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Don't give your new relationship a gift from the past
By: News Canada
Up to one in five Canadians has genital herpes - one of the most common sexually transmitted infections. And most do not know they have it, or even understand how it is spread.
<br "Genital herpes has no cure and can cause painful physical symptoms," says Dr. Barbara Romanowski, Clinical Professor in the Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of Alberta. "It is important that people understand genital herpes and how it is spread so they can protect themselves and their partner." (Article Continues Below)
Genital herpes is spread through skin-to-skin contact during vaginal, oral or anal sex and many people mistake it for something else, like a yeast infection or jock itch. Sometimes their symptoms - which may include blisters, bumps or rashes in the genital area, or on the thighs or buttocks - are so mild they go unnoticed. Though the disease is most contagious during an outbreak, it is also contagious between outbreaks. In fact, in up to 70 per cent of cases, genital herpes is transmitted between partners when no signs or symptoms are present. (Article Continues Below)
Preventing Genital Herpes: What you can do to reduce your risk A number of things that can be done to lower your risk of transmitting or contracting genital herpes: - Avoid contact with lesions (sores) during outbreaks. People who have the virus should avoid sexual contact with the affected area from the time they first feel any symptoms until the sores have completely healed. Consider other forms of intimate behaviour during this time. - Use condoms at all times. As genital herpes is often spread when there are no visible signs of an outbreak, using a latex condom can reduce the transmission risk. - Consider antiviral therapy. The effect of condoms and suppressive therapy may be additive. Daily antiviral therapy has also been shown to cut the transmission risk by almost half when used in conjunction with safe sex practices. Because condoms do not always cover the entire area where the virus may be present on the skin (e.g., inner thigh), daily antiviral therapy may also be considered to ensure maximum protection. Results vary from person-to-person, but studies have also shown that suppressive therapy can significantly reduce the frequency of outbreaks and, in some cases, prevent them from recurring for up to one year. Genital herpes can have a significant impact on a person's physical and emotional well-being - but it can be controlled. If you or someone you know has genital herpes, visit www.herpeshealth.com or call 1-866-252-4666 for more information. Talk to your doctor to find out more about the new Public Health Agency of Canada clinical practice guidelines on managing genital herpes or visit http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/std-mts/ sti_2006/pdf/genital_herpes_virus_e.pdf. News Canada
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