Sexual Health News - Oral and Genital Herpes

Sexually active individuals should be on the lookout for herpes

By Christopher Lynch, MD Sep. 25, 2012
Sexually transmitted infections (STIs), such as chlamydia, gonorrhea and genital herpes, are an ongoing issue for public health officials. In particular, genital herpes is one of the easiest STIs to contract since an individual can get it from skin-to-skin contact with an affected partner. In the U.S., approximately 16 percent of people between the ages of 14 and 49 have the herpes simplex virus type 2, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. This rate has remained constant for the past 10 years.

However, although genital herpes is prevalent, there are ways that people can prevent the condition and suppress outbreaks if they're already infected. First of all, it's important for individuals to know that herpes can be contracted not only through sexual intercourse, but also through contact between the mouth and the genital region. In addition, once a person is infected, he or she may not exhibit any symptoms and therefore may not think herpes is present.

Whether or not there are symptoms, it's important to be evaluated by a healthcare provider if a person suspects an infection. If the individual is positive for herpes, a clinician can then prescribe an antiviral herpes treatment to suppress the virus and promote the healing of outbreaks. 
Share: