Why Herpes Isn't as Bad as You Think (and a Lot More Common) - Article Health

Singer and songwriter Usher allegedly paid $1.1 million in 2012 to settle a lawsuit alleging that he “consciously and purposefully” withheld a diagnosis of genital herpesthis link opens in a new tab from a woman he was having unprotected sex with, People reported yesterday. The woman reportedly developed symptoms of the disease and said she feels her "health and body have been ruined.”

Herpes is very common—and often hidden
Genital herpes is caused by two viruses, herpes simplex virus (HSV) type 1 and type 2. HSV-1 also causes cold sores or fever blisters around the mouth, “but the disease trends have changed over time and now they can both cause genital sores,” says Talia Swartz, MD, assistant professor of infectious diseases at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York City.

The pain of herpes can be more emotional than physical
"I don't know why genital herpes has this pariah, fearful component to it," says H. Hunter Handsfield, MD, professor emeritus of medicine at the University of Washington Center for AIDS and STD. "People are more afraid of herpes than they are of chlamydia, and in the long run chlamydia is more likely to cause serious damage to their reproductive and general health than herpes ever is."


It’s usually spread by people who don’t have symptoms
Most people with genital herpes don’t know they’re infected, says Dr. Johnston, and the disease is usually spread “during periods of asymptomatic shedding, when people do not have symptoms.” Women are at higher risk of contracting herpes than men, and risk increases for people with higher numbers of lifetime sexual partners.

Condoms and antiviral meds can reduce transmission risk
Using a condom can decrease the risk of spreading or acquiring genital herpes—but it’s not 100% effective, says Dr. Swartz, because the virus can be on parts of the genital area that are still exposed. For people who know they have an infection, taking daily antiviral medication can also cut the risk of spreading it to partners.

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