Sexual Health Buzz

I have had HSV-1 for just over two years. I do not get full blown outbreaks anymore, but there seems to be an ever present “tingling sensation” which make me always wary that I am beginning an outbreak. This makes me abstain for fear of an increased risk of transmission, but I have this slight tingling all the time, and abstaining for an entire relationship is not realistic. I have been in a relationship for 6 months now with no sex. Do you have any advise, or could you direct me to someone who can tell me if I really am shedding virus all this time and what I can do? – Anon

No, we are not always asymptomatically shedding the herpes virus at all time nor are we contagious 100% of the time either.

The only time we are contagious is when the virus is active and present on the surface of the skin.

Sometimes we can see and feel that activity in the form of an outbreaks and sometimes we can’t.

As for the constant tingling, you might want to check with your doctor on that one.

Remember, not everything going on down there is always going to be due in part to herpes.

Do you know your partner’s std status? If not, I highly recommend that the two of you make a date to go and get tested so you will be in the know together.

Talk about herpes

Talk about stds before you have sex