Herpes Online Dating
Transmission and Prevention
Herpes can be spread through skin-to-skin contact at any time the virus is in its active phase: Viral shedding deposits HSV on the skin or a mucous membrane. Contact with another individual's skin allows virus to spread and begin the job of situating itself in the nervous system of a new host.
How Many People Have Genital Herpes?
At least half of the population is infected with oral herpes, an illness often passed during childhood. And approximately one-quarter of Americans over the age of 15 are infected with genital herpes -- an estimated 40 to 50 million.
These numbers may seem hard to believe. To put them in proper perspective, remember: HSV is usually a very subtle infection. In research studies, less than a third of those infected could easily recognize herpes symptoms The remainder -- the vast majority -- could not. Most people simply don't know they are carriers. ( In some cases, this is because they have failed to identify some of the milder symptoms of herpes. In others, it's because they apparently have suffered from no symptoms at all.)
How Can I Find Out If I Have Herpes?
If you have genital symptoms now, it's important to see a medical professional as soon as possible to be examined and tested.
If you've had genital symptoms in the past or believe you were exposed to genital herpes and want to know whether you now have it now, there are new blood tests available that detect can herpes even without symptoms present.
How Did I Get Herpes?
Herpes can be so subtle that even the active phases are sometimes hard to identify. As a result, herpes is often spread during periods when people simply don't recognize the virus has become active. In addition, a person can acquire herpes without recognizing the 'first episode.'
For these reasons, it's often difficult to trace the source of infection or know exactly when transmission occurred.
How Does Transmission Occur During Symptomatic Recurrences?
If a person has a herpes sore on the lips, for example, he or she can spread herpes to the lips of another person through kissing. Infection can also be spread from the lips to the genitals during oral sex. This is why so many cases of genital herpes are caused today by herpes type 1.
If one has a herpes sore on the genitals, coitus or other unprotected sexual activity gives the virus a chance to spread.
How Does Transmission Occur During Sub clinical Shedding?
The same principles and same scenarios hold. Unrecognized or 'sub clinical' shedding has been documented in or around the mouth as well as in various genital sites such as the vagina, penis, and anus. Thus, if HSV is active, oral, anal or vaginal intercourse can cause transmission -- even when one has no visible sores or other signs and symptoms.
How Can I Reduce The Risk Of Giving This To My Partner?
Because it's hard to pinpoint herpes' active phases, preventing transmission is not a simple matter. But there are a number of measures you can take to lower the risk of transmitting herpes:
Refrain from sexual contact when symptoms are present - including prodrome. Following outbreaks, it's best to wait for a day or two after the skin heals up, since sub clinical viral shedding is more likely at this time.
Consider using condoms: Because of the risk of transmission from sub clinical shedding, it may be helpful to use condoms for penetrative sex in between outbreaks. Condoms restrict contact between the penis and the mucosal surfaces of the vagina, mouth or anus, where sub clinical shedding is known to occur. Be advised: Condoms may not cover all sites of viral shedding, and they don't provide a 100% guarantee against herpes transmission. For example, herpes sores may be present on the scrotum or upper thigh, or virus may be shed into vaginal secretions that would reach places not covered.
On the other hand, condoms are the best all-around form of protection against HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases (STDs).
Consider medication: Some research shows that the use of daily antiviral therapy dramatically lessens the rate of asymptomatic viral shedding as well as reducing the frequency of outbreaks. The effect of daily therapy on transmission rates is still under study.
Consider 'outercourse': Touching, cuddling, kissing, sensual massage and many other ways of giving sexual pleasure carry less risk than penetrative intercourse. Contact with a herpes lesion, however, is never risk-free.
Herpes Online Dating
HsvDatingOnline.org is the leading herpes dating site in the United States, focusing on dating services for US herpes patients. 1,997,400+ Registered Members have made the site very active. The website is a sub-site of positive singles, with a herpes blog, instant online chat, and other unique services, it is worth a try. Welcome to Herpes Passions! A 100% FREE online dating & social networking site specifically for singles who have herpes. 1 out of every 5 women in the U.S. Have herpes, and 1 out of every 4 men.so there are plenty of people dealing with this issue. Herpes Passions is here to help singles with either HSV-1, HSV-2, or both, meet one another.
Which Combination Of These Precautions Is Right For You?
It's best to talk these over and make decisions with your partner. In doing so, note that your partner's medical history may be an important consideration. If he or she has already acquired herpes, for example, it may be important to know the type and discuss which precautions you still want to take. The best way to find this out is to get a type-specific blood test. For more information about these tests, including the new rapid, finger prick test for herpes, search google.com for 'herpes tests.'
What Are the Odds of Infecting a Partner?
Unfortunately, no single precaution listed above can guarantee protection for a sexual partner. And because it's difficult to organize scientific studies of sexual behavior, there's no easy way to rate the effectiveness of each risk reduction strategy. Your sexual partner's risk of acquiring herpes will vary according to a number of factors. For couples in whom one partner has genital herpes and the other does not, it appears the average rate of transmission is about 10% per year when the couples simply refrain from intercourse during outbreaks. But this average obscures two important factors:
1) The risk to uninfected women is roughly three times greater than the risk to men.
2) the risk of acquiring herpes type 2 is higher in those who have not previously been infected with herpes type 1.
A potentially important variable in risk may be the use of suppressive antiviral therapy. One study showed a 95% reduction in sub clinical shedding in people taking daily antiviral therapy, a result that could indicate lowered risk of transmission as well. Follow-up studies are addressing this question.
For [herpes pictures click here]. Currently, there is no cure for genital herpes or many other STD's. There is a vaccine in clinical trail for HPV and HSV2.
Is There A Dating Site For Herpes
Were you recently diagnosed with herpes? Do you feel completely alone and like no one will be able to understand how you're feeling? Maybe you've had herpes for a while now, but you've been afraid to start dating again? You've found a resource that can help you meet people with herpes.
The idea of disclosing to a new partner can be scary, and there aren't a lot of websites and applications that can help answer your questions about dating with herpes from a personal perspective. Maybe you're just looking for community and people who know how you feel? It's normal to feel isolated and unsure of where to start with this new reality. Those are all common reactions to living with the herpes virus.
If that's how you've found yourself checking out the Positive Singles herpes dating platform, the good news is, you're not alone, and there are tons of people who are living with herpes. Nearly 65% of our over 1.5 million members are herpes singles.
Herpes doesn't have to mean the end of your relationships, a healthy sex life, or finding true and lasting connections. HSV1 and HSV2 are highly stigmatized infections, so people don't talk about it openly, and it's hard to know where to start. That's why we're here to help.
We also don't care what type of HSV you have – 61% of our members have HSV2 and 39% of our members have HSV1. So, there are folks with the same infection and the same type of infection, and it's up to you to decide how you interact and what your preference is when moving forward into genital herpes dating. Having a sexual health conversation is still a great idea, even though you're on a site that allows for disclosure, because your health is important, and we want to help you advocate for healthy conversations and relationships in your life.
The biggest challenge among sexual partners is ignorance. Most people only learn about their STI condition after an official diagnosis. By this time, a number of people could already be infected especially when several partners are involved. Ignorance is costly because it poses detrimental effects such as infertility or cervical cancer. This is because neglecting the disease allows the virus to spread into sensitive regions of your body where controlling it would be difficult. It is, therefore, imperative that you are treated immediately or as soon as you are diagnosed.
Even if you're not sure you want to start dating or dating within the herpes community, Positive Singles is more than a dating site for people with herpes, because it offers blogs, treatment stories, and community forums that can help you feel less isolated and more supported throughout your experience. Not only will you hear from experts in the field of HSV, but you can read HSV singles who are going through the same thing as they share how they've learned to cope with their diagnosis.
Sometimes, it's just nice to read about others who are struggling too, because it reminds you that your experience is valid and your concerns are felt by others. All of that is possible through the Positive Singles herpes dating site, where 43% of our members with herpes identify as female and the other 57% identify as male. No matter whether you use Positive Singles to seek advice, meet friends, or find a partner, you'll meet someone who is like you and has a story like yours.
Positive Singles is also the easiest way to learn about other resources and communities all geared toward supporting your growth and moving you forward confidently. Having herpes is not a relationship-ending diagnosis. Instead, it can be used as a catalyst for your development and newfound empathy. By using the Positive Singles platform, you'll learn new ways to communicate your status to potential partners, and you'll find that you are one in millions who are living with herpes.
Are you in the US? That's great, because 84% of our members with herpes are in the United States. Some of our most popular US states are California, Texas, and Florida, but there are members in every state and country. There's always going to be someone close to you who you can choose to connect with. So, your connections and relationships can become more than just virtual. Where your membership takes you is entirely up to you and how you would like to use our services. What's most important is that you know you are supported, protected, and that we will never use your information without your consent.
This is a safe space for herpes dating and to find connections – resources, friendships, and love connections. With over 2,000 success stories and so many more positive responses from our members as proof, what are you waiting for? Signing up for an account is free, and if you decide to utilize some of our specialty member-resources, you can cancel your membership at any time.
If you're nervous about taking the first step and creating a profile, you can start slow. It's your choice how much or how little you share in our community, and our resources are available even if you choose to limit your profile settings. This is a community designed and developed for you to help you along your way, so there will never be pressure from us or any of the folks who are using our services.
Dating with herpes doesn't have to be challenging or limiting, and we're here to help you get started on the right foot. With a Live Dating Advisor, Treatment Stories, an Online Chat Room, and access to STD Care Locations, we have all of the resources you need for HSV dating all in one place.
All of that is possible with the Positive Singles website and app – you just have to make the decision to sign up and see what it's all about. We're here to help and support you, so reach out whenever you need a resource. This is a safe space designed with you and your experiences with herpes in mind.