Herpes Transmission
If you have herpes, learning the facts about herpes transmission can help you prevent spreading the virus to others. A diagnosis of herpes doesn’t mean you can never have pleasurable sex again, but it does mean that you need to take some precautions to prevent herpes transmission to others.
The first thing you need to do, no matter how difficult it may be, is to tell your sexual partner that you have herpes. A good relationship should involve trust and honesty between you and your partner. There needn’t be any shame involved in contracting herpes--the virus can be spread easily by people who have no symptoms and aren’t even aware that they have the disease.
To avoid transmission of herpes, you should know how the virus is spread. It is only transferred by skin to skin contact with the virus. This can be on the genitals or mouth, where there are wet, warm mucous cells for the virus to live. Transmission of herpes can be prevented by not having sex during the periods of time when you or your partner have an active outbreak. This means from the first feelings of numbness, tingling and burning in the area until all of the blisters have healed.
You can also prevent the transmission of herpes by using condoms. Research has proven that the virus cannot penetrate a latex condom. However, if sores are present, you cannot be guaranteed that a condom will successfully cover them all, as there can be sores present too small to be seen by the naked eye. Because the herpes virus can lie sleeping or latent in your body for long periods of time, you can actually have instances where the virus is active and you do not have any visible lesions or symptoms. A condom can also protect you at these times. Spermicidal foams used with a condom have been shown to give additional protection.
If you are in a lifelong, monogamous relationship with someone who has herpes, you and your partner will have to decide when you think the use of condoms is necessary. It is always advised to completely abstain from sexual contact when there is an outbreak of sores. Continued sexual activity at these times raises the possibility of transmission of herpes to a very high level, and it also can cause delayed healing and even infection in the area of the sores for the person who has the virus. You must also be cautious about sores on the thighs or buttocks and in the anus. If you continually practice safe sex, it is possible that your partner will never develop the virus.
It is also important to know that herpes transmission can occur from someone who has herpes simplex 1--oral herpes. Touching a cold sore on the lips or in the mouth or other facial areas can transfer the virus. This means avoiding oral sex at a time when sores are present. It is possible for someone with the type 1 virus to infect another person with genital herpes. It’s rare but it can happen. The majority of genital herpes cases have been transferred from another person with genital herpes.
If you have herpes or suspect that you or your partner has herpes, the best thing you can do is to go to see your doctor or to a local clinic or hospital to get a diagnosis, appropriate treatment and advice about herpes transmission.