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Genital herpes affects everyone differently. For some, it's a minor matter. For others, it can cause a number of concerns, including problems with self-esteem or feelings of isolation. Sexually, it can affect one's sense of freedom. Some people experience a decrease in sexual interest around the time of diagnosis—feelings that often center on the fear of spreading genital herpes to a partner. These concerns may be worse if the person is experiencing frequent outbreaks.
Many of these concerns may be more intense during the first few months after being diagnosed. Later, for many people, these feelings tend to fade. Over time, people find that they can enjoy sex, function well, and have as healthy a sex life as they had before being diagnosed.
Protecting Your Partner
Once you have genital herpes, no matter how few outbreaks you get, you may be at risk of spreading the disease, even when you’re not having an outbreak. Although the virus is most contagious during an outbreak, it can be active on the surface of the skin without showing any signs or causing any symptoms. There are 3 key steps you can take to help protect your partner:
- Do not have sexual contact when you get a genital herpes outbreak or think you are about to get one.
- Always use a condom when you have sex, even between genital herpes outbreaks.
- Ask your doctor about once-daily VALTREX to reduce the risk of spreading genital herpes. Safer sex practices should be used with daily therapy. Click here for more information.
Other tips include:
- Don't touch genital herpes sores, and if you accidentally touch one, be sure to wash your hands with soap and water. Take extra care not to touch your eyes, nose, mouth, or genitals after touching sores, as these areas are particularly sensitive to herpes infection.
- Get tested for other STDs. Even if your partner also has genital herpes, you should know everything about his or her sexual health. Some studies show that people who have genital herpes are at higher risk for contracting HIV/AIDS and other STDs; so it's important to take all precautions to protect yourself from additional diseases.
- Learn all you can about genital herpes, and discuss what you learn with your partner. You may want to share this Web site with him or her.
Genital Herpes and Long-term Relationships
Genital herpes does not have to stand in the way of having a long-term relationship and healthy and satisfying sex life. Taking precautions against sexually transmitted diseases is something that each couple needs to sort out themselves.
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