Aa
worried about my life!
I recently found out that I have HPV-1 AND IT WAS HIGH 3.92
what does that # mean?
I also feel strange in my vagina, it becomes red and hurts a lot specially after my period although I keep it very clean and dry.
I also can not have sex, it hurts a lot in the outside area! and I am using spermaside condoms.
my boy friend wants to be with me but he is scared to get the virus, we are avoiding any skin to skin contact we even dont hold hands anymore...... I dont want to give him the virus either, we dont know how many things we can do together?
can we hold hands?
can we hugg with no clothes on?
can he touch my body?
can I touch his body?
can he suck on my brests?
when we have sex, how much I should be covered and how much he should be covered?
please help me I am so sad :(
what does that # mean?
I also feel strange in my vagina, it becomes red and hurts a lot specially after my period although I keep it very clean and dry.
I also can not have sex, it hurts a lot in the outside area! and I am using spermaside condoms.
my boy friend wants to be with me but he is scared to get the virus, we are avoiding any skin to skin contact we even dont hold hands anymore...... I dont want to give him the virus either, we dont know how many things we can do together?
can we hold hands?
can we hugg with no clothes on?
can he touch my body?
can I touch his body?
can he suck on my brests?
when we have sex, how much I should be covered and how much he should be covered?
please help me I am so sad :(
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
With topic area "Herpes", I assume you mean HSV-1, not HPV-1; and the numerical result suggests it was a HerpeSelect test.
You are panicking without reason. Almost half the population has HSV-1. Most likely you have oral herpes (with or without symptoms) that was acquired in childhood. And even if you had an episode of suspected genital herpes and it was due to HSV-1, the chance of continued recurrrences and of sexual transmissio to your partner(s) is low. The health care provider who did the blood test should have told you what I just did.
So some research about herpes then come back if you have questions or concerrns about transmission, treatment, etc. Start with the herpes article in the link STD Quick Facts and Articles on the STD Forum home page; then go to the herpes information at the American Social Health Association www.ashastd.org. Also look at the FAQs for this forum.
Good luck-- HHH, MD
You are panicking without reason. Almost half the population has HSV-1. Most likely you have oral herpes (with or without symptoms) that was acquired in childhood. And even if you had an episode of suspected genital herpes and it was due to HSV-1, the chance of continued recurrrences and of sexual transmissio to your partner(s) is low. The health care provider who did the blood test should have told you what I just did.
So some research about herpes then come back if you have questions or concerrns about transmission, treatment, etc. Start with the herpes article in the link STD Quick Facts and Articles on the STD Forum home page; then go to the herpes information at the American Social Health Association www.ashastd.org. Also look at the FAQs for this forum.
Good luck-- HHH, MD
Also as an FYI, it is thought that people get infected with HSV-1 in childhood when immune systems are not fully developed. HSV-2 is the genital version.
Hi,
I think that you need to clarify as you wrote HPV-1 and yet posted in under Herpes. Firstly, HPV-1 is a benign nongenital version of the Human Papilloma virus that causes skin warts such as plantar and common warts. You seem to be talking about a genital problem, in which case, the HPV diagnosis does not show up on a lab report with a value, merely positive or negative. The lab report will usually divide two categories of high risk and low risk serotypes (versions of the virus). If you are talking about HPV, then you are hugely overreacting, especially as men rarely show symptoms and don't have the risks that females with HPV have i.e. cervial dysplasia and upwards. Most women will show up as positive for HPV at some point in their lives and it just means that you would need to more frequent pap smears and carefully watch for cervial cancer development - something that is curable when detected early, so no worries there. If you are referring to HSV-1 i.e. Herpes simplex, then outbreaks will usually occur on the lips, not the genitals, although it is possible to cross contaminate. Your only worry here, is not to have mouth to mucosa contact while you are actively shedding - e.g. no kissing or oral sex while you have blister. Blister healing time can be sped up using acyclovir or zovirax, over the counter creams. Also L-Lysine supplements are thought to shorten healing time and make outbreaks less severe. Again, a vast number of people world-wide have HSV-1, so you are worrying FAR too much. The way you are talking, are you referring to HIV-1 and your viral load? Either way, find a good doc who will help you educate yourself.
I think that you need to clarify as you wrote HPV-1 and yet posted in under Herpes. Firstly, HPV-1 is a benign nongenital version of the Human Papilloma virus that causes skin warts such as plantar and common warts. You seem to be talking about a genital problem, in which case, the HPV diagnosis does not show up on a lab report with a value, merely positive or negative. The lab report will usually divide two categories of high risk and low risk serotypes (versions of the virus). If you are talking about HPV, then you are hugely overreacting, especially as men rarely show symptoms and don't have the risks that females with HPV have i.e. cervial dysplasia and upwards. Most women will show up as positive for HPV at some point in their lives and it just means that you would need to more frequent pap smears and carefully watch for cervial cancer development - something that is curable when detected early, so no worries there. If you are referring to HSV-1 i.e. Herpes simplex, then outbreaks will usually occur on the lips, not the genitals, although it is possible to cross contaminate. Your only worry here, is not to have mouth to mucosa contact while you are actively shedding - e.g. no kissing or oral sex while you have blister. Blister healing time can be sped up using acyclovir or zovirax, over the counter creams. Also L-Lysine supplements are thought to shorten healing time and make outbreaks less severe. Again, a vast number of people world-wide have HSV-1, so you are worrying FAR too much. The way you are talking, are you referring to HIV-1 and your viral load? Either way, find a good doc who will help you educate yourself.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
I have to correct some of the information from chuck314. Avoiding sex or oral contact when blisters or other lesions are present reduces the risk of transmission, it does not entirely prevent transmisison; the virus is often present in the absence of recognized outbreaks, although it is true that such asymptomatic shedding is less common for HSV-1 (oral or genital) than for HSV-2. OTC products for herpes (e.g., Blistex etc) do not speed healing, and zovirax cream provides borderline benefit at best--although they may make the lesions a little less painful as healing proceeds. Lysine is a nonsensical treatment that definitely does not shorten outbreaks or speed healing. Less importnat, perhpas, most HSV-1 infections indeed occur in childhood, but it has nothing to do with immune system development.
HHH, MD
HHH, MD
I think she was referring to HPV, which is the virus that causes warts... HSV is the virus that causes herpes.
I am by no means a doctor, but I have been looking into this a lot over the last few days. I would seek professional advice here on the board or elsewhere, but here is what I have learned:
first of all it is wonderful that you are in a relationship with someone who cares about you and wants to be with you as you learn about this together. reported statistics indicate that more than 60% of adults in the US have the HSV-1 infection.
you can hold hands, and touch each other's bodies as much as you want without fear of infection.
he can kiss you all over your body as well, except he is at high risk of infection if he performs unprotected oral sex on you. to decrease the risk of transmission, from what I understand, you can remove the base of a condom and cut it down the middle and use it as a dental dam, or you can use non-microwavable plastic wrap in the same way.
it is important to realize that even though the chances are significantly lowered by taking these precautions, transmission is still a possibility so you will have to talk with each other about what you are comfortable with.
as far as intercourse is concerned, first of all the risk of transmitting HSV is lowest when you do not have symptoms. in addition, a condom would be the best way to reduce the chances of passing the infection to him, although because condoms do not protect every part of his body that comes into sexual contact, the risk of transmission is still not zero. one important note is that even when a person does not have symptoms, they can still spread HSV through what is called "asymptomatic shedding" which is probably less than 10% of the time when you have no symptoms.
the emotional aspect of this is more significant for most people, so seek take comfort in you boyfriend's support, trusted friends or a support group in your area if you feel the need to. you are very far from alone!!! society has a different attitude towards sexually transmitted infections (STI) than it does about other kinds of medical issues. it does not reduce your self-worth; between HSV1 and HSV2 I figure 75%+ of the population has one or both kinds of herpes, its just that few of them realize it and there isnt a lot of public dialogue about it.
beyond the emotional acceptance of this, people learn to manage their symptoms by taking measures to reduce stress in their life (healthy diet, regular sleep, etc). if you begin taking valtrex, that will also reduce the risk of transmission, and has been shown to reduce the frequency and severity of outbreaks. it is hard to believe but over 2/3 of the people you see out there in the world are dealing with HSV whether they know it or not. being in a position to take action and manage the situation is an advantage you have.
first of all it is wonderful that you are in a relationship with someone who cares about you and wants to be with you as you learn about this together. reported statistics indicate that more than 60% of adults in the US have the HSV-1 infection.
you can hold hands, and touch each other's bodies as much as you want without fear of infection.
he can kiss you all over your body as well, except he is at high risk of infection if he performs unprotected oral sex on you. to decrease the risk of transmission, from what I understand, you can remove the base of a condom and cut it down the middle and use it as a dental dam, or you can use non-microwavable plastic wrap in the same way.
it is important to realize that even though the chances are significantly lowered by taking these precautions, transmission is still a possibility so you will have to talk with each other about what you are comfortable with.
as far as intercourse is concerned, first of all the risk of transmitting HSV is lowest when you do not have symptoms. in addition, a condom would be the best way to reduce the chances of passing the infection to him, although because condoms do not protect every part of his body that comes into sexual contact, the risk of transmission is still not zero. one important note is that even when a person does not have symptoms, they can still spread HSV through what is called "asymptomatic shedding" which is probably less than 10% of the time when you have no symptoms.
the emotional aspect of this is more significant for most people, so seek take comfort in you boyfriend's support, trusted friends or a support group in your area if you feel the need to. you are very far from alone!!! society has a different attitude towards sexually transmitted infections (STI) than it does about other kinds of medical issues. it does not reduce your self-worth; between HSV1 and HSV2 I figure 75%+ of the population has one or both kinds of herpes, its just that few of them realize it and there isnt a lot of public dialogue about it.
beyond the emotional acceptance of this, people learn to manage their symptoms by taking measures to reduce stress in their life (healthy diet, regular sleep, etc). if you begin taking valtrex, that will also reduce the risk of transmission, and has been shown to reduce the frequency and severity of outbreaks. it is hard to believe but over 2/3 of the people you see out there in the world are dealing with HSV whether they know it or not. being in a position to take action and manage the situation is an advantage you have.
so much for my ridiculously long response.
sorry for the mistake
sorry for the mistake
You are reading content posted in the STDs Forum
Herpes spreads by oral, vaginal and anal sex.
Herpes sores blister, then burst, scab and heal.
STIs are the most common cause of genital sores.
Millions of people are diagnosed with STDs in the U.S. each year.
STDs can't be transmitted by casual contact, like hugging or touching.
Syphilis is an STD that is transmitted by oral, genital and anal sex.
