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HerpeSite ~ Herpes Online Personal Empowerment & Support
An Overview of Herpes
Genital Herpes Infection ~
Herpes Simplex infection is statistically the number one STD (sexually transmitted disease) in the U.S. and
the World. Genital Herpes is epidemic and spreading at an estimated rate of a half million people per year.
Some statistics indicate that as many as 1 in 6 American adults have genital Herpes. This translates to over
40 million, and does not include the millions more who carry HSV-1 that may cause genital Herpes
acquired through oral-genital relations or other means.
Many researchers believe these numbers may fall short of actuality, some estimating genital herpes
infection in as many as 1 in 4 adults. The shame and social stigma associated with Herpes, coupled with
the fact that HSV can be hard to detect or identify in some individuals, is misdiagnosed at times, and is not
a reportable STD, contribute to the undermining of reliable statistical evidence.
Some studies have shown that upwards of 60% of people infected with genital Herpes have not recognized
or admitted that they have the disease.
Misinformation dominates most discussions relating to Herpesvirus infection. Even many medical
professionals in the U.S. are not abreast of the latest developments in Herpes research, diagnosis, tests, and
treatment. Many patients find their medical practitioners to be relatively unsympathetic to the physical
and emotional challenges associated with HSV. In fairness, one must understand that HSV counseling
does enter a realm in which many MDs are not comfortable, or for which they may not have time, namely
psychological and sexual counseling.
Herpes can be a serious health issue for certain people. However, most find Herpes to be mainly
inconvenient, annoying, and occasionally aggravating.
Herpes in Other Areas of the Body ~
Herpes is spread through direct contact. So, a genital herpes infection will stay "below the belt" unless
transferred elsewhere via direct contact or skin-to-skin transference - it won't just show up on its own
somewhere else on the body. However, a recurrent episode may appear in any area in the genital region
served by the branches of nerves connected to the sacral ganglion where the virus resides during its latent
stage. It's often said that a recurrence of genital herpes may show up anywhere that can be covered by a
pair of shorts. This is why many people get lesions in different spots with each outbreak. For further
discussion of this aspect of herpes, please see the HerpeSite page "Recurrences."
Herpes can be carried in saliva from contact with an open sore, and can be passed via incidental
transmission from fingers or hand when the virus is active. Touching a sore, and then touching another
part of the body, or another person's body, can transmit the virus. Washing ones hands with soap and
water will inactivate Herpes virus that may be on skin.
Carriers of HSV who are prone to cuts on fingers are susceptible to Herpes Whitlow, or Herpes infection
of the fingers. Anyone with oral cold sores or genital outbreaks should avoid touching active Herpes
lesions, wash hands right away in the event of contact, and refrain from biting nails for this reason.
A Herpes infection in the eyes can lead to severe complications, including blindness, so extreme care
should be taken to avoid transmission or transferal of the virus to the eyes.
Transmission of HSV during childbirth can result in neonatal infant mortality or severe congenital
abnormalities. In the past, it was a standard practice to deliver babies from an infected mother via
Cesarean section. However, there is recent evidence that mothers who have Herpes, unless they are
having a PRIMARY (first time) Herpes infection during term, stand, in most cases, to deliver
successfully via birth canal with a relatively low rate of neo-natal Herpes.
Herpes can be transmitted during close non-sexual physical contact, as during sports such as wrestling,
where the skin may become scraped or abraded and then come in contact with another's exposed herpes
sore. This has been called Herpes Gladiatorum.
Good News about Herpes and Risk of Cancer ~
For years it was reported that HSV was linked to cervical cancer. The latest reports contradict that, and
indicate there is no direct correlation. However, having any STD puts one in a higher statistical risk
category. Several strains of HPV (Human Papilloma Virus, or Genital Warts) have recently been shown to
be linked to higher incidence of cervical cancer.
Cold Sores and Hot Spots - A Different Idea!
The social stigma associated with genital herpes is not found nearly as much with oral herpes. One
reason for this may be that oral herpes is generally not referred to as "herpes," even by people who know
that HSV is the cause of the outbreak. When speaking of their oral/facial outbreaks, people say they "get
cold sores," or "get fever blisters." Usually, when people refer to genital herpes, they say they "have
herpes." The difference is in "get" (which is external and less personal) versus "have" (which implies
ownership and makes it seem like part of a person's identity). Another difference is in using the word
"herpes," to which so many people have negative associations.
We have a proposal! To lessen the stigma and negative associations of the word "herpes," when referring
to genital outbreaks, it can often make an emotional difference to use a different set of words to describe
it. It has been said that the words we use to describe an experience determine how we feel about it. For
example, if we say we feel "angry," or "livid," we'll have a more intense experience than if we change the
words to "peeved" or "miffed." Similarly, if we say "I am depressed," we'll have a much more intense and
associated experience than if we say "I feel a bit off today." Again, the difference in those two statements is
in the intensity of the words used and in the identity of "I am" versus the experience"I feel."
Since oral herpes is called "Cold Sores," it can help your mindset to refer to genital herpes as "Hot Spots" or
"Cold Sores." Produces a different effect, doesn't it! It really doesn't matter what word you use,as long as
it's one that reduced the emotional intensity. Also, try saying "get" instead of "have." And avoid saying
"MY herpes" because that kind of language pattern implies that the virus a part of your identity and close
to you, rather than something that is emotionally outside of you. In addition, eliminate the words
"suffer" and "victim," and any other disempowering word that may have been in your vocabulary about
yourself or the infection. Try it for 10 days, and notice the difference in how you think about it, and
yourself!
Congratulate yourself for overcoming, and for taking steps to improve your mind and body health! Even
though you may have feelings of sadness, loss, and anger that may come up from time to time, the more
you practice feeling good, the easier it gets and the longer it lasts!
Genital Herpes Infection ~
Herpes Simplex infection is statistically the number one STD (sexually transmitted disease) in the U.S. and
the World. Genital Herpes is epidemic and spreading at an estimated rate of a half million people per year.
Some statistics indicate that as many as 1 in 6 American adults have genital Herpes. This translates to over
40 million, and does not include the millions more who carry HSV-1 that may cause genital Herpes
acquired through oral-genital relations or other means.
Many researchers believe these numbers may fall short of actuality, some estimating genital herpes
infection in as many as 1 in 4 adults. The shame and social stigma associated with Herpes, coupled with
the fact that HSV can be hard to detect or identify in some individuals, is misdiagnosed at times, and is not
a reportable STD, contribute to the undermining of reliable statistical evidence.
Some studies have shown that upwards of 60% of people infected with genital Herpes have not recognized
or admitted that they have the disease.
Misinformation dominates most discussions relating to Herpesvirus infection. Even many medical
professionals in the U.S. are not abreast of the latest developments in Herpes research, diagnosis, tests, and
treatment. Many patients find their medical practitioners to be relatively unsympathetic to the physical
and emotional challenges associated with HSV. In fairness, one must understand that HSV counseling
does enter a realm in which many MDs are not comfortable, or for which they may not have time, namely
psychological and sexual counseling.
Herpes can be a serious health issue for certain people. However, most find Herpes to be mainly
inconvenient, annoying, and occasionally aggravating.
Herpes in Other Areas of the Body ~
Herpes is spread through direct contact. So, a genital herpes infection will stay "below the belt" unless
transferred elsewhere via direct contact or skin-to-skin transference - it won't just show up on its own
somewhere else on the body. However, a recurrent episode may appear in any area in the genital region
served by the branches of nerves connected to the sacral ganglion where the virus resides during its latent
stage. It's often said that a recurrence of genital herpes may show up anywhere that can be covered by a
pair of shorts. This is why many people get lesions in different spots with each outbreak. For further
discussion of this aspect of herpes, please see the HerpeSite page "Recurrences."
Herpes can be carried in saliva from contact with an open sore, and can be passed via incidental
transmission from fingers or hand when the virus is active. Touching a sore, and then touching another
part of the body, or another person's body, can transmit the virus. Washing ones hands with soap and
water will inactivate Herpes virus that may be on skin.
Carriers of HSV who are prone to cuts on fingers are susceptible to Herpes Whitlow, or Herpes infection
of the fingers. Anyone with oral cold sores or genital outbreaks should avoid touching active Herpes
lesions, wash hands right away in the event of contact, and refrain from biting nails for this reason.
A Herpes infection in the eyes can lead to severe complications, including blindness, so extreme care
should be taken to avoid transmission or transferal of the virus to the eyes.
Transmission of HSV during childbirth can result in neonatal infant mortality or severe congenital
abnormalities. In the past, it was a standard practice to deliver babies from an infected mother via
Cesarean section. However, there is recent evidence that mothers who have Herpes, unless they are
having a PRIMARY (first time) Herpes infection during term, stand, in most cases, to deliver
successfully via birth canal with a relatively low rate of neo-natal Herpes.
Herpes can be transmitted during close non-sexual physical contact, as during sports such as wrestling,
where the skin may become scraped or abraded and then come in contact with another's exposed herpes
sore. This has been called Herpes Gladiatorum.
Good News about Herpes and Risk of Cancer ~
For years it was reported that HSV was linked to cervical cancer. The latest reports contradict that, and
indicate there is no direct correlation. However, having any STD puts one in a higher statistical risk
category. Several strains of HPV (Human Papilloma Virus, or Genital Warts) have recently been shown to
be linked to higher incidence of cervical cancer.
Cold Sores and Hot Spots - A Different Idea!
The social stigma associated with genital herpes is not found nearly as much with oral herpes. One
reason for this may be that oral herpes is generally not referred to as "herpes," even by people who know
that HSV is the cause of the outbreak. When speaking of their oral/facial outbreaks, people say they "get
cold sores," or "get fever blisters." Usually, when people refer to genital herpes, they say they "have
herpes." The difference is in "get" (which is external and less personal) versus "have" (which implies
ownership and makes it seem like part of a person's identity). Another difference is in using the word
"herpes," to which so many people have negative associations.
We have a proposal! To lessen the stigma and negative associations of the word "herpes," when referring
to genital outbreaks, it can often make an emotional difference to use a different set of words to describe
it. It has been said that the words we use to describe an experience determine how we feel about it. For
example, if we say we feel "angry," or "livid," we'll have a more intense experience than if we change the
words to "peeved" or "miffed." Similarly, if we say "I am depressed," we'll have a much more intense and
associated experience than if we say "I feel a bit off today." Again, the difference in those two statements is
in the intensity of the words used and in the identity of "I am" versus the experience"I feel."
Since oral herpes is called "Cold Sores," it can help your mindset to refer to genital herpes as "Hot Spots" or
"Cold Sores." Produces a different effect, doesn't it! It really doesn't matter what word you use,as long as
it's one that reduced the emotional intensity. Also, try saying "get" instead of "have." And avoid saying
"MY herpes" because that kind of language pattern implies that the virus a part of your identity and close
to you, rather than something that is emotionally outside of you. In addition, eliminate the words
"suffer" and "victim," and any other disempowering word that may have been in your vocabulary about
yourself or the infection. Try it for 10 days, and notice the difference in how you think about it, and
yourself!
Congratulate yourself for overcoming, and for taking steps to improve your mind and body health! Even
though you may have feelings of sadness, loss, and anger that may come up from time to time, the more
you practice feeling good, the easier it gets and the longer it lasts!
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