Abstinence is the only guaranteed method to prevent the transmission of genital herpes. Many people with genital herpes report that they avoid sex during outbreaks because the genital ulcers that signal an outbreak can be painful, taking the pleasure out of sexual relations. Other couples refrain from sexual relations because they don't want to transmit the herpes to their partners.
It makes sense, since there is more virus present on the genitalia during an outbreak than between outbreaks. Yet, if avoiding sex during outbreaks of genital herpes was really the best method to prevent getting herpes, then why do so many people have genital herpes?
We must remember that herpes simplex virus (HSV) can be present on the genitalia even in the absence of any signs or symptoms of an outbreak, even the most careful.
Couples can and do transmit the virus. This development is called asymptomatic viral shedding, and is well documented as the source of at least 80% of the cases of genital herpes transmission. Another method widely used to prevent genital herpes is the condom.
Condoms do reduce the risk of transmission of genital herpes and other sexually transmitted disease, and their use is widely recommended. However, it is also known that condoms can slip and/or even break. Condoms can only protect the skin that they cover. Many cases of herpes and other sexually transmitted diseases can be transmitted to/from skin not covered by the condom.
Despite the use of condoms and the avoiding sex, the chance of giving genital herpes to an uninfected partner has been estimated at 10% per year. The risk of a man transmitting to his female partner is far greater than the reverse. In fact, the females' chances of acquiring genital herpes are estimated at 30% each year.
If so many people have genital herpes and suffer little or no symptoms, why is it important to seek improvements in the prevention of genital herpes? First, the person who acquires genital herpes may suffer more severe and more frequent outbreaks than did the persons from whom they acquired HSV-2. For example, the man with genital herpes may only experience mild or even rare outbreaks. If he passes it to his wife, she may suffer painful genital ulcers for one to two weeks preceding each menstrual cycle.
Three antiviral drugs are approved to treat or suppress outbreaks of genital herpes: acyclovir, famciclovir and valacyclovir. Most clinically apparent outbreaks can be prevented by taking one of these drugs daily. In addition, daily acyclovir reduces asymptomatic viral shedding by 95%.
The same is assumed to be true of the other two drugs, one of which, valacyclovir, is actually a more potent form of acyclovir. Since valacyclovir taken once daily prevents clinical outbreaks in most herpes patients and is believed to have a profound effect on reducing asymptomatic viral shedding, it should help prevent transmission to the uninfected person.
XLPharmacy Canada
Valtrex-Herpes.com
Herpes-HSV and Positive Singles Dating
It makes sense, since there is more virus present on the genitalia during an outbreak than between outbreaks. Yet, if avoiding sex during outbreaks of genital herpes was really the best method to prevent getting herpes, then why do so many people have genital herpes?
We must remember that herpes simplex virus (HSV) can be present on the genitalia even in the absence of any signs or symptoms of an outbreak, even the most careful.
Couples can and do transmit the virus. This development is called asymptomatic viral shedding, and is well documented as the source of at least 80% of the cases of genital herpes transmission. Another method widely used to prevent genital herpes is the condom.
Condoms do reduce the risk of transmission of genital herpes and other sexually transmitted disease, and their use is widely recommended. However, it is also known that condoms can slip and/or even break. Condoms can only protect the skin that they cover. Many cases of herpes and other sexually transmitted diseases can be transmitted to/from skin not covered by the condom.
Despite the use of condoms and the avoiding sex, the chance of giving genital herpes to an uninfected partner has been estimated at 10% per year. The risk of a man transmitting to his female partner is far greater than the reverse. In fact, the females' chances of acquiring genital herpes are estimated at 30% each year.
If so many people have genital herpes and suffer little or no symptoms, why is it important to seek improvements in the prevention of genital herpes? First, the person who acquires genital herpes may suffer more severe and more frequent outbreaks than did the persons from whom they acquired HSV-2. For example, the man with genital herpes may only experience mild or even rare outbreaks. If he passes it to his wife, she may suffer painful genital ulcers for one to two weeks preceding each menstrual cycle.
Three antiviral drugs are approved to treat or suppress outbreaks of genital herpes: acyclovir, famciclovir and valacyclovir. Most clinically apparent outbreaks can be prevented by taking one of these drugs daily. In addition, daily acyclovir reduces asymptomatic viral shedding by 95%.
The same is assumed to be true of the other two drugs, one of which, valacyclovir, is actually a more potent form of acyclovir. Since valacyclovir taken once daily prevents clinical outbreaks in most herpes patients and is believed to have a profound effect on reducing asymptomatic viral shedding, it should help prevent transmission to the uninfected person.
XLPharmacy Canada
Valtrex-Herpes.com
Herpes-HSV and Positive Singles Dating
