagnosis can be nerve-wracking, but empowering yourself with knowledge from a medical professional will make navigating romance and dating much easier. Many people with herpes experience no complications and have healthy sexual and romantic relationships. However, there are a few extra steps to follow when dating with herpes.
How Will My Healthcare Provider Know If I Have Genital Herpes
Your healthcare provider may diagnose genital herpes by simply looking at any sores that are present. Providers can also take a sample from the sore and test it. If sores are not present, a blood test may be used to look for HSV antibodies.
Have an honest and open talk with your healthcare provider about herpes testing and other STDs.
Please note: A herpes blood test can help determine if you have herpes infection. It cannot tell you who gave you the infection or when you got the infection.
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How Painful Is Herpes Simplex
Some people experience very mild genital herpes symptoms or no symptoms at all. Frequently, people infected with the virus don’t even know they have it. However, when it causes symptoms, it can be described as extremely painful. This is especially true for the first outbreak, which is often the worst. Outbreaks are described as aches or pains in or around the genital area or burning, pain, or difficulty urinating. Some people experience discharge from the or .
Oral herpes lesions usually cause tingling and burning just prior to the breakout of the blisters. The blisters themselves can also be painful.
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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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.
One Word And Six Letters Left Me Questioning My Chance At Love Acceptance And A Meaningful Life
From the moment the word herpes left my doctors lips until about six months later, I questioned everything about myself. Not all the time, but a lot of the time. Disclosing that I had herpes to potential sexual partners felt like an impossibly embarrassing burden. Dating didnt feel like an option. Informational pamphlets felt insincere and outdated. Health-care staff felt like they were being intentionally cold and demeaning.
Slowly, I began to unravel another six-letter word that changed my life: stigma. Once I understood how much stigma surrounds herpes, I was able to see the condition for what it really is: a common STI that impacts my life, but not at all in the terrifying way I had thought it would.
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It took a lot of time, research, self-reflection, and education, but I no longer identify with the stigma surrounding herpes. If someone told me a few years ago that my herpes diagnosis would positively influence my work and drive my purpose in this world, I would have scoffed at them in disbelief, just like I did at those outdated herpes education pamphlets my doctor handed me. My herpes diagnosis was one of the defining moments of my life, but it is no longer my self-definition.
Here’s what I wish I would have known when I was diagnosed five years ago.
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