Funny Story
I had a dental appointment yesterday so I went.
When I got there they wanted me to fill out another informational history page because they were getting a new computer system and there was a glitch with the old one.
So I sat down to fill out the page to include my medical history where you have to check which scenarios describe what you’ve experienced.
Among all the other health issues that they want you to check yes or no on I found herpes listed 3 times on the page. It actually made me giggle a bit when I saw that.
They had herpes listed 3 times as: herpes, cold sores/fever blisters, and genital herpes.
So what I did is I said YES for herpes, NO for coldsores/fever blisters, and YES for genital herpes. Then at the bottom of the page where it asked for comments I write a note letting them know that they had listed herpes 3 times and that I thought they should know so they could fix their form.
Then I put a smilie face and turned it in.
My dental appointment was a complete success.
No cavities! =]
Filed under Buzz, Cold Sores, Fever Blisters, Herpes | Comment (0)Coldsores and Feverblisters are the Herpes Virus
Hi, I had just red your web site about herpes. Well I just had an HSV blood test & tested positive for HSV-1. I’ve had cold sores & fever blisters in the past when I was a child. But I’ve never had them on my genitals…. Just a question, does everyone who ever had a cold sore has herpes simplex type 1??????? And they just don’t know that they do because they don’t know that all cold sores are from hsv-1?????? Or are their other things that could cause cold sores??? Maybe you can answer my question because im confused….
Cold sores and Fever blisters are the Herpes Simplex Virus. So if you have a history of this then you have Herpes and yes, it’s usually oral HSV-1. HSV is the virus that causes coldsores and fever blisters. It is also possible to contract genital HSV-1 through oral sex with somebody that has oral HSV-1.
Shut Up N Post! STD Message Board
Filed under Buzz, Cold Sores, Fever Blisters, Herpes, Oral Sex | Comment (0)Herpes Simplex and Pregnancy
As an Expectant Parent eagerly awaiting the birth of your new baby, you are probably taking a number of steps to ensure your baby’s health. One step many experts recommend is that you become informed about herpes simplex virus (HSV). This common virus is usually a mild infection in adults. But in infants, HSV can cause a rare, but serious, illness.
What is herpes simplex virus?
HSV can cause sores near the mouth (oral herpes or “cold sores”) or sores on the genitals (genital herpes). HSV-1 is the usual cause of oral herpes, and HSV-2 is the usual cause of genital herpes. But either type of HSV can infect either part of the body. Either type can infect a baby.
How common is herpes simplex?
Some 80% of American adults have oral herpes (”cold sores”), and more than 20% have genital herpes. You can get genital herpes if you have sexual contact with a partner who is infected, or if a partner who has an active cold sore performs oral sex on you. Most people with HSV don’t know they are infected because they have no symptoms, or symptoms too mild to notice.
How can herpes simplex spread to an infant?
- Herpes simplex is most often spread to an infant during birth, if the mother has HSV in the birth canal during delivery.
- HSV can also be spread to the baby if he or she is kissed by someone with an active cold sore.
- In rare instances, HSV may be spread by touch, if someone touches an active cold sore and then immediately touches the baby.
How can herpes harm a baby?
HSV can cause neonatal herpes, a rare but life threatening disease. Neonatal herpes can cause eye or throat infections, damage to the central nervous system, mental retardation, or death. Medication may help prevent or reduce lasting damage if it is given early.
How many babies get neonatal herpes?
Less than 0.1% of babies born in the United States each year get neonatal herpes. By contrast, some 20-25% of pregnant women have genital herpes. This means that the great majority of women with genital herpes give birth to healthy, happy babies.
Which babies are most at risk?
Babies are most at risk for neonatal herpes if the mother contracts genital HSV late in pregnancy. This is because a newly infected mother does not have antibodies against the virus, so there is no natural protection for the baby during birth. In addition, a new herpes infection is frequently active, so there is a real chance that the virus will be present in the birth canal during delivery.
What about pregnant women who have a history of genital herpes?
Women who acquire genital herpes before they become pregnant have a very low risk of transmitting the virus to their babies. This is because their immune systems make antibodies that are passed to the baby through the placenta. Even if HSV is active in the birth canal during delivery, the antibodies help protect the baby. In addition, if a mother knows she has genital herpes, her doctor can take steps to protect the baby.
PROTECTING THE BABY: WOMEN WITH GENITAL HERPES
If you are pregnant and you have genital herpes, you may be concerned about the risk of spreading the infection to your baby. Be reassured that the risk is extremely small - especially if you have had herpes for some time. The following steps can help make the risk even smaller:
- Talk with your obstetrician or midwife. Make sure he or she knows you have genital herpes.
- At the time of labor, check yourself for any symptoms in the genital area - sores, itching, tingling or tenderness. Your health care provider will also examine you with a strong light to detect any signs of an outbreak.
- If you have an active outbreak at the time of delivery, the safest course is cesarean section to prevent the baby’s coming into contact with virus in the birth canal. If you do not have an active outbreak, you can have a vaginal delivery.
- Ask your doctor not to break the bag of waters around the baby unless necessary. The bag of waters may help protect the baby against any virus in the birth canal.
- As your doctor not to use a fetal scalp monitor (scalp electrodes) during labor to monitor the baby’s heart rate unless medically necessary. This instrument makes tiny punctures in the baby’s scalp, which may allow herpes virus to enter. In most cases, an external monitor can be used instead.
- Ask that a vacuum or forceps not be used during delivery unless medically necessary. These instruments can also cause breaks in the baby’s scalp, allowing virus to enter.
- After birth, watch the baby closely for about three weeks. Symptoms of neonatal herpes include blisters, fever, laziness, crankiness, or lack of appetite. While these can be symptoms of several mild illnesses, don’t wait to see if your baby will get better. Take him or her to the pediatrician at once. Be sure to tell the pediatrician you have genital herpes.
- Think positively! The odds are strongly in favor of your having a healthy baby.
PROTECTING THE BABY: WOMEN WHO DON’T HAVE GENITAL HERPES
The greatest risk of neonatal herpes is to babies whose mothers contract genital infection late in pregnancy. While this is a rare occurrence, it does happen, and can cause a serious, even life-threatening, illness for the baby. The best way you can protect your baby is to know the facts about HSV and how to protect yourself. The first step may be finding out whether you already carry the virus.
How can I get tested for genital HSV?
If you have symptoms, the best test is a viral culture. To perform this test, your health care provider must take a sample from an outbreak while it is active, preferably on the first day. Test results are available in about a week. If you don’t have symptoms, a blood test can tell you whether you carry HSV-2, the type of herpes that usually infects the genital tract. (A blood test may also tell you whether you have HSV-1, but in many cases this simply means you have oral herpes.) The most accurate blood test is the Western blot, available from the University of Washington at Seattle. Your doctor can find out more about the test by calling (206) 548-6066. Other accurate tests, such as immunoblot assays, may be available through reference laboratories soon. Your doctor can find out more by calling (888) 703-4455.
How can I make sure I don’t get genital HSV?
If you test negative for genital herpes, the following steps can help protect you from getting an infection during pregnancy:
- If your partner has genital herpes, abstain from sex during active outbreaks. Between outbreaks, use a condom from start to finish every time you have sexual contact, even if your partner has no symptoms. (HSV can spread when no symptoms are present.) Consider abstaining from sex during the last trimester.
- If you don’t know whether your partner has genital HSV, you may wish to ask your partner to be tested. If your partner has genital or oral HSV, there is a very real chance that you may acquire it unless you take steps to prevent transmission.
- Do not let your partner perform oral sex on you if your partner has an active cold sore (oral herpes). This can give you genital herpes.
What if I contract genital HSV during late pregnancy?
If you experience genital symptoms, or believe you have been exposed to genital HSV, tell your obstetrician or midwife at once. However, be aware that herpes can lie dormant for several years. What appears to be a new infection is usually an old one that is causing symptoms for the first time. Talk with your provider about the best way to protect your baby. When a pregnant woman does contract a new genital HSV infection during the last trimester, some providers will prescribe the medication acyclovir. Some recommend a cesarean delivery under these circumstances, even if no outbreak is present.
How can I protect the baby after birth?
A baby can get neonatal herpes in the first eight weeks after birth. Such infections are almost always caused by a kiss from an adult who has a cold sore. To protect your baby, don’t kiss him or her when you have a cold sore, and ask others not to. If you have a cold sore, wash your hands before touching the baby.
FOR PARTNERS OF PREGNANT WOMEN
If your partner is pregnant, and she does not have genital HSV, you can help ensure that the baby remains safe from infection. Find out whether you have genital HSV (see “How can I get tested?”). Remember, more than 20% of Americans do have genital HSV, and most do not have symptoms. If you find that you have the virus, follow these guidelines to protect your partner during the pregnancy:
- Use condoms from start to finish every time you have sexual contact, even if you have no symptoms. HSV can be spread even when no symptoms are present.
- If you have genital outbreaks, abstain from sex until the outbreak has completely healed.
- Talk with your health care provider about taking antiviral medication to suppress outbreaks and to reduce the risk of transmission between outbreaks.
- Consider abstaining from intercourse during the last trimester. Explore alternatives such as touching, kissing, fantasizing, and massage.
- If you have cold sores (usually caused by HSV-1), avoid performing oral sex on your partner when a cold sore is present.
Here are some links you may find helpful:
Filed under Acyclovir, Buzz, Cold Sores, Condoms, Fever Blisters, Herpes, Neonatal Herpes, Oral Sex, Pregnancy | Comment (0)Can two carriers of HSV 2 have unprotected sex?
Here’s the Question
Can two carriers of HSV 2 have unprotected sex? This is of course after getting tested for all STDS. If they do have sex can the virus be shed other places on the body? Face, lips, etc?
Here is my Answer
If two people are positive for HSV 2 and they have unprotected sex together, they are not going to pass it back and forth. That’s not how it works because once you contract herpes you keep herpes.
It is a good idea to have routine STD testing done so that both parties will know what they are getting themselves into. It’s always a good idea to know your status before beginning a brand new sexual relationship.
When you go in to your doctor’s office OR clinic be sure and ask them what they are testing you for exactly because not all STDS are included in the routine STD testing process. You’d be surprised to know that most people assume they are being tested for everything when in reality they are not.
Depending on which type of HSV you have and where it’s located will have a lot to say about where you can asymptomatically shed the virus. People with herpes tend to shed before, during, and after an outbreak. People that don’t get outbreaks that they can see OR feel tend to shed less often.
If you have genital herpes then outbreaks can occur anywhere below the belt line and usually in the boxer shorts area. If you have oral herpes then outbreaks can occur anywhere above the neck but usually occur in the oral facial area around the mouth. (ie: cold sores and/or fever blisters)
Filed under Buzz, Cold Sores, Fever Blisters, Herpes, Oral Sex, std testing | Comment (0)The latest on H Balm and Abreva
I had a couple of people write in to me over the weekend to share their personal experiences with H Balm and Abreva. They don’t seem to be too happy with the products at this point in time. I’ve included their comments on the H Balm Comments and Abreva Comments pages I have so you guys can read what they had to say.
On those pages you can also find links to polls where you are able to vote on products and treatments that have worked OR not worked for you. That’s all over on the Shut Up N Post! STD Message Board.
The thing about Abreva is that it’s only been clinically proven to treat cold sores OR fever blisters which is just another way of saying that it can treat oral herpes outbreaks. The other thing about that is I would just assume that an oral herpes antiviral would work better than a topical since they say that it’s much better to keep the area clean and dry while you like the oral herpes antivirals go to work on the outbreak. I honestly don’t understand why people would prefer a cream to treat oral herpes outbreaks unless of course it had some numbing effect on curbing the pain that is sometimes associated with oral herpes outbreaks.
As for the latest comment on H Balm. I have never heard of H Balm being clinically proven to specifically treat herpes. I personally have to wonder about a product that supposedly helps to treat everything under the sun. Did you notice that there is a cure for all the ailments listed on their site? Now I have heard of some people using H Balm to help with the pain while they are waiting for their clinically proven herpes antivirals to kick in. I suppose that would be ok to do if you think it’s what works for you.
Filed under Abreva, Buzz, Cold Sores, Fever Blisters, H Balm, Herpes | Comment (0)Herpes Simplex and Pregnancy
As an Expectant Parent eagerly awaiting the birth of your new baby, you are probably taking a number of steps to ensure your baby’s health. One step many experts recommend is that you become informed about herpes simplex virus (HSV). This common virus is usually a mild infection in adults. But in infants, HSV can cause a rare, but serious, illness.
What is herpes simplex virus?
HSV can cause sores near the mouth (oral herpes or “cold sores”) or sores on the genitals (genital herpes). HSV-1 is the usual cause of oral herpes, and HSV-2 is the usual cause of genital herpes. But either type of HSV can infect either part of the body. Either type can infect a baby.
How common is herpes simplex?
Some 80% of American adults have oral herpes (”cold sores”), and more than 20% have genital herpes. You can get genital herpes if you have sexual contact with a partner who is infected, or if a partner who has an active cold sore performs oral sex on you. Most people with HSV don’t know they are infected because they have no symptoms, or symptoms too mild to notice.
How can herpes simplex spread to an infant?
1. Herpes simplex is most often spread to an infant during birth, if the mother has HSV in the birth canal during delivery.
2. HSV can also be spread to the baby if he or she is kissed by someone with an active cold sore.
3. In rare instances, HSV may be spread by touch, if someone touches an active cold sore and then immediately touches the baby.
How can herpes harm a baby?
HSV can cause neonatal herpes , a rare but life threatening disease. Neonatal herpes can cause eye or throat infections, damage to the central nervous system, mental retardation, or death. Medication may help prevent or reduce lasting damage if it is given early.
How many babies get neonatal herpes?
Less than 0.1% of babies born in the United States each year get neonatal herpes. By contrast, some 20-25% of pregnant women have genital herpes. This means that the great majority of women with genital herpes give birth to healthy, happy babies.
Which babies are most at risk?
Babies are most at risk for neonatal herpes if the mother contracts genital HSV late in pregnancy. This is because a newly infected mother does not have antibodies against the virus, so there is no natural protection for the baby during birth. In addition, a new herpes infection is frequently active, so there is a real chance that the virus will be present in the birth canal during delivery.
What about pregnant women who have a history of genital herpes?
Women who acquire genital herpes before they become pregnant have a very low risk of transmitting the virus to their babies. This is because their immune systems make antibodies that are passed to the baby through the placenta. Even if HSV is active in the birth canal during delivery, the antibodies help protect the baby. In addition, if a mother knows she has genital herpes, her doctor can take steps to protect the baby.
PROTECTING THE BABY: WOMEN WITH GENITAL HERPES
If you are pregnant and you have genital herpes, you may be concerned about the risk of spreading the infection to your baby. Be reassured that the risk is extremely small - especially if you have had herpes for some time. The following steps can help make the risk even smaller:
1. Talk with your obstetrician or midwife. Make sure he or she knows you have genital herpes.
2. At the time of labor, check yourself for any symptoms in the genital area - sores, itching, tingling or tenderness. Your health care provider will also examine you with a strong light to detect any signs of an outbreak.
3. If you have an active outbreak at the time of delivery, the safest course is cesarean section to prevent the baby’s coming into contact with virus in the birth canal. If you do not have an active outbreak, you can have a vaginal delivery.
4. Ask your doctor not to break the bag of waters around the baby unless necessary. The bag of waters may help protect the baby against any virus in the birth canal.
5. As your doctor not to use a fetal scalp monitor (scalp electrodes) during labor to monitor the baby’s heart rate unless medically necessary. This instrument makes tiny punctures in the baby’s scalp, which may allow herpes virus to enter. In most cases, an external monitor can be used instead.
6. Ask that a vacuum or forceps not be used during delivery unless medically necessary. These instruments can also cause breaks in the baby’s scalp, allowing virus to enter.
7. After birth, watch the baby closely for about three weeks. Symptoms of neonatal herpes include blisters, fever, laziness, crankiness, or lack of appetite. While these can be symptoms of several mild illnesses, don’t wait to see if your baby will get better. Take him or her to the pediatrician at once. Be sure to tell the pediatrician you have genital herpes.
8. Think positively! The odds are strongly in favor of your having a healthy baby.
PROTECTING THE BABY: WOMEN WHO DON’T HAVE GENITAL HERPES
The greatest risk of neonatal herpes is to babies whose mothers contract genital infection late in pregnancy. While this is a rare occurrence, it does happen, and can cause a serious, even life-threatening, illness for the baby. The best way you can protect your baby is to know the facts about HSV and how to protect yourself. The first step may be finding out whether you already carry the virus.
How can I get tested for genital HSV?
If you have symptoms, the best test is a viral culture. To perform this test, your health care provider must take a sample from an outbreak while it is active, preferably on the first day. Test results are available in about a week. If you don’t have symptoms, a blood test can tell you whether you carry HSV-2, the type of herpes that usually infects the genital tract. (A blood test may also tell you whether you have HSV-1, but in many cases this simply means you have oral herpes.) The most accurate blood test is the Western blot, available from the University of Washington at Seattle. Your doctor can find out more about the test by calling (206) 548-6066. Other accurate tests, such as immunoblot assays, may be available through reference laboratories soon. Your doctor can find out more by calling (888) 703-4455.
How can I make sure I don’t get genital HSV?
If you test negative for genital herpes, the following steps can help protect you from getting an infection during pregnancy:
1. If your partner has genital herpes, abstain from sex during active outbreaks. Between outbreaks, use a condom from start to finish every time you have sexual contact, even if your partner has no symptoms. (HSV can spread when no symptoms are present.) Consider abstaining from sex during the last trimester.
2. If you don’t know whether your partner has genital HSV, you may wish to ask your partner to be tested. If your partner has genital or oral HSV, there is a very real chance that you may acquire it unless you take steps to prevent transmission.
3. Do not let your partner perform oral sex on you if your partner has an active cold sore (oral herpes). This can give you genital herpes.
What if I contract genital HSV during late pregnancy?
If you experience genital symptoms, or believe you have been exposed to genital HSV, tell your obstetrician or midwife at once. However, be aware that herpes can lie dormant for several y ears. What appears to be a new infection is usually an old one that is causing symptoms for the first time. Talk with your provider about the best way to protect your baby. When a pregnant woman does contract a new genital HSV infection during the last trimester, some providers will prescribe the medication acyclovir. Some recommend a cesarean delivery under these circumstances, even if no outbreak is present.
How can I protect the baby after birth?
A baby can get neonatal herpes in the first eight weeks after birth. Such infections are almost always caused by a kiss from an adult who has a cold sore. To protect your baby, don’t kiss him or her when you have a cold sore, and ask others not to. If you have a cold sore, wash your hands before touching the baby.
FOR PARTNERS OF PREGNANT WOMEN
If your partner is pregnant, and she does not have genital HSV, you can help ensure that the baby remains safe from infection. Find out whether you have genital HSV (see “How can I get tested?”). Remember, more than 20% of Americans do have genital HSV, and most do not have symptoms. If you find that you have the virus, follow these guidelines to protect your partner during the pregnancy:
1. Use condoms from start to finish every time you have sexual contact, even if you have no symptoms. HSV can be spread even when no symptoms are present.
2. If you have genital outbreaks, abstain from sex until the outbreak has completely healed.
3. Talk with your health care provider about taking antiviral medication to suppress outbreaks and to reduce the risk of transmission between outbreaks.
4. Consider abstaining from intercourse during the last trimester. Explore alternatives such as touching, kissing, fantasizing, and massage.
5. If you have cold sores (usually caused by HSV-1), avoid performing oral sex on your partner when a cold sore is present.
Here are some links you may find helpful
Pregnant and worried about STDS
Filed under Buzz, Cold Sores, Condoms, Fever Blisters, Herpes, Neonatal Herpes, Oral Sex, Pregnancy, std testing | Comments (2)Oral Sex, Cold Sores and Herpes
Can a person with genital herpes transmit it to a partner by performing oral sex on their partner?
If somebody has genital herpes and they perform oral sex on their partner I don’t see how they can pass their genital herpes through oral sex. The herpes simplex virus isn’t on their mouth (unless they get cold sores) but on the genital area.
Somebody with a history of cold sores or fever blisters actually has oral herpes. If the virus is active on the surface of the skin and they perform oral sex on their partner then yes, it would be possible to pass herpes to their partner’s genital through oral sex.
I guess the thing that really gets me though is that couples should be making a date to go and get tested for STD’s together so that they can both know their STD status. Wouldn’t you agree?
A herpes type specific antibody test is perfect for the person that doesn’t get signs or symptoms that they can see or feel that can be cultured. Make sense?
Go get tested for herpes so you will know your status
Don’t forget to ask for an HIV test too!
Filed under Buzz, Cold Sores, Fever Blisters, HIV | AIDS, Herpes, Oral Sex | Comments (2)
