Thursday, February 16, 2012
Wednesday, August 20, 2008 amber asks

Q: i have type 1 and 2, i was wondering how much worse is it to have both then just one type?

Besically, i was diagnosed  recently with herpes and  to make it worse i was told i have both types 1 & 2, i have been on valtrex since the day i found out, never had any outbreaks.  I was wondering  is valtrex is working for both of  the types all  at once. This is all new to me, im still trying to come to peace with everything so i tend to panic a bit , the first week when i found out  i was scared to take a shower and touch myself without latex gloves!.. I wish  everyone who has some kind of STD were up front with the people they decide to have sex with, give someone the chance to decide for themselfs if they want to take  a chance on that... so the questions i have are... A.. can i pass it to a partner if  i never had a outbreak and i take valtrex every day  if we have sex without a condom.. B... is having both  makes it worse or as long as im on valtrex im ok?... and  C...i think i might have a lil outbreak of type 1, it looks like a lil cold sore  above my eyebrow  thats been there for almost 3 weeks now,  what  do i do to make it go away  faster then is been healing?... thank you  ..Amber

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8/20/08 3:53pm

There are two types of herpes (HSV), herpes simplex one and herpes simplex two. Both live in the spine in a latent stage, and are most likely to manifest themselves when someone is feeling depleted. simplex one generally manifests itself on the mouth as a cold-sore, and simplex two generally on the genitalia. however simplex one can appear on genitalia and vice versa. 

 

Herpes is a skin to skin transmitted disease. Meaning just rubbing of the genitalia, closed mouth kissing, and oral sex can be modes of transmission. one of the most common ways of it spreading is parents kissing their children. Also, the most contagious time for the virus to spread is not during an outbreak, rather when the skin is "shedding". An outbreak may never actually occur.

 

One in four adults in the USA have herpes, and since the most common symptom is no symptom at all it is incredibly possible to contract the infection from someone who didn't know they had it. 

 

It is no worse to have simplex one and two than it is to have simplex one or two. Valtrex should be working to reduce symptoms for both. Since it is a skin-to-skin disease you can still pass it on when using a condom. For when you think about it, a condom covers some skin, however at the base of the penis there is still exposure. It is possible for HSV to manifest itself in other places besides the oral and genitalia regions, such as the nipple and anus. However it is highly unlikely and impossible for it to manifest itself above ones eyebrow.

 

The CDC just came out with a statistic that one in four teenage girls will contract an Sexually transmitted infection, and that is just testing in girls. Therefore, I would not be worried and ashamed about your condition, and for more information I suggest making an appointment with a local woman's clinic or planned parenthood.

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