[Sexuality]

Chlamydia - More facts - STD

2009-10-17T22:39:00.000-07:00

Chlamydia is a common sexually transmitted disease (STD) caused by the bacterium, Chlamydia trachomatis, which can damage a woman's reproductive organs. Even though symptoms of chlamydia are usually mild or absent, serious complications that cause irreversible damage, including infertility, can occur "silently" before a woman ever recognizes a problem. Chlamydia also can cause discharge from the penis of an infected man.

Chlamydia is the most frequently reported bacterial sexually transmitted disease in the United States. In 2006, 1,030,911 chlamydial infections were reported to CDC from 50 states and the District of Columbia. Under-reporting is substantial because most people with chlamydia are not aware of their infections and do not seek testing. Also, testing is not often done if patients are treated for their symptoms. An estimated 2,291,000 non-institutionalized U.S. civilians ages 14-39 are infected with Chlamydia based on the U.S. National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Women are frequently re-infected if their sex partners are not treated.

Chlamydia can be transmitted during vaginal, anal, or oral sex. Chlamydia can also be passed from an infected mother to her baby during vaginal childbirth.

Any sexually active person can be infected with chlamydia. The greater the number of sex partners, the greater the risk of infection. Because the cervix (opening to the uterus) of teenage girls and young women is not fully matured and is probably more susceptible to infection, they are at particularly high risk for infection if sexually active. Since chlamydia can be transmitted by oral or anal sex, men who have sex with men are also at risk for chlamydial infection.

Chlamydia is known as a "silent" disease because about three quarters of infected women and about half of infected men have no symptoms. If symptoms do occur, they usually appear within 1 to 3 weeks after exposure.

In women, the bacteria initially infect the cervix and the urethra (urine canal). Women who have symptoms might have an abnormal vaginal discharge or a burning sensation when urinating. When the infection spreads from the cervix to the fallopian tubes (tubes that carry fertilized eggs from the ovaries to the uterus), some women still have no signs or symptoms; others have lower abdominal pain, low back pain, nausea, fever, pain during intercourse, or bleeding between menstrual periods. Chlamydial infection of the cervix can spread to the rectum.

Men with signs or symptoms might have a discharge from their penis or a burning sensation when urinating. Men might also have burning and itching around the opening of the penis. Pain and swelling in the testicles are uncommon.

Men or women who have receptive anal intercourse may acquire chlamydial infection in the rectum, which can cause rectal pain, discharge, or bleeding. Chlamydia can also be found in the throats of women and men having oral sex with an infected partner.

If untreated, chlamydial infections can progress to serious reproductive and other health problems with both short-term and long-term consequences. Like the disease itself, the damage that chlamydia causes is often "silent."

In women, untreated infection can spread into the uterus or fallopian tubes and cause pelvic inflammatory disease(PID). This happens in up to 40 percent of women with untreated chlamydia. PID can cause permanent damage to the fallopian tubes, uterus, and surrounding tissues. The damage can lead to chronic pelvic pain, infertility, andpotentially fatal ectopic pregnancy (pregnancy outside the uterus). Women infected with chlamydia are up to five times more likely to become infected with HIV, if exposed.

To help prevent the serious consequences of chlamydia, screening at least annually for chlamydia is recommended for all sexually active women age 25 years and younger. An annual screening test also is recommended for older women with risk factors for chlamydia (a new sex partner or multiple sex partners). All pregnant women should have a screening test for chlamydia.

Complications among men are rare. Infection sometimes spreads to the epididymis (the tube that carries sperm from the testis), causing pain, fever, and, rarely, sterility.

Rarely, genital chlamydial infection can cause arthritis that can be accompanied by skin lesions and inflammation of the eye and urethra (Reiter's syndrome).

In pregnant women, there is some evidence that untreated chlamydial infections can lead to premature delivery. Babies who are born to infected mothers can get chlamydial infections in their eyes and respiratory tracts. Chlamydia is a leading cause of early infant pneumonia and conjunctivitis (pink eye) in newborns.

There are laboratory tests to diagnose chlamydia. Some can be performed on urine, other tests require that a specimen be collected from a site such as the penis or cervix.

Chlamydia can be easily treated and cured with antibiotics. A single dose of azithromycin or a week of doxycycline (twice daily) are the most commonly used treatments. HIV-positive persons with chlamydia should receive the same treatment as those who are HIV negative.

All sex partners should be evaluated, tested, and treated. Persons with chlamydia should abstain from sexual intercourse until they and their sex partners have completed treatment, otherwise re-infection is possible.

Women whose sex partners have not been appropriately treated are at high risk for re-infection. Having multiple infections increases a woman's risk of serious reproductive health complications, including infertility. Retesting should be encouraged for women three to four months after treatment. This is especially true if a woman does not know if her sex partner received treatment.

The surest way to avoid transmission of STDs is to abstain from sexual contact, or to be in a long-term mutually monogamous relationship with a partner who has been tested and is known to be uninfected.

Latex male condoms, when used consistently and correctly, can reduce the risk of transmission of chlamydia.

CDC recommends yearly chlamydia testing of all sexually active women age 25 or younger, older women with risk factors for chlamydial infections (those who have a new sex partner or multiple sex partners), and all pregnant women. An appropriate sexual risk assessment by a health care provider should always be conducted and may indicate more frequent screening for some women.

Any genital symptoms such as an unusual sore, discharge with odor, burning during urination, or bleeding between menstrual cycles could mean an STD infection. If a woman has any of these symptoms, she should stop having sex and consult a health care provider immediately. Treating STDs early can prevent PID. Women who are told they have an STD and are treated for it should notify all of their recent sex partners (sex partners within the preceding 60 days) so they can see a health care provider and be evaluated for STDs. Sexual activity should not resume until all sex partners have been examined and, if necessary, treated.

http://www.cdc.gov/std/Chlamydia/STDFact-Chlamydia.htm

Chlamydia - STD

2009-10-17T22:28:00.000-07:00

Chlamydia infection (from the Greek, χλαμύδα meaning "cloak") is a common sexually transmitted infection (STI) in humans caused by the bacterium Chlamydia trachomatis. The termChlamydia infection can also refer to infection caused by any species belonging to the bacterialfamily Chlamydiaceae. C. trachomatis is found only in humans.^[1] Chlamydia is a major infectious cause of human genital and eye disease. Chlamydia infection is one of the most common sexually transmitted infections worldwide; it is estimated that about 2.3 million individuals in the United States are infected with chlamydia.^[2] It is the most common bacterial STI in humans

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Chlamydial infection of the neck of the womb (cervicitis) is a sexually transmitted illness which isasymptomatic for about 50-70% of women infected with the disease. The infection can be passed through vaginal, anal, or oral sex. Of those who have an asymptomatic infection that is not detected by their doctor, approximately half will develop pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), a generic term for infection of the uterus, fallopian tubes, and/orovaries. PID can cause scarring inside the reproductive organs, which can later cause serious complications, including chronic pelvic pain, difficulty becoming pregnant, ectopic (tubal) pregnancy, and other dangerous complications of pregnancy. Chlamydia causes 250,000 to 500,000 cases of PID every year in the United States. Women infected with chlamydia are up to five times more likely to become infected with HIV, if exposed.^[7]

Chlamydia is known as the "Silent Epidemic" because in women, it may not cause any symptoms in 75% of cases^[8], and can linger for months or years before being discovered. Symptoms that may occur include: unusual vaginal bleeding or discharge, pain in the abdomen, painful sexual intercourse (dyspareunia), fever, painful urination or the urge to urinate more frequently than usual (urinary urgency).

In men, Chlamydia shows symptoms of infectious urethritis (inflammation of the urethra) in about 50% of cases^[8]. Symptoms that may occur include: a painful or burning sensation when urinating, an unusual discharge from the penis, swollen or tender testicles, or fever. Discharge, or the purulent exudate, is generally less viscous and lighter in color than for gonorrhea. If left untreated, it is possible for Chlamydia in men to spread to the testicles causing epididymitis, which in rare cases can cause sterility if not treated within 6 to 8 weeks. Chlamydia causes more than 250,000 cases of epididymitis in the U.S. each year. Chlamydia is also a potential cause of prostatitis in men, although the exact relevance in prostatitis is difficult to ascertain due to possible contamination from urethritis.^[9]

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Screening

For sexually active women who are not pregnant, screening is recommended in those under 25 and others at risk of infection.^[14] Risk factors include a history of chlamydial or other sexually transmitted infection, new or multiple sexual partners, and inconsistent condom use.^[15] For pregnant women, guidelines vary: screening women with age or other risk factors is recommended by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force(USPSTF) (which recommends screening women under 25) and the American Academy of Family Physicians (which recommends screening women aged 25 or younger). The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommends screening all at risk, while the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend universal screening of pregnant women.^[14] The USPSTF acknowledges that in some communities there may be other risk factors for infection, such as ethnicity.^[14] Evidence-based recommendations for screening initiation, intervals and termination are currently not possible.^[14] There is no universal agreement on screening men for chlamydia.

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C. trachomatis infection can be effectively cured with antibiotics once it is detected

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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chlamydia_infection

The Truth about HSV-1 and HSV-2 - HERPES

2009-09-16T14:58:00.000-07:00

How alike are HSV-1 and HSV-2? In this feature, we look at the latest scientific facts about the two types of herpes simplex virus, as well as social attitudes toward oral and genital herpes.

When many people first tell someone they have genital herpes, they start by comparing the infection to oral herpes, or cold sores. How apt is the comparison? In spite of scientific facts, the social stigma and emotional attitudes surrounding genital herpes can make it hard to compare it objectively with an oral infection that most people casually accept. Following the unspoken assumptions of our society, many people still believe there is a "good" herpes virus-HSV- 1, the usual cause of cold sores-and a "bad" herpes virus-HSV-2, the usual cause of genital herpes.

In this feature, we take a look at HSV- 1 and 2 to see how alike and different the two viral types really are. We asked leading researchers how the two compare in terms of severity, recurrences, and transmission rates. We asked how often each occurs outside its usual site of preference, and how each behaves in the genital area. We questioned how much immunity having one type orally or genitally provides against getting the second type.

In addition, we looked at the way our society views oral and genital herpes. What's behind the very different images the two types carry? And what can we do about it? In an interview, counselors at the National Herpes Hotline suggest ways to help replace judgmental social assumptions with a healthy attitude.

Under a microscope, HSV- 1 and 2 are virtually identical, sharing approximately 50% of their DNA. Both types infect the body's mucosal surfaces, usually the mouth or genitals, and then establish latency in the nervous system. For both types, at least two-thirds of infected people have no symptoms, or symptoms too mild to notice. However, both types can recur and spread even when no symptoms are present.

...

http://www.herpes.com/hsv1-2.html

Accurate blood tests There are currently four FDA-approved, gG-based blood tests that can give accurate results for herpes - HERPES

2009-08-06T05:07:00.000-07:00

Accurate blood tests
There are currently four FDA-approved, gG-based blood tests that can give accurate results for herpes. Like any blood test, these tests cannot determine whether the site of infection is oral or genital. However, since most cases of genital herpes are caused by HSV-2, a positive result for type-2 antibodies most likely indicates genital herpes.

It may be necessary to request on of these tests by name from your health care provider. These accurate, type-specific tests are:

biokitHSV-2 Rapid Test
HerpeSelect® HSV-1 and HSV-2 tests
Herpes Western blot
CAPTIA™ HSV IgG Type-Specific ELISAs

The biokitHSV-2 Rapid Test (manufactured by biokit USA) is a blood test that can be done in a doctor's office and provides results for HSV-2 in less than 10 minutes. For more information on the biokitHSV-2 Rapid Test, please have your health care provider call 1-800-926-3353 or log on towww.biokitusa.com. This test is also available under the name Sure-Vue™ HSV-2 Rapid Test from Fisher HealthCare. For more information on the Sure-Vue™ HSV-2 Rapid Test, please have your health care provider call 1-800-766-7000 or log on to www.fishersci.com.

There are two blood tests manufactured by Focus Diagnostics, Inc. under the name HerpeSelect®: the ELISA and the Immunoblot. Both of these tests require blood to be drawn by your health care provider and sent off to a lab that carries HerpeSelect® for results. If you are interested in HerpeSelect®, you can log on to www.herpeselect.com or call 1-800-505-0536.

The Herpes Western blot can also accurately distinguish between HSV-1and HSV-2. However, this test is primarily used for research purposes and is not readily available. If you are interested in the Herpes Western blot, your doctor will need to call the University of Washington in Seattle, WA at 1-206-598-6066 to order the test.

The CAPTIA™ HSV IgG Type Specific ELISAs can detect HSV-1 and/or HSV-2 antibodies. Blood drawn by your health care provider will be sent to a lab for results. For more information, have your health care provider contact the manufacturer, Trinity Biotech USA, at 1-800-325-3424 or log on to www.trinitybiotech.com.

Accurate Blood Test Quick Reference Guide
We have created the Blood Test Quick Reference Guide, a chart that outlines and compares the accurate, FDA-approved type-specific blood tests available for herpes simplex antibodies. To determine which test might be best for your situation - or to show your doctor which tests are available (since herpes is not routinely included in STD screenings), click here for our BLOOD TEST QUICK REFERENCE GUIDE (PDF, 108K).

For healthcare providers, we've developed the Herpes Testing Toolkit, which was reviewed by leading experts in this field. The 10-page guide explains the increasing role of type-specific herpes serologic assays, presents clinical scenarios in which serologic testing are beneficial, and reviews key factors in a differential diagnosis for genital herpes. To learn more about the toolkit, click here.>>

http://www.ashastd.org/herpes/herpes_learn_testing.cfm

IgM versus IgG blood tests - Do they work? - HERPES

2009-08-06T04:57:00.000-07:00

Introduction to blood tests

Blood tests can be used when a person has no visible symptoms but has concerns about having herpes. Blood tests do not actually detect the virus; instead, they look for antibodies (the body's immune response) in the blood.

IgM vs. IgG

There are many older blood tests commercially available, but most are not accurate because they cannot accurately distinguish between antibodies for type-1 and type-2 herpes. This makes it possible to get a false positive result, especially for HSV-2.

When an individual contracts herpes, the immune system responds by developing antibodies to fight the virus: IgG and IgM. Blood tests can look for and detect these antibodies, as the virus itself is not in blood. IgG appears soon after infection and stays in the blood for life. IgM is actually the first antibody that appears after infection, but it may disappear thereafter.

IgM tests are not recommended because of three serious problems:

1. Many assume that if a test discovers IgM, they have recently acquired herpes. However, research shows that IgM can reappear in blood tests in up to a third of people during recurrences, while it will be negative in up to half of persons who recently acquired herpes but have culture-document first episodes. Therefore, IgM tests can lead to deceptive test results, as well as false assumptions about how and when a person actually acquired HSV. For this reason, we do not recommend using blood tests as a way to determine how long a person has had herpes. Unfortunately, most people who are diagnosed will not be able to determine how long they have had the infection (see reference 1).

2. In addition, IgM tests cannot accurately distinguish between HSV-1 and HSV-2 antibodies, and thus very easily provide a false positive result for HSV-2. This is important in that most of the adult population in the U.S. already has antibodies to HSV-1, the primary cause of oral herpes. A person who only has HSV-1 may receive a false positive for HSV-2.

3. IgM tests sometimes cross-react with other viruses in the same family, such as varicella zoster virus (VZV) which causes chickenpox or cytomegalovirus (CMV) which causes mono, meaning that positive results may be misleading.

The accurate herpes blood tests detect IgG antibodies. Unlike IgM, IgG antibodies can be accurately broken down to either HSV-1 or HSV-2. A recent study corroborates this finding: labs that used non-gG-based tests for herpes had high false-positive rates for HSV-2 antibodies (14-88% saying the blood sample was positive for HSV-2) in samples that were actually only positive for HSV-1 antibodies. But 100% of the labs using gG-based tests accurately reported that the blood sample was negative for HSV-2 (see reference 2).

The challenge here is that the time it takes for IgG antibodies to reach detectable levels can vary from person to person. For one person, it could take just a few weeks, while it could ta ke a few months for another. So even with the accurate tests, a person could receive a false negative if the test is taken too soon after contracting the virus. For the most accurate test result, it is recommended to wait 12 - 16 weeks from the last possible date of exposure before getting an accurate, type-specific blood test in order to allow enough time for antibodies to reach detectable levels.

http://www.ashastd.org/herpes/herpes_learn_testing.cfm

There are no documented cases of a person getting genital herpes from an inanimate object such as a toilet seat, bathtub, or towel - HERPES

2009-08-06T04:53:00.000-07:00

There are no documented cases of a person getting genital herpes from an inanimate object such as a toilet seat, bathtub, or towel. Herpes is a very fragile virus and does not live long on surfaces.

http://www.ashastd.org/herpes/herpes_learn_questions.cfm

There are several days throughout the year (asymptomatic reactivation) when the virus may be present on the skin but there are no symptoms - HERPES

2009-08-06T04:51:00.000-07:00

There are several days throughout the year (called asymptomatic reactivation, asymptomatic shedding, or subclinical shedding) when the virus may be present on the surface of the skin, but there are no symptoms. Herpes can be passed through sexual contact during this time.

http://www.ashastd.org/herpes/herpes_learn_questions.cfm

Genital herpes can be transmitted sexually both when symptoms are present and sometimes when symptoms are not present - HERPES

2009-08-06T04:50:00.000-07:00

Genital herpes can be transmitted sexually both when symptoms are present and sometimes when symptoms are not present.

http://www.ashastd.org/herpes/herpes_learn_questions.cfm

If a person with oral herpes (cold sores or fever blisters) performs oral sex, it is possible for the partner to get genital herpes -

2009-08-06T04:48:00.000-07:00

If a person with oral herpes (sometimes called cold sores or fever blisters) performs oral sex, it is possible for the partner to get genital herpes.

http://www.ashastd.org/herpes/herpes_learn_questions.cfm

Most skin on the body is too thick for the virus to go through - HERPES

2009-08-06T04:47:00.000-07:00

Most skin on the body is too thick for the virus to go through.

http://www.ashastd.org/herpes/herpes_learn_questions.cfm#2

About one in five persons in the United States has genital herpes; however, as many as 90 percent are unaware that they have the virus - HERPES

2009-08-06T04:46:00.001-07:00

About one in five persons in the United States has genital herpes; however, as many as 90 percent are unaware that they have the virus. There are many reasons people do not know they have herpes (see below).

http://www.ashastd.org/herpes/herpes_learn_questions.cfm#2

Herpes is most easily spread from genital-to-genital or oral-to-genital contact during an active outbreak or during prodrome - HERPES

2009-08-06T04:44:00.000-07:00

Herpes is most easily spread from genital-to-genital or oral-to-genital contact during an active outbreak or during prodrome -- the few days just before an outbreak.

http://www.ashastd.org/herpes/herpes_learn.cfm

OPEN QUESTION - If a person already has HSV-1 (most likely oral herpes) can they still get HSV-2 (most likely genital herpes)? - HERPES

2009-08-06T04:41:00.000-07:00

Thats' another open question - still no answer to that one:

OPEN QUESTION

If a person already has HSV-1 (most likely oral herpes) can they still get HSV-2 (most likely genital herpes)?

up to 80% of adult population in the US

2009-08-06T04:40:00.000-07:00

About 50 to 80 percent of American adults have oral herpes, which is commonly called cold sores or fever blisters.
About one in five adults in the United States has genital herpes. However, most people don’t know they are infected because their symptoms are too mild to notice or mistaken for another condition.

http://www.ashastd.org/herpes/herpes_learn.cfm

OPEN QUESTION - What fraction of those carrying HSV-2 have no outbreaks at all, ever? - HERPES

2009-08-06T04:31:00.000-07:00

OPEN QUESTION

What fraction of those carrying HSV-2 have no outbreaks at all, ever?

Another essential question

OPEN QUESTION - When a stat says that 10% of a sample population carries HSV-2 - what does it exactly mean? - HERPES

2009-08-06T04:26:00.001-07:00

OPEN QUESTION

When a stat says that 10% of a sample population carries HSV-2 - what does it exactly mean?

Does it mean that 10% of this sampel have genital outbreaks?

Or does it mean that they really carry HSV-2 and a fraction of those stay asymptomatic?

Open questions - what does the presence of IgG and IgM truly mean? - HERPES

2009-08-06T04:20:00.000-07:00

If 50-99% of people actually carry the HSV-1 and up 30-50% carry the HSV-2 (depending on parts of the world and population sample), what does the presence of IgG and IgM truly mean?

Can I give blood? Yes. There is no risk of transmitting herpes simplex virus in blood. The virus itself remains in nerve cells - HERPES

2009-08-06T03:40:00.001-07:00

Can I give blood?
Yes. There is no risk of transmitting herpes simplex virus in blood. The virus itself remains in nerve cells; only antibodies are found in the blood. But if you are having a recurrence, it is better to wait before you give blood. As with any illness, you need all your resources to get better.

http://www.herpes.org.uk/faq.html

What is asymptomatic shedding? Asymptomatic shedding means that virus is present on the skin without causing any symptoms - HERPES

2009-08-06T03:37:00.001-07:00

What is asymptomatic shedding?
Asymptomatic shedding means that virus is present on the skin without causing any symptoms. If enough virus is being shed when direct skin contact occurs, a partner may become infected.

Asymptomatic shedding is often associated with herpes simplex because so many people carry this virus without knowing - they do not see or feel any symptoms - hence they are ‘asymptomatic carriers’.

As many as 2 out of 3 people who contract the virus, catch it from someone who does not know that he or she has the virus. This could be from the lips of someone who is unaware of a cold sore during oral sex, from the fingers of someone who does not know that he or she has a herpetic whitlow, or from direct genital contact.

People who experience recurrent symptoms may also occasionally shed virus asymptomatically between recurrences. This is more likely in the week before and the week after a recurrence.

In people who get recurrences, asymptomatic shedding occurs on average for 2 per cent of the time for people with type 2 infection and 0.7per cent of the time for those with type 1.
The fewer recurrences a person has, the less chance there is of asymptomatic shedding.
Asymptomatic shedding tends to diminish over the years. It is more likely to be happening in the first year and much less probable after that.

The virus is most often transmitted during the first four months of a new relationship; however partners are often together for years without the virus passing from one to the other.

http://www.herpes.org.uk/faq.html

Can I catch herpes simplex off towels, cups, or anything? The virus is caught off the skin - It is a delicate virus and dies quickly - HERPES

2009-08-06T03:35:00.001-07:00

Can I catch herpes simplex off towels, cups, or anything?
The virus is caught off the skin, not from objects. It is a delicate virus and dies quickly when away from the skin where the sore is.

http://www.herpes.org.uk/faq.html

Can using a condom prevent transmission? - HERPES

2009-08-06T03:34:00.001-07:00

Can using a condom prevent transmission?
The virus cannot get through a condom, so using one is a good idea as long as it is put on the penis before genitals touch. If the virus is active on the skin outside the area protected by the condom, transmission may still happen. A Femidom (female condom) covers a wider area so may be more useful for some people.

http://www.herpes.org.uk/faq.html

Can I pass the virus to a partner if I have no symptoms? When the virus is inactive (dormant) in the nerve cell it can't be caught by partner - HERPES

2009-08-06T03:32:00.001-07:00

Can I pass the virus to a partner if I have no symptoms?
When the virus is inactive (dormant) inside the nerve cells it cannot be caught by a partner. If there is virus on the place where you get your symptoms, it may be passed on – see What is asymptomatic shedding? There may be tingly or tichy feeling at the place where this is happening. We have produced two leaflets "Talking to your partner about herpes simplex" (four pages) and "For your partner" (two pages), with advice and information for people in new relationships. These may be ordered by members.
An antibody (blood test) might show that your partner already has the virus. In this case your partner will have either total or partial protectio

http://www.herpes.org.uk/faq.html

How can I have caught it if my partner hasn’t got it? - HERPES

2009-08-06T03:30:00.000-07:00

13 - How can I have caught it if my partner hasn’t got it?
Three quarters of the people with herpes simplex have it so mildly they do not realise they have it. They may have sex when the virus is active. Mild symptoms can be a pimple, a little cut or an itchy bit of skin. When people with these mild symptoms learn to recognise them, then they can avoid sex at these times.

http://www.herpes.org.uk/faq.html

12 - Will my partner catch it again if he or she already has it? - HERPES

2009-08-06T03:29:00.001-07:00

12 - Will my partner catch it again if he or she already has it?
If you and your partner have the same virus you will not reinfect each other - even on a different part of the body. So, if you have caught it on your genital from your partner’s facial cold sores, he or she will not catch the virus back on the genitals. There is more about transmission in our "Transmission" leaflet – available to members

If the new partner has had facial cold sores in the past and they will either have the same virus as you and be unable to catch it from you, or will have the other type (there are only two types of herpes simplex). If they have the other type and then catch you type, their symptoms will probably be slight or non-existent. This is because the antibodies they already have for 'their type' will immediately start fighting this slightly different virus while it prepares new antibodies to fight it properly. It is called having 'patrial protection'. This gives them an advantage over people who have no herpes simplex antibodies of either type. An antibody (blood test) might show that this is the case. Members can request our leaflet explaining what an Antibody type test can do

http://www.herpes.org.uk/faq.html

How is herpes simplex caught and passed on? - HERPES

2009-08-06T03:27:00.000-07:00

10 - How is herpes simplex caught and passed on?
The virus is passed directly from skin to skin with friction. It enters easily through mucous membranes, i.e. the moist skin which lines the mouth and genital-anal area. It can also enter through a cut or break in the ordinary skin on other parts of the body: fingers/hands, knees, etc. We call it a whitlow when it's on the fingers.

You can pass it on whenever the virus is present on the skin surface: from the first warning signs that a recurrence is starting (tingles, aches, stabbing pains) until fresh skin has grown back. The virus may also be transmitted through asymptomatic shedding. There is more about transmission in our "Transmission" leaflet – available to members – see subscription form.

Only people who do not already carry the virus can catch it. About seven in ten adults already carry herpes simplex virus type 1 and one in ten already carry type 2.

http://www.herpes.org.uk/faq.html