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    Lois McGuire, R.N., M.S.N., W.H.N.P.

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  • March 3, 2009

    Herpes: What you should know

    By Lois McGuire, R.N., M.S.N., W.H.N.P.

62 comments posted

We have spent a great amount of time on herpes. Here are the key points we covered.

  • Oral herpes and genital herpes can be spread sexually.
  • Approximately one in five adults has genital herpes.
  • Up to 90 percent of persons infected are UNAWARE that they have herpes!
  • Many who have herpes have no symptoms.
  • Symptoms can vary from a mildly irritating and/or itchy area to painful blisters.
  • Always insist that you and any new partner screen for STDs prior to having sex.
  • Cultures of material taken from herpes sores have a small window of time in which they will be accurate for herpes.
  • Blood tests should be done three to four months after a suspected exposure to herpes.
  • The number of outbreaks a person may have is variable.
  • You can shed the herpes virus even when you don't have symptoms.
  • If you are sexually active, you should use a suppressive therapy prescribed by your provider.
  • Over the counter medications do not protect your partner.
  • Special precautions need to be taken during pregnancy.
  • Always inform any new dating partner before you have sex that you have herpes.
  • Hopefully, in one year, there will be a generic once a day dose for suppression.
  • A vaccine is being tested. It will not protect persons already infected.

The points listed above are discussed in detail in prior blog entries I have made. Please read those entries for more detailed information or go to the resources I listed in the entry entitled "Talking to Your Partner."

Terri Warren, a nurse practitioner from Portland, Oregon, and Zane Brown, a physician from Seattle, Washington, are both doing excellent research on the topic of herpes. These are authors that you can trust.

Take good care of yourself and the people you care about! Once again, strive to be your best self: A fair, honest, and loving person, who happens to have herpes.

62 comments posted

blog index

  • March 16, 2009 11:03 p.m.

    I've had the virus for over 20 years. When I discovered I had the virus, I confronted the woman who gave it to me - she was living in denial and said she only got "canker sores" vaginally. I pay close attention to the preliminary symptoms and avoid all sexual contact before and after an outbreak, have never passed the virus on. I spoke with an STD specialist at UCLA Med Center, he said viral "shedding" only occurs briefly during the preliminary period and for a few days after healing. When in a relationship, I take acyclovir to prevent outbreaks - it's a cheap, effective drug that provides safety. Glaxo has a vaccine that finished clinical trials in late 2008, might come to market in 2010. Another vaccine has been developed at Harvard Med School and is now in clinical trials but they take years. Either vaccine could well be the answer to the hysteria that is promoted by the drug companies to sell their products. I've never found a doctor who was comfortable in discussing the virus and good, valid information can be very hard to find. Much is often written by poorly educated RNs or similar, who assume an invalid authority and caution that the sufferor is "always" at risk of transmitting the virus. My experience and research indicate they are simply spreading bad information and those of us who suffer the virus can enjoy a good sex life if simple care is taken to protect our partners.

    - Paul

  • March 15, 2009 8:03 p.m.

    it is very great information. I will post it to my favorite herpes site herpesloving.com. Thank you!

    - hgirl

  • March 15, 2009 5:53 a.m.

    you said Many who have herpes have no symptoms, so how we can know if we or our partner have herpes? sorry, my English is not good.

    - rieka

  • March 13, 2009 10:40 a.m.

    Please, please, PLEASE change the title of your blog to "safer" sex from "safe" sex. Safe sex is non-existent. People don't know they're infected; people lie; condoms break; and the list could go on. We can only have "safer" sex, not entirely "safe" sex. This is from a sexuality educator with 8 years' experience.

    - Mary Payne

  • March 13, 2009 4:23 a.m.

    Studies show shedding and ALWAYS contagious? Of course they want me to buy their product. I smell a rat too. I've had it for 25 years. Married to my first husband for 15 years, my second for 7, and gave birth to a healthy child NONE of which who have it. None! I've always paid attention to the very first sign and avoid all sexual contact until all signs and symptoms go away. The longer you have it the less severe outbreaks will be and their frequency as well. I keep stress levels low also as stress can cause an outbreak. Of course if one is having more than the occasional outbreak preventive suppressing medicine would be advisable. gvbL8p

    - Shelley

  • March 11, 2009 6:59 p.m.

    Dear Juan, Please read the literature and research by Terri Warren, a nurse practitioner from Portland, OR and Dr. Zane Brown from Seattle, WA. They are very reputable researchers with your best interest at heart.

    - Lois McGuire

  • March 10, 2009 5:40 a.m.

    I am extremely suspicious of Glaxo (Maker of Valtrex) suppressing herpes vaccination research. They have a perfect "shamful" illness for lifelong "therapy" and advertise like crazy to create a social stigma. It would not be in Glaxo's interest if a real vaccine made it to the market. There is a vaccine for chicken-pox which is in the herpes family. I've also been made aware of herpes vaccine studies discontinued after Glaxo buys a company out. Don't believe it? Just think of the money at stake. I for one am also highly suspicious of the "shedding" research. Where are the details of how testing was done and on who? Only women, men, both, how often, etc. It is very convenient to cast a statement basically saying herpes sufferers are alway contagious - therefore suppressive therapy is always needed and Valtrex is the the answer. I smell a rat.

    - Juan

  • March 7, 2009 9:59 p.m.

    Hi, have you thought about grassroots fundraising for herpes research? NIH does not fund most HSV research, research that can potentially either prevent or cure HSV such as the U of FL Ribozyme study....

    - Bella

  • March 4, 2009 2:42 p.m.

    Hi thanks for what you are doing. I havegot it but I didn.t tell her before sex can i tell her now

    - Kelvin

  • March 3, 2009 1:50 p.m.

    Dear Joy, I have entered a series of blog articles on herpes going back to November 25, 2008. If you go back and read, starting at that point, you will find many of your questions answered. Lois McGuire

    - Lois McGuire

  • March 3, 2009 8:40 a.m.

    Very nicely done article, careful, thoughtful, accurate. I liked it a lot Terri Warren, nurse practitioner

    - No name given

  • March 2, 2009 11:45 p.m.

    Hi, if you dont mind please explain what is herpes because i don't know what is that! because in this article you are just explaining about the symptoms and facts about the herpes. http://www.impotenceaids.org

    - Joy Martin

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