Herpes

would you date someone who told you they are carrying the herpes virus?

and is herpes a big deal? lots of people walk around with cold sores, they are not dangerous just unsightly i am told

Public Comments

1. Read this first
2. if you're really safe it's o.k.
3. at least they told you before, not after. it is an std, but is very common.
4. Nope not worth it. There is no safe sex against STDs. All you have to is barely come in contact with the virus and you have it. And then people are going to contemplate whether or not to date you........think about that
5. I would date them,but never would have unprotected sex.Herpes can be a big deal especially when you want to have sex.Herpes can be dangerous
6. Cold sores are bloody painful and I certainly wouldn't want them on my cunt!!! Saying that, dating someone with herpes is possible if you use condoms and avoid genital/oral contact during a flare up.
7. NO why ? If you have genital herpes infection, you can easily pass or transmit the virus to an uninfected partner during sex. Most people get genital herpes by having sex with someone who is shedding the herpes virus either during an outbreak or during a period with no symptoms. People who do not know they have herpes play an important role in transmission. You can transmit herpes through close contact other than sexual intercourse, through oral sex or close skin-to-skin contact, for example. The virus is spread rarely, if at all, by objects such as a toilet seat or hot tub. Reduce your risk of spreading herpes People with herpes should follow a few simple steps to avoid spreading the infection to other places on their body or other people. Avoid touching the infected area during an outbreak, and wash your hands after contact with the area. Do not have sexual contact (vaginal, oral, or anal) from the time of first genital symptoms until symptoms are completely gone. TREATMENT Although there is no cure for genital herpes, your health care provider might prescribe an antiviral medicine to treat your symptoms and to help prevent future outbreaks. This can decrease the risk of passing herpes to sexual partners. Medicines to treat genital herpes are Acyclovir (Zovirax) Famciclovir (Famvir) Valacyclovir (Valtrex) SYMPTOMS Symptoms of herpes are called outbreaks. The first outbreak appears within 2 weeks after you become infected and can last for several weeks. These symptoms might include tingling or sores near the area where the virus has entered the body, such as on the genital or rectal area, on buttocks or thighs, or occasionally on other parts of the body where the virus has entered through broken skin. They also can occur inside the vagina and on the cervix in women, or in the urinary passage of women and men. Small red bumps appear first, develop into small blisters, and then become itchy, painful sores that might develop a crust and will heal without leaving a scar. Sometimes, there is a crack or raw area or some redness without pain, itching, or tingling. Other symptoms that may accompany the first (and less often future) outbreak of genital herpes are fever, headache, muscle aches, painful or difficult urination, vaginal discharge, and swollen glands in the groin area. Often, though, people don’t recognize their first or subsequent outbreaks. People who have mild or no symptoms at all may not think they are infected with herpes. They can still transmit the virus to others, however. Recurrence of herpes outbreaks In most people, the virus can become active and cause outbreaks several times a year. This is called a recurrence, and infected people can have symptoms. HSV remains in certain nerve cells of your body for life. When the virus is triggered to be active, it travels along the nerves to your skin. There, it makes more virus and sometimes new sores near the site of the first outbreak. Recurrences are generally much milder than the first outbreak of genital herpes. HSV-2 genital infection is more likely to result in recurrences than HSV-1 genital infection. Recurrences become less common over time. Symptoms from recurrences might include itching, tingling, vaginal discharge, and a burning feeling or pain in the genital or anal area. Sores may be present during a recurrence, but sometimes they are small and easily overlooked. Sometimes, the virus can become active but not cause any visible sores or any symptoms. During these times, small amounts of the virus may be shed at or near places of the first infection, in fluids from the mouth, penis, or vagina, or from barely noticeable sores. This is called asymptomatic (without symptoms) shedding. Even though you are not aware of the shedding, you can infect a sexual partner during this time. Asymptomatic shedding is an important factor in the spread of herpes. DIAGNOSIS Your health care provider can diagnose typical genital herpes by looking at the sores. Some cases, however, are more difficult to diagnose. The virus sometimes, but not always, can be detected by a laboratory test called a culture. A culture is done when your health care provider uses a swab to get and study material from a suspected herpes sore. You may still have genital herpes, however, even if your culture is negative (which means it does not show HSV). A blood test cannot show whether you are having a herpes outbreak, but it can show if you are infected with HSV. Newer blood tests, called type-specific tests, can tell whether you are infected with HSV-1 or HSV-2. Blood tests cannot tell between genital and other herpes infections. Health experts assume, however, that if you are positive for HSV-2, you have had genital infection. Coping with herpes A diagnosis of genital herpes can have emotional effects whether or not symptoms are present. If you have genital herpes, you are probably concerned about the effect of your disease on personal relationships. In addition, your sexual partner may be concerned about their risk of infection. Proper counseling and treatment can help you and your partner learn to cope with the disease. PREVENTION Because herpes can be transmitted from someone who has no symptoms, using these precautions is not enough to prevent transmission. Recently, the Food and Drug Administration approved Valtrex for use in preventing transmission of genital herpes. It has to be taken continuously by the infected person, and while it significantly decreases the risk of the transmission of herpes, transmission can still occur. Do not have oral genital contact in the presence of any symptoms or findings of oral herpes. Using barriers such as condoms during sexual activity may decrease transmission, but transmission can occur even if condoms are used correctly. Condoms may not cover all infected areas. COMPLICATIONS Genital herpes infections usually do not cause serious health problems in healthy adults. In some people whose immune systems do not work properly, genital herpes outbreaks can be unusually severe and long lasting. Occasionally, people with normal immune systems can get herpes infection of the eye, called ocular herpes. Ocular herpes is usually caused by HSV-1 but sometimes by HSV-2. It can occasionally result in serious eye disease, including blindness. A woman with herpes who is pregnant can pass the infection to her baby. A baby born with herpes might die or have serious brain, skin, or eye problems. Pregnant women who have herpes, or whose sex partner has herpes should discuss the situation with her health care provider. Together they can make a plan to reduce her or her baby’s risk of getting infected. Babies who are born with herpes do better if the disease is recognized and treated early. Genital herpes, like other genital diseases that cause sores, is important in the spread of HIV infection.
8. Very nasty....avoid any contagious person like the plague! NOT WORTH CATCHING IS IT?
9. No ways as even the herpes virus in and around the mouth can be contagious.
10. no..no..no
11. because they hunest maybe i will think about it but they should take this desase off them body as soon because i dont think some body could take long term relation ship withe that this if this person realy will protact him her sealf from this desase next time and should be everybody take care him or her salf from the sexual desases i'am sorrey if my type in english not clear i'am not american i juset teashed my salf how to type english i can speak better than type
12. no way chicks come and go but herpes lasts a lifetime. besides there are plenty of fish in the sea that are careful about who they swap fluids with.
13. Just put it down?