******PSA about herpes and other STIs******
A frantic friend reached out to me today because she thinks she has herpes. I just thought I would post a reminder about herpes but there is also a link at the bottom that will take you to a site that covers other STIs and topics pertinent to sexual health:
1. PAPSMEARS DON'T TEST FOR EVERYTHING. Sorry for the capslock but you really need to know this. Pap tests usually cover chlamydia, gonorrhea and abnormal cells but ask your health care provider to be sure. Ladies and gentleman, if you want to be "tested for everything" request a blood test for HIV and HSV (Herpes Simplex Virus I and II)
2. Remember that there are two types of herpes. Go Ask Alice has this to say about the confusion between the two:
"HSV-1 is more likely to appear on the face than on the genitals; however, either virus can create outbreaks on the mouth and/or genitals. When people are exposed to or infected with viruses, their bodies' immune systems respond by developing antibodies to fight off the particular virus(es) infecting their bodies. Antibodies to HSV-1 and/or HSV-2 form regardless of the site of the symptoms (i.e., lips/mouth or genitals), which is often where the virus first entered the body. Since herpes is a lifelong virus once it is contracted, circulating antibodies help fight future infections, a.k.a. episodes, so that over time, these outbreaks become less severe and happen less often." http://goaskalice.com/2890.html
3. What the CDC says about diagnosing genital herpes:
"The signs and symptoms associated with HSV-2 can vary greatly. Health care providers can diagnose genital herpes by visual inspection if the outbreak is typical, and by taking a sample from the sore(s) and testing it in a laboratory. HSV infections can be diagnosed between outbreaks by the use of a blood test. Blood tests, which detect antibodies to HSV-1 or HSV-2 infection, can be helpful, although the results are not always clear-cut." http://www.cdc.gov/std/Herpes/STDFact-Herpes.htm
4. About herpes transmission:
Direct contact with the live virus including:
"Sometimes those who know they are infected spread the virus between outbreaks when no signs or symptoms are present. This is called asymptomatic transmission.
Herpes simplex infections are often spread by people who are unaware they are infected because their symptoms may be so mild as to be unnoticeable or may not relate the symptoms to herpes.
Many genital herpes infections are spread by asymptomatic "shedders" of the virus. The virus can still be present in people with no obvious lesions during periods of asymptomatic virus shedding." http://herpes-coldsores.com/herpes_transmission.htm
5. Go here for information about STIs (more people are saying Sexually Transmitted Infection these days instead of STD) and sexual health: http://goaskalice.com/Cat7-full.html#89
1. PAPSMEARS DON'T TEST FOR EVERYTHING. Sorry for the capslock but you really need to know this. Pap tests usually cover chlamydia, gonorrhea and abnormal cells but ask your health care provider to be sure. Ladies and gentleman, if you want to be "tested for everything" request a blood test for HIV and HSV (Herpes Simplex Virus I and II)
2. Remember that there are two types of herpes. Go Ask Alice has this to say about the confusion between the two:
"HSV-1 is more likely to appear on the face than on the genitals; however, either virus can create outbreaks on the mouth and/or genitals. When people are exposed to or infected with viruses, their bodies' immune systems respond by developing antibodies to fight off the particular virus(es) infecting their bodies. Antibodies to HSV-1 and/or HSV-2 form regardless of the site of the symptoms (i.e., lips/mouth or genitals), which is often where the virus first entered the body. Since herpes is a lifelong virus once it is contracted, circulating antibodies help fight future infections, a.k.a. episodes, so that over time, these outbreaks become less severe and happen less often." http://goaskalice.com/2890.html
3. What the CDC says about diagnosing genital herpes:
"The signs and symptoms associated with HSV-2 can vary greatly. Health care providers can diagnose genital herpes by visual inspection if the outbreak is typical, and by taking a sample from the sore(s) and testing it in a laboratory. HSV infections can be diagnosed between outbreaks by the use of a blood test. Blood tests, which detect antibodies to HSV-1 or HSV-2 infection, can be helpful, although the results are not always clear-cut." http://www.cdc.gov/std/Herpes/STDFact-Herpes.htm
4. About herpes transmission:
Direct contact with the live virus including:
- Any direct contact with an herpes infection
- Kissing, touching or caressing actively infected areas
- Sexual contact (vaginal, oral, or anal sex)
- Cold sores or mouth herpes can be spread by sharing the same drinking glass, lipstick, cigarette, etc.
"Sometimes those who know they are infected spread the virus between outbreaks when no signs or symptoms are present. This is called asymptomatic transmission.
Herpes simplex infections are often spread by people who are unaware they are infected because their symptoms may be so mild as to be unnoticeable or may not relate the symptoms to herpes.
Many genital herpes infections are spread by asymptomatic "shedders" of the virus. The virus can still be present in people with no obvious lesions during periods of asymptomatic virus shedding." http://herpes-coldsores.com/herpes_transmission.htm
5. Go here for information about STIs (more people are saying Sexually Transmitted Infection these days instead of STD) and sexual health: http://goaskalice.com/Cat7-full.html#89