by iWrite

Created on: December 09, 2009   Last Updated: March 18, 2010

 Herpes is a sexually transmitted disease that can be genital or oral. It is not genetic, but if you are pregnant and have herpes there is  a chance of passing it along to your baby. Herpes is a virus, and there is no cure for it. Over time it could get better, and medications can help but you will always be a carrier of the virus once you have it.

 It is easy for herpes to go unrecognized due to a lack of severe symptoms. Usually, most people with herpes don’t even know that they have it because of this. Sores, pain, and itching are usually the main symptoms that occur.

 Although there are certain symptoms to herpes, sometimes the carriers don’t have any for years after they contract the disease. Herpes isn’t persistent at all times, there are herpes outbreaks, and that is when the sores start to show up. Certain variables decide when the herpes outbreaks show up, and when herpes can be barely detected. Stress and illness are two of the reasons that a herpes outbreak may occur.

 Herpes can only be contracted if you make contact (sexual or skin to skin contact) with a person who has the disease. The myth that you can contract herpes through objects such as toilet seats is untrue. The virus will soon die after leaving the human body because it can not survive in temperatures and conditions outside the body.

 Doctors will be able to test and diagnose you for herpes, and if you’ve been diagnosed they will prescribe you medications. Although herpes will never go away, the medicines can help minimize the sores, symptoms, outbreaks, and the chance of actually transmitting the disease to another individual. Depending on the severity of your herpes, you may either take the medications during outbreaks, or daily.

 Prevention of herpes is easy. When you have intercourse with some one else, always use a latex condom. Limiting the number of partners you have intercourse with, and not having intercourse during an outbreak can also be a way of preventing herpes.

 Herpes can be a hard disease to live with, but it’s important to protect others from it and not keep it a secret. If you have herpes, make sure you contact your doctor for correct treatment of the disease, because if herpes goes untreated it could lead to future, more severe health problems.

Learn more about this author, iWrite.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.