How Common Is Herpes

Herpes is one of the most common sexually transmitted diseases in the world today. About 90 percent of the population of people with herpes do not even know that they have the disease. If you are part of the 10 percent of the said population, then the next way to go with this information is “how am I to go on living with herpes?”

The gentlest member of the herpes family is herpes simplex 1. Despite the fact that it is a gentler virus, the cold sores it is responsible for are highly contagious. There is no cure for HSV 1. Although this herpes is predominantly found around the mouth in the form of cold sores, it often causes herpes on the genitals.

A person who has herpes can be contagious, even when there are no visible blisters. The only way to diagnose herpes is to have a culture done on a wet blister. There are no dependable blood tests to tell if you have herpes because more than 92 percent of all Americans have had herpes and therefore have positive blood tests.

Herpes is the most common cause of swelling and pain around the rectum or vagina; anyone with these symptoms should get a culture for herpes, even if they are not sexually active.

The physical task of living with herpes is not going to be as difficult as dealing with the emotional stress of having to live with this sexually transmitted disease. The physical tasks involved would simply include going to the doctor and having yourself and your partner checked periodically, making sure that you are healthy enough so that your body’s immune system can keep the herpes virus at bay and avoid future outbreaks as much as you can, and using protective paraphernalia when you and your partner are engaging in sexual activities, especially if your partner does not have this sexually transmitted disease.

The emotional aspect of living with herpes could be more difficult than having to deal with the physical aspect. First of all, you always have the choice of who to tell if you have herpes. It is your choice whether to tell the world that you are living with herpes or to just keep the unfortunate news between you and your close friends and relatives. Another thing to deal with is your partner. Ensure that you and your partner clear things up with respect to how to deal with the disease, because you will need someone to be there for you while living with herpes.

Prevention is better, so if you are sexually active, regularly contact your healthcare provider to ensure that you will not have to deal with living with herpes for the rest of your life.

Learn more about cure herpes. Stop by Marie Stevens’s site where you can find out all about herpes symptoms and what it can do for you.