Sexually Transmitted Diseases / Question
Published: February 16, 2009
Dear TeenHealthFX,
I've been living with someone for 4yrs and was just diagnosed with herpes, is it possible to have had it before him and would he definitely have the herpes virus now or would he have to still check
Signed: Just Diagnosed With Herpes
Dear Just Diagnosed With Herpes,
There are a lot of unknown factors here that makes it difficult for TeenHealthFX to give you any kind of definitive answers. But we will give you some things to consider depending on your situation.
FX is unsure if you know how you contracted herpes. There are several possibilities:
- You were recently sexually active with someone infected with the herpes virus who then passed the virus onto you. This person may have known or may not have known about his status as people carrying the herpes virus are not always immediately symptomatic.
- You contracted herpes with someone before you were with your current partner, but have not been symptomatic until now.
- Your partner has herpes, but has not yet been symptomatic and is subsequently unaware of being infected, and unknowingly passed it onto you.
FX recommends that your boyfriend meet with a medical health professional to be tested for the herpes virus. As mentioned above, he may have been unknowingly carrying the virus for some time or he may have contracted the virus from you. If the two of you do not use a condom, and especially if you have been sexually active when you have had sores or lesions present, it is very possible that the virus has been transmitted. And even if you have used a condom and had sex when you were not symptomatic, there is still a possibility of transmission from any kind of skin-to-skin contact (as a condom cannot cover the entire genital area).
If you haven’t already, FX also suggests that you meet with a medical health professional to learn how to best manage your herpes and to educate yourself on the best ways to prevent spreading the virus to others. We have also included some information below about herpes that might be helpful to you.
If you don't have a doctor and live in northern
What Is Genital Herpes?
- Genital herpes is an STD (sexually transmitted disease) caused by one of two herpes simplex viruses: type 1 (HSV-1) and type 2 (HSV-2). Most genital herpes is caused by HSV-2.
- Most individuals have no or only minimal signs or symptoms from HSV-1 and HSV-2. When signs do occur, they typically appear as one or more blisters on or around the genitals or rectum. The blisters break, leaving tender sores that may take 2-4 weeks to heal.
- The infection can stay in the body indefinitely, but generally the number of outbreaks, the severity of the outbreaks, and the time it takes for sores to heal all decrease over time.
How Common Is Genital Herpes?
- In the
- HSV-2 is more common in women (1 out of 4) than in men (1 out of 8).
How Is HSV Transmitted?
- HSV-1 and HSV-2 can be found in and released from the sores that the viruses cause, but they can also be released between outbreaks from skin that does not appear to have a sore.
- Generally, a person can only get HSV-2 during sexual contact with someone who has a genital HSV-2 infection.
- Transmission can occur from an infected partner who does not have a visible sore and is not aware that he/she is infected.
- HSV-1 can cause genital herpes by oral-genital or genital-genital contact with someone with HSV-1. More commonly HSV-1 causes infections of the mouth and lips.
Signs And Symptoms of Genital Herpes:
Most people with an HSV-2 infection are not aware of it because they have no signs or symptoms.
When a person is symptomatic he/she may experience:
- Sores
- Flu-like symptoms, including fever and swollen glands
Complications of Genital Herpes:
- HSV can cause recurrent, painful genital sores
- Herpes infections can be severe in people with suppressed immune systems, such as those with HIV
- People who know they have genital herpes can experience psychological distress related to the diagnosis.
- HSV can lead to potentially fatal infections in babies.
- Herpes can make a person more susceptible to HIV infection and can make HIV-infected individuals more infectious.
Diagnosing Genital Herpes:
- By visual inspection during an outbreak and by taking a sample from the sores and having it tested in a laboratory.
- HSV can be diagnosed between outbreaks by the use of a blood test.
Treatment for Genital Herpes:
- There is no cure for genital herpes.
- Antiviral medications are available that can shorten and prevent outbreaks during the period of time the person takes the medication.
- Daily suppressive therapy for symptomatic herpes can reduce transmission to partners.
Preventing HSV Transmission:
- The only sure way to prevent transmission of STDs, including genital herpes, is to abstain from sexual contact.
- The next best way to avoid transmission is to be in a long-term, mutually monogamous relationship where both partners have been tested and are known to be uninfected.
- Correct and consistent use of latex condoms can reduce the risk of genital herpes.
- It is possible to contract HSV even with the use of a condom as a condom does not prevent all skin-to-skin contact during sex.
- People with herpes should abstain from sexual activity with uninfected partners when lesions or other symptoms are present.
- Remember that even if a person with herpes does not have any symptoms, he or she can still infect sex partners.
- Remember that people can be infected with HSV and not be symptomatic and therefore not even know they have herpes. So your partner may tell you he/she has no STDs, believe he/she is being honest, but may then unknowingly pass on the virus. This is why STD testing prior to sexual contact and the use of condoms is so important if people choose to be sexually active.
- Sex partners of infected people should be advised that they may become infected and should use condoms to reduce the risk.
- Pregnant mothers with HSV should inform their doctors and consider a C-section to help prevent contracting the virus to their baby during delivery.
Signed: TeenHealthFX
At all levels of blood alcohol concentration (BAC), the risk of involvement in a motor vehicle crash is greater for teens than for older drivers.
