Sexual Health Buzz

i am a 32 year old male my girlfriend age 40 gave me herpes she did not tell me she had it she hid it from me i would have used protection

I got this note today thinking they actually wanted my advice on the matter. I tried to write the person back but was unable to because of some sort of blocking mechanism going on. I’m not THAT much of a computer geek so I just assumed the person rigged it that way on purpose.

In any case, I thought I would go ahead and post my thoughts anyway:

Dear 32 year old male,

I’m almost positive that your 40 year old girlfriend did not put a gun to your head and force you to have sex with her.

How do you know that your girlfriend even had herpes in the first place? What if you already had herpes and you didn’t know it?

What kind of protection would you have used? There isn’t any kind of protection that I know of that will 100% keep you from getting herpes. Condoms don’t cover the entire genital area so it’s still possible to contract herpes even if you did use protection.

The facts remain that you and your girlfriend probably did not sit down and talk about STDs OR make a date to go and get tested for STDs. In fact, you probably didn’t even know that herpes isn’t included in the routine STD testing process. You have to actually request a herpes test in order to have one and that’s only IF your doctor is even up-to-date on his/or her herpes facts.

Besides.. how do you know that you didn’t already have it prior to meeting your 40 year old girlfriend?

> One can be infectious during these virus shedding days and
> transmission does not require actual intercourse.

Now you’re making it seem as though somebody can contract herpes via a hand shake. Isn’t it true that most oral herpes and genital herpes cases have come from some sort of vaginal, anal, oral sex and kissing depending on the person and the situation surrounding the transmission? Typically a person contracts herpes via some form of sex and/or kissing when the virus is actually active and present on the surface of the skin and the receiving party has an opening or pathway for the virus to enter their body. (And I’m not talking about herpetic herpes OR herpes gladiatorum either)

> Nor does a condom
> provide a barrier to sites of infection elsewhere in the genital
> regions.

Uh, most people do know that a condom doesn’t cover the entire genital area which is why it’s still possible for people to contract herpes even if there is no condom present.

Most people that have genital herpes have outbreaks and asymptomatic shedding take place below the belt line in the boxer shorts area so I’m not sure why you would attempt to make it seem as though herpes is going to somehow spread to other parts of the body.

Most people that have oral herpes have outbreaks and asymptomatic shedding in the oral facial area and usually around the mouth.

> The overall risk of transmission of HSV-2 in a steady relationship
> between a person with periodic outbreaks and an antibody negative
> partner is only from 3-10% over a year period. The evidence of
> transmission is conversion of the partner from being antibody
> negative to antibody positive. The lower % applies when extra
> precautions are taken such as when an outbreak is expected to, or has
> occurred.

We can’t all know when we are shedding.

> In an 8 month study, taking daily Valtrex only reduced transmission
> from 3.2% to 1.6%.

Proof please.. do you have a link? Do you have a journal study that I can look up that you have obviously referenced OR is this just something that you pieced together yourself?

> Some of the promotional materials provided by pharmaceutical industry
> suggest that individuals may have a responsibility to be tested for
> HSV-2 antibodies.

I don’t particularly care for how you worded this. You make it seem as if pharmaceutical companies put out materials that are strictly “promotional” as if nothing they produce is in the least bit educational. Could it be that you don’t care for the pharmaceutical industry or the people that the drug companies are actually helping to put out of their misery?

The fact is.. it doesn’t matter what you or any drug company says. People should be tested for STDs and they should know what they are being tested for and what their status is.

> If positive, it is argued that they should consider
> daily Valtrex.

Why does it have to be an argument. Everybody knows that suppressive therapy reduces transmission and asymptomatic shedding. So why wouldn’t somebody want to do whatever it took to protect their uninfected partner and prevent transmission if they could? Why is that so wrong?

> It can be quite stressful to be told solely on the
> basis of an antibody test that one has genital herpes. This stress
> can actually lead to a clinical outbreak. Indeed stress is probably
> the leading factor in precipitating a recurrence.

Was there another way that you wanted people to be able to find out there status besides having a culture of a sore done? Why does type specific herpes antibody testing have to be stressful in your view? It’s not stressful. Common sense tells me that if you have an outbreak that can be cultured then you get in within the first 24 – 48 hours to have that done. If you don’t have an outbreak that can be cultured then you have a type specific herpes antibody test done to find out if you have HSV-1, HSV-2, both OR nothing at all. What’s so stressful about that? What’s so stressful about knowing your status OR wanting to know if you have herpes or not?

> The same issues apply to HSV-1 infection except that the
> seropositivity rate approaches 90%. For most individuals the periodic
> shedding of virus in saliva occurs in the absence of any fever
> blister.
>
> I hope this information is useful. Research studies are indicating
> that HSV infections can be eliminated from the body. I would be
> pleased to elaborate on this topic at some other time. Kind regards,
> W. John Martin, MD, PhD. Institute of Progressive Medicine, Los
> Angeles CA.

You say that HSV infections can be eliminated from the body as if somebody could actually destroy the virus from the system forever!? I am paying attention to what you are writing and HOW you are writing it and believe me I am not impressed. In fact, I’m a bit disappointed in your response to this topic. Especially since you are supposed to be highly educated in this area.

Sometimes I wonder where people come up with this stuff. Do you think I’m out of line? Leave a comment as to why OR why not AND if you’d like to chime in on the actual discussing going on right now.. you can find it over on the Oklahoma H Club.

The British Association for Sexual Health and HIV (BASHH) and the American Sexually Transmitted Diseases Association (ASTDA) present their 3rd joint conference from May 7-10, 2008 at the Brooklyn Bridge Marriott in New York City.

The quadrennial meeting features major reviews of STD and HIV topics, with joint presentations by prominent investigators from the UK and US. To learn more about this year’s conference, entitled, “‘Converging Approaches in STI/HIV Control and Reproductive Health,” visit the BASHH website.

Talk about STDs

Do you have genital herpes? A clinical research study is being conducted to evaluate an investigational medication for genital herpes. To qualify you must:

• Be at least 18 years of age (if you live in Alabama, you must be at least 19)
• Be diagnosed with genital herpes
• Have had at least 4 outbreaks in the past year

All study-related examinations, lab tests, and the study medication are provided to qualified participants at no cost. Qualified participants will also receive compensation for time and travel. For more information, please call 1-800-438-5260 or visit www.ashastd.org/trial.cfm

In other news from the National STD Prevention Conference, CDC announced that rates of syphilis in the U.S. have risen for the seventh year in a row. While the overall increases in 2007 were primarily among males, and the increase largely reflects continued syphilis increases among men who have sex with men (MSM), rates among women rose as well. Overall, syphilis rates rose 12 percent in 2007, as the number of cases increased from 9,756 in 2006 to 11,181 in 2007. Although CDC indicated that the data is preliminary and subject to change, they remain confident in the overall trends.

After declining through the 1990s, rates of syphilis have been on the rise, increasing 76 percent since 2000. In 2007, overall increases were largely among males, with the rate among men roughly six times higher than that among women. CDC data show that approximately 64 percent of all syphilis cases in 2007 were among MSM. The CDC continues to highly recommend that men who have sex with men get tested annually for such STIs as syphilis, chlamydia and gonorrhea and to make sure they are tested at the three exposure sites: anal, oral, and/or urethral.

“The resurgence of syphilis among MSM represents a formidable challenge to our STD prevention efforts, but one that is surmountable,” remarked Kevin Fenton, M.D., director of CDC’s National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD and TB Prevention. “The solution comes down to making STD screening and treatment a central part of medical care for gay and bisexual men, while finding innovative ways to help MSM avoid STD infections – including HIV – in the first place.”

One in four young females in the U.S. has at least one common sexually transmitted infection (STI), according to a study released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) at the 2008 National STD Prevention Conference in Chicago. In the study, 838 girls aged 14-19 were tested for a range of STIs, including chlamydia, HPV, trichomoniasis, and genital herpes. According to the results, an alarming total of 3.2 million teen girls (about 26% of girls in this age group) were infected.

According to the report, 20% of Caucasian and Mexican American girls had an STI, while the percentage was 48% for African American girls, demonstrating that group is most at risk. About 15% of those who had an STI were found to have more than one. Out of the young women who reported having had only one partner, one in five had an STI. The two most common STIs were HPV at 18.3% and chlamydia at 3.9%.

The CDC released results from an additional study that may help explain why the STI rate is so high in young women. This second study showed that most women who received contraception from their doctors did not receive any information on STIs or how to prevent them, and the importance of testing was not discussed. The CDC suggests that young, sexually active women be tested each year for chlamydia and other STIs. They also stress the importance of the Gardasil(R) vaccine, which helps prevent genital warts and cervical cancer.

To the world it means that the perfect plan of salvation has been provided . . .

“I declare unto you the gospel . . . that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures; and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures.” – 1 Corinthians 15:1-4

“But God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” – Romans 5:8

To God it means that He is satisfied with the work of His Son . . .

“Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but made alive by the spirit.” – 1 Peter 3:18

To the believer it is the promise of ever-lasting life . . .

Jesus promises, “Because I live, you shall live also.” – John 14:19

“He that heareth My word, and believeth on Him that sent Me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation, but is passed from death unto life.” – John 5:24

To you it is a challenge to believe . . .

Jesus claims, “I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in Me, though he were dead, yet shall he live.” – John 11:25

“If thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.” – Romans 10:9

You can know the true meaning of Easter in your life today by taking these steps:

1. Recognize that without Christ you are separated from God. In honest repentance admit your need to be saved: “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23).

2. Realize that God loves you, and believe that Jesus Christ died for your sins: “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16).

3. Receive the risen Christ into your life by faith, and trust Him as your Savior: “But as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name” (John 1:12).

Open Door Mission sent this to me in the mail and I thought it would be nice if I shared it with you too. Hope everybody had a wonderful Easter.

I just wanted to tell you how thankful I am that you created this page and gave people a place to talk about there fears and ask questions about HPV and HSV.

Keep up the good work and Happy late birthday – Iris

Thank you so much for sending me those words of encouragement. It’s nice to know that people are getting the information that they need to help them get through their diagnosis.

I know from experience that just being able to reach out and communicate with somebody that might be going through something similar is such a relief! – Angela

An 18 year old Italian girl tells her Mom that she has missed her period for 2 months. Very worried, the mother goes to the drugstore and buys a pregnancy kit. The test result shows that the girl is pregnant.

Shouting, cursing, crying, the mother says, “Who was the pig that did this to you? I want to know!”

The girl picks up the phone and makes a call. Half an hour later, a Ferrari stops in front of their house. A mature and distinguished man with grey hair and impeccably dressed in an Armani suit steps out of a Ferrari and enters the house.

He sits in the living room with the father, mother, and the girl and tells them: “Good morning, your daughter has informed me of the problem.

I can’t marry her because of my personal family situation but I’ll take charge. I will pay all costs and provide for your daughter for the rest of her life.

Additionally, if a girl is born, I will bequeath a Ferrari, 2 retail stores, a townhouse, a beach-front villa, and a $2,000,000 bank account.

If a boy is born, my legacy will be a couple of factories and a $4,000,000 bank account. If twins, they will receive a factory and $2,000,000 each.

However, if there is a miscarriage, what do you suggest I do?”

At this point, the father, who had remained silent, places a hand firmly on the man’s shoulder and tells him.

“You gonna try again.”