Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.1 9/27/83; site hplabs.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!mhuxl!ihnp4!zehntel!hplabs!fremont From: fremont@hplabs.UUCP (Michael J. Fremont) Newsgroups: net.singles Subject: Re: Herpes Message-ID: <715@hplabs.UUCP> Date: Tue, 14-Aug-84 14:37:54 EDT Article-I.D.: hplabs.715 Posted: Tue Aug 14 14:37:54 1984 Date-Received: Thu, 16-Aug-84 02:38:32 EDT References: <2456@hplabsb.UUCP> Organization: Hewlett Packard Labs, Palo Alto CA Lines: 121 Anonymous at HP Labs wrote the following article: > I am not a herpes sufferer, but I am very worried about getting it. Am >I overly concerned, the victim of media hype, or is this a legitimate fear? >I am currently dating a woman who is very anxious to have sex with me. But >she admits to having had a fairly liberal sex life, going home with men she >has just met at a bookstore, etc. I am very cautious, and would never >consider this nowadays. (Besides it's so mindless). How do I ask her if she >has it? If she admits to it, how do I say no without hurting her. Am I >justified to say no? If she says she doesn't have it, how can I trust her? >And I hear rumors that people can be transmitters without knowing they even >have it. (This goes for me, too). Any comments? > > Since herpes is a concern to all singles, I would very much like to >open up the subject to discussion here on the Net. ------------------ I volunteer at the VD National Hotline here in Palo Alto. Here's my response: Herpes is very communicable by direct, skin to skin contact. It is not necessary that the contact be sexual; kissing someone with herpes on the mouth (cold sores) can give you herpes on the mouth. Herpes is only communicable at two times: 1. During an outbreak. This is when visible symptoms are present, like fluid-filled blisters. Not all of the time blisters are present is there virus on the skin, but you can't tell when that is , so we tell people not to let other people touch that part of their body until all of the symptoms go away. 2. In the prodromal period. This is the two or three days before an outbreak starts, IF the person feels symptoms like itching, tenderness, tingling, etc. These symptoms may be in the exact location of the outbreak, or relatively close by. A person who gets these symptoms before an outbreak can train themselves to recognize them. People who do not get these symptoms are probably not contagious until visible symptoms show up. Usually the first outbreak of herpes is pretty painful: lots of itching, soreness, etc. Most people notice it, go to a doctor, and find out what it is they have. It is possible for someone to get such a mild outbreak that they don't notice it, or not realize what it is. You can't get herpes from casual contact with people who have herpes. Herpes doesn't fly through the air. Although some recent studies have shown that herpes virus can live on inanimate objects for a number of hours, the same studies also state that it is HIGHLY unlikely to be infected from one of these surfaces, for the following reasons: 1. Usually the herpes virus can't come in contact with the surface except by being placed there by a researcher. For instance, toilet seats are constructed such that usually the genitals don't come in contact with the seat. No contact, no herpes virus. 2. Another precondition is that both a sufficient amount of the virus must be present, and it must be viable. Most inanimate surfaces do not offer particularly hospitable habitats for the herpes virus to live. 3. Herpes usually only takes hold in the genital and mouth areas. It only rarely can get through the tougher skin of the rest of the body. So most of the body is naturally protected. 4. For the herpes to take hold, it probably has to have been put on the body with some mechanical friction, helping it to get through the skin. Finally, most studies have found that people who get herpes almost invariably (99%) have a partner with herpes. People who have herpes CAN lead relatively normal lives. Because it is only communicable during the two times mentioned above, these people can have sex lives and not give herpes to their partner(s). How does one avoid getting herpes? There is no absolute guarantee short of total abstention from sex and kissing people. BUT you can certainly minimize your chances: 1. Know your partners. Sexual contact with strangers obviously increases risk of exposure. 2. Limit the number of partners you have. The more partners you have, especially if you don't know them well, the likelier one of them will have herpes, and may not know what to do about it. 3. Be aware of your partner's body, and encourage them to be aware. If you or they see something that shouldn't be there (like blisters) stop and take stock. Find out what it is. If your partner doesn't know, encourage them to get checked out by a doctor. 4. Ask your partner. Obviously not easy, but it gets easier if you know your partner well. Also, the better your partner knows you, the more likely they will tell you if they have herpes, and how the two of you can avoid getting you infected. There is a lot more information about herpes to be had from, for instance, 1. "The Truth About Herpes", a book by Dr. Steven Sacks 2. The VD National Hotline. Call 800-555-1212 (information) for the toll-free number. They are open from 8AM-8PM Pacific time, Mon-Fri, and can give information about all kinds of sexually transmitted diseases, as well as referrals to doctors and clinics across the country. Don't believe everything you read or hear about herpes. The media usually hypes it by giving examples of the worst cases. Sorry about the length of this, I hope it helps. mike P.S. Disclaimer: These statements may not reflect the opinion or statements of Hewlett-Packard.