Class is In Session: Herpes Facts

According to Center for Disease Control and Prevention- www.cdc.gov/std/herpes/stdfact-herpes.htm

• HSv-1= Oral Herpes or "cold sores"
  • "Most people with oral herpes were infected during childhood or young adulthood from non-sexual contact with saliva." Such as kisses from parents, parents' friends, family, etc..
  • There is no cure for HSV-1 or HSV-2.
  • Most people with the "cold sore virus" are unaware that they have it.
  • Cold sores can spread to the genital area by oral sex, causing genital herpes or HSV-2.
• One out of every Six people between ages 14 to 49 have genital herpes.
  • Genital Herpes transmits from person to person through intercourse of the affected area. 
  • Most people who have genital herpes have no symptoms, or have very mild symptoms.
  • There is no long-term health affect, but will increase the risk of getting HIV when coming into contact with an HIV+ and if pregnant, medication should be taken or c-section performed in order to prevent spreading HSV-2 to child.

According to the Washington Post- www.washingtonpost.com/news/speaking-of-science/wp/2015/11/02/you-probably-have-herpes-but-thats-really-okay/?noredirect=on&utm_term=.5f5a6681844d

• "2 out of 3 people under the age of 50 have Herpes Simplex Virus 1 (HSV-1)" in the U.S.- That is equivalent to 3.7 billion people.
• Over 417 million people under 50 have been diagnosed with HSV-2 in the U.S., but surveys have shown that number may be significantly higher.
  • 90% of HSV2 positive patients had never had symptoms and never been tested.
  • Transmission of HSV2 from infected woman to uninfected man is 4% without protection or antiviral medication. 2% with condoms. 1% with condoms and medication.
  • Transmission of HSV2 from infected man to uninfected man is 10% without protection or antiviral medication. 5% with condoms. 2-3% with condoms and medication.

According to the New Zealand Herpes Foundation- www.herpes.org.nz/patient-info/myths-vs-facts/

• ​Up to 80% of the population has HSV-1
• "Up to 22% of sexually active adults have genital herpes"
• 50% of people get herpes from people who do not know they have it.
• 80% of those with genital herpes do not know they have it.
• Herpes is not present in the blood and only spreads by skin-to-skin contact.

According to WebMD- www.herpes.org.nz/patient-info/myths-vs-facts/ and according to SmartSexResource- smartsexresource.com/ask-us/questions/can-i-give-my-partner-oral-sex-if-i-have-hsv-2-and-i-have

• "As long as you don't have "cold sores" on your mouth, you can perform oral sex on your partner" as an HSV2 positive

I discuss HSV disclosure on a different Blog&Vlog! Thanks!