worried about catching herpes

[Auburn]

I was talking with a friend the other day and he was saying how easy it is to get genital herpes. He was telling me that over half of all guys have it. That makes me afraid to have sex with anyone. Guys act like if they only do oral then they are immune to catching any other STD besides HIV.

Some say you can transfer oral (HSV 1) herpes to genital herpes (HSV 2), but others say you cant. I wonder which is true??

I dont have a boyfriend at the moment, so I dont have anyone that I know and trust to have sex with. I am scared to hookup with anyone, but at the same time I dont wanna remain sexless while I am lookin for a boyfriend lol. I get tired of masturbating. Plus, I dont wanna catch it and then not be able to get a boyfriend cause I have herpes. I dont think most guys would be willing to use condoms for oral and I dont know that I like the idea.

Even if you use a condom for a blowjob (UGH, cant imagine) isnt there still a big risk of getting herpes elsewhere on the skin? Is it really as easy as my friend says to get genital herpes? Is it easier to get genital herpes, than any of the other STDs/STIs? if you get it, how manageable is it to live with herpes?

 

[3nipples]

Think about it. How bad could it be if over half the male population is able to live with it? Certainly not worth panicking over.

 

[Auburn]

Think about it. How bad could it be if over half the male population is able to live with it? Certainly not worth panicking over.

well, I dont know that that is a good way to look at it. You could say that about any STD. 'How bad is HIV/syphillis/chlamydia/etc., if ___ number of people can live with it"

p.s. -- is it REALLY true that half of all guys (esp. gay guys) have it? I was asking that in the first post

 

[Orlandude]

Your friend is misinformed. The "facts" are that, in the U.S., 1 out of 5 adolescents and adults (male and female) have had genital HSV infection (genital hepes) or roughly 20% of the entire adolescent/adult population. Over the past 10 years, the percentage has DECREASED. Genital HSV-2 infection is more common in women than men. (1 out of 4 women as opposed to 1 out of 8 men). In both forms of herpes, being gay or straight has NOTHING to do with it. The only prevention from contracting herpes is total celibacy or having sex with someone you know for a fact is not infected or wearing a condom for all sexual activity. There is no cure for herpes. There are medications to control it. The outbreaks do tend to subside over a period of time.

For more information, go to this site:

http://www.cdc.gov/std/Herpes/STDFact-Herpes.htm

 

[Auburn]

Thanks, Orlandude!!

 

[KaraBulut]

Your friend might be confusing herpes (HSV) with papilloma (HPV).

While it's true that most people have been exposed to HSV-1 which causes cold sores, the stats (as provided by Orlando) for HSV-2 are much lower.

HPV is something that we're becoming more and more aware of in the gay population. HPV has many different varieties- about 40 different types are sexually transmitted. And we believe that anywhere between 25-50% of the population (or perhaps even higher) has been exposed. Most are not symptomatic, however.

 

[willycocks]

herpes and cold sores are one and the same. Cold sores from the mouth can infect both the anus and the penis and cause shingles attacks, an extremely painful nerve disorder where the herpes virus grows down nerve endings on immune suppresed individuals

the last thing you want is herpes on your mouth and penis and anus

avoid kissing and dont forget to use a condom for your own protection because if the herpes grow down your nerve endings they can kill them and leave you with numb patches where you have no feeling, on your penis or anus.

 

[KaraBulut]

herpes and cold sores are one and the same. Cold sores from the mouth can infect both the anus and the penis and cause shingles attacks, an extremely painful nerve disorder where the herpes virus grows down nerve endings on immune suppresed individuals

the last thing you want is herpes on your mouth and penis and anus

avoid kissing and dont forget to use a condom for your own protection because if the herpes grow down your nerve endings they can kill them and leave you with numb patches where you have no feeling, on your penis or anus.

Herpes from cold sores, genital sores and chickenpox/shingles are different things. Cold sores are caused by HSV-1. Genital herpes by HSV-2. There are some studies that show that these two different HSV can transfer between the face and the genitals but this is not common because each of these variants has a different affinity for for both the body region and the neural ganglia in the areas they infect.

Shingles and chickenpox are caused by herpes zoster which is a different virus in the herpes family.

 

[3nipples]

Over half? Good grief! Was ist los in der Schweiz??

But it's a good point you make.

It was the original poster who made the claim, or rather, a friend of his... no, I don't believe it's so high myself but it's not really something I worry about.

 

[Letterbomb]

I was talking with a friend the other day and he was saying how easy it is to get genital herpes. He was telling me that over half of all guys have it. That makes me afraid to have sex with anyone. Guys act like if they only do oral then they are immune to catching any other STD besides HIV.

Some say you can transfer oral (HSV 1) herpes to genital herpes (HSV 2), but others say you cant. I wonder which is true??

I dont have a boyfriend at the moment, so I dont have anyone that I know and trust to have sex with. I am scared to hookup with anyone, but at the same time I dont wanna remain sexless while I am lookin for a boyfriend lol. I get tired of masturbating. Plus, I dont wanna catch it and then not be able to get a boyfriend cause I have herpes. I dont think most guys would be willing to use condoms for oral and I dont know that I like the idea.

Even if you use a condom for a blowjob (UGH, cant imagine) isnt there still a big risk of getting herpes elsewhere on the skin? Is it really as easy as my friend says to get genital herpes? Is it easier to get genital herpes, than any of the other STDs/STIs? if you get it, how manageable is it to live with herpes?

Is that you on the avatar? I mean ARE you 25?
Anyway... Yes, use a condom. I always get my current BFs to wear them even though it is not always easy, and if he doesn't care about the health of both of you as much as the sensation, screw him!

 

[Auburn]

Is that you on the avatar? I mean ARE you 25?

no that is not me in the avatar...lol, and yes I am 25!

 

[willycocks]

herpes can and does transfer from anywhere to anywhere, you can even get it on your asshole

so it transfers all the time, irrespective or location there is a chance it can transfer

 

[Auburn]

More information on this topic here.
Especially in posts #21-26.

Thanks..Very informative!

This whole STD thing is scary cause even if you are in a long term relationship or even just go out on a few dates with a guy and think you are safe, you never know cause guys will lie about their status.

I saw a commercial a couple nights ago where this teenage girl had herpes sores all over her lips and that made me not want to have sex ever again.

 

[luminum]

herpes can and does transfer from anywhere to anywhere, you can even get it on your asshole

so it transfers all the time, irrespective or location there is a chance it can transfer

Please get your facts straight. They do not transfer all over the place. While HSV-1 and HSV-2 can transfer, that transference is limited and uncommon. Your statements are clouded with poor context.