|
10 Week Depression Support GroupBegins7/2/8 World Wide Sex Therapist Directory Links
|
What is Herpes? Herpes is a very common and usually mild recurrent skin condition transmitted through skin to skin contact. Approximately 50% - 80% of the adult population in the United States has oral-facial herpes (also known as cold sores and fever blisters), with as many as 90% having it by the age of 50. Approximately 25% of the adult population in the United States has genital herpes, with as many as 90% of that population unaware that they have genital herpes. Herpes is caused by the herpes simplex virus (HSV) of which there are two types: HSV-1, which typically results in oral-facial herpes; and HSV-2, which typically results in genital herpes, however either type can infect either site. For some people the symptoms can be uncomfortable, particularly during the initial outbreak, but for most people the symptoms are so mild that they go unrecognized, and therefore undiagnosed. After contracting the virus, it may take weeks, months or even years to experience an outbreak so it’s difficult to know how long you’ve had it, or where you got it. Herpes is most contagious during an outbreak, however it can be spread even when no symptoms are present if the virus is active on the skin. This is called asymptomatic shedding. Though asymptomatic shedding occurs only several days each year, it is impossible to know which days it occurs. The surest way to prevent (or diminish) the spread of herpes to is to avoid sexual contact during an outbreak, and to use condoms and/or dental dams during sexual contact between outbreaks. Suppressive antiviral therapy also helps reduce the risk of infecting a partner by decreasing the frequency of outbreaks and asymptomatic shedding. Written by Tracy L. Wood, M.Ed., LMFT |
|
To schedule an appointment with: The Founder
of Sex Therapy in Philadelphia The Staff at Sex Therapy in
Philadelphia Please call Alex Caroline Robboy at (215) 570-8614 or the main intake number (267) 324 - 9564 Fax (215) 922-6302 Directions to Sex Therapy in Philadelphia If you do not live in the Greater Philadelphia Area, and need a Sex Therapist (Are you a sex therapist? JOIN NOW)
TO PARTICIPATE IN OUR The Center for Growth, Inc also known as Sex Therapy in
Philadelphia
|