Member of the Month Sept 2013
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Last night a friend of mine disclosed that she has herpes, I've never known anyone who had it so it became my curiosity of the day. I was a little shocked by what I thought I knew and what the truth really is, thought it might be important to share my findings with the community.
For those with short attention spans let me get your attention so you'll continue reading - condoms do not prevent the spread of this disease (and I don't mean because they sometimes break, I mean even with proper use). Think you're safe? Think again. Keep reading.
Let me add first that I didn't keep track of my sources so I'm not citing them here, google something if you don't believe it. I did use only reputable sites and only include information that I found in multiple locations.
Its common knowledge and I think that everyone knows there's two types of herpes virus, oral (type 1) and genital (type 2). What most people don't know is this arrangement is the typical condition, but either type can reside at either location (though oral type 2 is very rare). Herpes virus actually resides and lies dormant on the nerve cells, type 1 typically takes up residence near the ears, type 2 by the base of the spine (most researchers believe this is because of the prevalence of type 1 and that it is spread by the mouth when children, so it takes up residence in the upper location thus not giving type 2 a chance to take that spot). At times it will work it's way to the skin, preferring mucosal membranes of the lips, genitals, anus and sometimes the eyes. Though the types typically reside in their primary location they have no problem living in the other. Genital type 1 herpes is becoming much more widespread in the past decades (the type that gave you cold sores on your lips when you were a kid can be transmitted to genitals on someone else).
I think it's also common knowledge that infection can occur when there's no symptoms at all (during a period which is known as virus shedding). The body does provide some resistance to one type if antibodies are present for the other type. Estimates vary but it is believed that 70-90% of people have type 1 oral herpes antibodies (and the virus). The numbers for type 2 are also very high, 1/4 women and 1/5 men is the most commonly cited number, many other studies show over 40% of people past the age of 40 have it (percentages increase with age and opportunity for exposure). The scary statistic that keeps being bounced around is that 80% of people that have it don't know it because they never showed or recognized symptoms and were never tested. In case you don't know the virus is spread by skin to skin contact, not through fluid exchange, so even without penetration it can be passed. Oral, genital and anal contact is most common for spreading (and sores don't have to be present).
So how to prevent it? Most articles cite that unprotected sex with a female who is infected will result in a 4% chance per year of regular contact to becoming infected (higher for woman with infected male). Taking daily medication will halve that chance. Using a condom will also only halve that chance (same with dental damns and other such barriers). (Another interesting fact learned is that condoms also don't do much better with HPV prevention, so much for "safe sex").
So do the math. Assuming 150x a year for "regular contact" (a little high perhaps) and 4% chance of contracting means for each single encounter you have a 1 in 38 chance of getting it, use a condom and that only goes to 1 in 76. Remember that most people don't even know they have it. Be careful out there.
For those with short attention spans let me get your attention so you'll continue reading - condoms do not prevent the spread of this disease (and I don't mean because they sometimes break, I mean even with proper use). Think you're safe? Think again. Keep reading.
Let me add first that I didn't keep track of my sources so I'm not citing them here, google something if you don't believe it. I did use only reputable sites and only include information that I found in multiple locations.
Its common knowledge and I think that everyone knows there's two types of herpes virus, oral (type 1) and genital (type 2). What most people don't know is this arrangement is the typical condition, but either type can reside at either location (though oral type 2 is very rare). Herpes virus actually resides and lies dormant on the nerve cells, type 1 typically takes up residence near the ears, type 2 by the base of the spine (most researchers believe this is because of the prevalence of type 1 and that it is spread by the mouth when children, so it takes up residence in the upper location thus not giving type 2 a chance to take that spot). At times it will work it's way to the skin, preferring mucosal membranes of the lips, genitals, anus and sometimes the eyes. Though the types typically reside in their primary location they have no problem living in the other. Genital type 1 herpes is becoming much more widespread in the past decades (the type that gave you cold sores on your lips when you were a kid can be transmitted to genitals on someone else).
I think it's also common knowledge that infection can occur when there's no symptoms at all (during a period which is known as virus shedding). The body does provide some resistance to one type if antibodies are present for the other type. Estimates vary but it is believed that 70-90% of people have type 1 oral herpes antibodies (and the virus). The numbers for type 2 are also very high, 1/4 women and 1/5 men is the most commonly cited number, many other studies show over 40% of people past the age of 40 have it (percentages increase with age and opportunity for exposure). The scary statistic that keeps being bounced around is that 80% of people that have it don't know it because they never showed or recognized symptoms and were never tested. In case you don't know the virus is spread by skin to skin contact, not through fluid exchange, so even without penetration it can be passed. Oral, genital and anal contact is most common for spreading (and sores don't have to be present).
So how to prevent it? Most articles cite that unprotected sex with a female who is infected will result in a 4% chance per year of regular contact to becoming infected (higher for woman with infected male). Taking daily medication will halve that chance. Using a condom will also only halve that chance (same with dental damns and other such barriers). (Another interesting fact learned is that condoms also don't do much better with HPV prevention, so much for "safe sex").
So do the math. Assuming 150x a year for "regular contact" (a little high perhaps) and 4% chance of contracting means for each single encounter you have a 1 in 38 chance of getting it, use a condom and that only goes to 1 in 76. Remember that most people don't even know they have it. Be careful out there.
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