Top 10 Misconceptions About How Herpes Manifests And Can Be Contracted

Herpes is one of the conditions that have been around from ancient times and without a doubt, most of the misconceptions concerning it stem from the precarious knowledge of medicine in the outdated period. Few people are thoroughly familiar with this STD essentially because there is no need to conduct any research if you haven’t experienced an outbreak before.

In fact, you might actually be suffering from herpes and not know it because the virus HSV-1 (typically manifests in the oral area, but sometimes cause sore on the genitals) or HSV-2 (normally restricted to sores in the genital area) is in the latent stage. Considering that statistics indicate that approximately 16 percent of U.S. residents are afflicted by the HSV-2  virus and many more have an HSV-1 infection, the chances that you might also have it in your system are not at all negligible.

The only thing you can do when you find out you are infected is to educate yourself about herpes and discard all the myths before they affect your life more than the condition ever could. Let’s elaborate.

1.The Itching and the Rashes are Permanent

You should only be experiencing the rashes and sores whenever an outbreak is triggered, but these symptoms are not permanent. At the same time, the frequency of the outbreaks depends on several factors, including but not restricted to the infected person’s immune system and the hygiene.

2.The Virus can Transmit via a Contaminated Toilet Seat

This isn’t completely false, there have been a number of remote cases when the virus was contracted from contact with a toilet seat, but it is very improbable. The reason for it is that the HSV’s virus survival abilities outside of the organism are very limited and it usually dies out before it can infect anyone. However, keep in mind that other unpleasant infections can be contracted in this manner.

3.Your Spouse Experiencing a Herpes Outbreak Indicates Sexual Infidelity

The herpes outbreak is not a good indicator for infidelity simply because the virus can linger in a person’s organism for many years before it becomes active, so there is no actual way to determine when the infection occurred.

4.You Cannot Donate Blood if you are Infected with HSV-1 or HSV-2

These viruses are not among the list of restricted infections for blood donors and as long as the health state permits it, you are at liberty to give blood.

5.A Person’s Herpes Infection Suggests his/her Promiscuity

The idea that a person is promiscuous simply because of the herpes condition is false because a single unprotected sexual contact with an infected individual can transmit the infection. You might as well say that lighting up more illegal fireworks increases the chances of losing a finger in the explosion.

6.Sex is off the Table for People Suffering from Herpes

There are numerous ways to keep the outbreaks under control and at the same time you have several options to ensure that the virus is not transmitted to your sexual partner so no, HSV is not a life sentence to abstinence.

7.The Routine Medical Checkups Include a Herpes Screening

You can optionally undergo a herpes diagnosis if you specifically ask your physician, but currently this check is not included in the normal routine.

8.Unprotected Oral Sexual Contact can’t Transmit the Virus

Utilizing condoms/dental dams is the only way to be 100% certain that the sexual contact will not transmit the HSV virus to your partner. This applies even when the infected person is not currently experiencing a herpes outbreak.

9.Herpes is a Shameful Burden for the Afflicted Person

Considering the widespread nature of the HSV infection among the US population, there is no reason to feel embarrassed. Keep in mind that it can happen to anyone in a moment of carelessness, so herpes should not be perceived as a social stigma.

10.A Herpes Infection is Obvious Right Away

As previously mentioned, herpes can very well dwell in the organism for many years without determining an outbreak, which is basically the only thing that makes it noticeable. Therefore, you have no way of knowing whether or not you have been afflicted with the HSV-1 or HSV-2 without undergoing a herpes testing procedure.

[box_light]Jason Bloom is a retired physician. He advises people to consult certified gynecologists for the correct information regarding female genital herpes[/box_light]

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