Everything You Think You Know About Herpes Is Wrong

Everything You Think You Know About Herpes Is Wrong
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By Kristine Thomason

Hate to break it to you, but you probably have herpes.

Turns out, nearly two-thirds of the global population is infected with herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1), according to a recent report released by the World Health Organization (WHO). The WHO researchers estimated that 3.7 billion people under the age of 50 are infected with HSV-1, which is best known as a cause of cold sores.

Another 417 million people worldwide aged 15-49 have HSV-2, the type most often thought of as a sexually transmitted disease. But get this-140 million adults have genital infections caused by HSV-1, meaning half a billion people could sexually transmit either virus.

While this news may be shocking--don't freak out. Herpes has been seriously stigmatized for years, but the fact is, if you don't have one type of herpes already, you're very likely to be exposed to it eventually. Below, we bust eight big myths about this common infection. Here's what you need to know.

Myth: Cold sores and genital sores are way different
Many people wrongfully believe that cold sores don't count as "real" herpes, explains Raquel Dardik, MD, a clinical associate professor at NYU Langone's Joan H. Tisch Center for Women's Health. This big misconception stems from the general patterns of the two types.

While it's true that in most people, HSV-1 tends to affect mouths, and HSV-2 usually manifests in symptoms on the genitals, all it takes for either one of these viruses to spread is skin-to-skin-contact. This means that sores from either one can appear anywhere on the body.

To really break it down, let's say you touch an infected person's genitals with your mouth while they're shedding the virus, but there's no genital-to-genital touching. You can then be infected with either HSV-1 or HSV-2 (whichever your partner has) and go on to develop lesions at the site of the infection (in this case, your mouth).

Myth: I've never had an outbreak, so I definitely don't have herpes
Unfortunately, the lack of a visible outbreak doesn't mean you're herpes-free. Many people infected with the virus never experience an outbreak, says Mary Rosser, MD, PhD, director of obstetrics and gynecology at Montefiore Medical Center. And when they do, it frequently isn't recognized. This explains why, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 87.4% of infected individuals have no clue.

"Outbreaks can be very mild and even confused with things like heat rash, jock itch, yeast infections, [and] allergic reactions," adds Fred Wyand, director of communications for the American Sexual Health Association (ASHA). "So while some cases do involve pronounced symptoms, most never do."

Myth: Well, I got tested for STDs recently, so I still know I'm in the clear
Even if you've been hyper-responsible about getting tested--that's irrelevant when it comes to herpes. The guidelines from the CDC don't recommend testing for the virus, so it's typically not included with the routine "STD panel." This is because a blood test for herpes only tells you whether you've been exposed to the virus, explains Dr. Dardik, MD. And a positive result only "raises a whole host of concerns of 'when?' and 'how?' and 'where?,' which are not answerable by that test. It's not going to change your management and provide more answers, which is why it's not routinely offered."

Complicating things further is that the herpes virus is very similar to the virus that causes shingles and chicken pox, and so if you've had either of those, that can often skew your results as well, Dr. Rosser adds.

So how do you know if you have herpes? The best way to tell is to wait until you have an outbreak of lesions. Then your doctor can run tests on the sores or lesions to determine whether it is in fact herpes, and what type you're dealing with.

Myth: Without a visible outbreak, herpes isn't contagious
Since outbreaks aren't always obvious, it's not always clear when you're contagious. "There are a few days a year when herpes is active, and possibly transmitted without any symptoms present," explains Wyand. This is known as viral shedding. "This doesn't happen on most days, but it's tricky, because there's no real way to know."

All this sounds really scary, but what it boils down to is the importance of practicing safe sex. While the risk of transmission will never be zero, there are some steps you and your partner can take to significantly reduce the risk of transmission: avoiding sex during an outbreak, using condoms, and suppressive therapy (antiviral medications like Valacyclovir). Rosser agrees that condoms are your best friends, for any kind of sex. "People still look at me like I have two heads when I suggest condoms for oral sex," says Rosser. "But if there's any question, then use them."

Rosser adds that communication is not only essential when it comes to having great sex, but also when preventing the spread of herpes. If you're infected, be honest and considerate--let your partner know, "hey this is an issue."

Myth: People with herpes must be promiscuous
The reality of any STD is you don't need to sleep around to get infected. This is especially true for herpes, considering there's such a large population of "asymptomatic carriers," Dr. Dardik says. She also points out: "While having more partners obviously increases your risk of any kind of any kind of sexually transmitted infection, the reverse doesn't always hold." In other words, all it takes is one partner.

Myth: I can't have kids if I have herpes
"When my patients find out they have herpes, they often ask me, 'Oh my god, can I still have children?'" Dr. Rosser shares. The answer? Absolutely. Herpes doesn't affect your fertility in any way and there are plenty of safe delivery options to ensure the virus isn't transferred to your baby, she says. (Genital herpes can increase the risk of miscarriage, preterm birth, or in rare cases, a potentially dangerous infection in newborns if the mother is experiencing symptoms at the time of birth.)

Myth: If my partner suddenly shows signs of herpes, he/she must have cheated
If you've been monogamous with your partner for 5, 10, even 20 years, then out of the blue he or she has a visible herpes outbreak, the only logical explanation is cheating, right? Not necessarily. Similar to HIV or chicken pox, herpes has viral latency, or the ability to lie dormant in your body for years without showing any signs or symptoms.

"You could have been infected in your 20s, and the virus might show up again when you're 40," Dr. Dardik explains. "The virus stays in your system even if it isn't active." In some cases, people won't have any kind of outbreak unless it's triggered by a significantly stressful life event, like another illness.

Myth: We're all doomed to get herpes
Now for some good news: herpes may be super common, but that doesn't mean you'll definitely get it. It is pretty unsettling that so much of the population has the virus, but just because someone has the disease doesn't mean they're going to transmit it, Dr. Dardik explains. In fact, most outbreaks usually occur in the first 1 to 2 years, and after that many people's bodies suppress the virus for the most part.

Having herpes or dating someone with the virus doesn't mean your sex life is doomed, either. Smart safe sex practices can cut the risk of spreading or catching the virus to nearly zero.

And finally, if you do have herpes, there are effective treatments for helping with outbreaks, so you shouldn't feel hopeless. "Many people have this idea that people with herpes are dirty and taboo, but they're not," Dr. Rosser reminds us. "It's very common. Anyone can get herpes."

Everything You Think You Know About Herpes Is Wrong originally appeared on Health.com

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