False rumors about herpes can be as contagious as, well, a virus.
The good news: what you’re about to read is actually pretty reassuring!
throw in 1 is what people think of as classic oral herpes, Levine tells SELF.
Jonathan Knowles / Getty Images
That’s because the most typical symptom of HSV-1 is cold sores around the mouth.
That happens when a person who has HSV-1 in their mouth transmits the virus via oral sex.
If only!Condomsare great, but they dont completely eradicate the risk.
Thats because herpes is transmitted via skin-to-skin contact, especially between any moist areas that secrete fluid.
One hundred percent false.
Since herpes carries such a stigma, the people who have it are often the butt of various jokes.
In reality, around two-thirds of the global population under 50 has HSV-1, according to theWorld Health Organization.
So really, a ton of people have the virus!
Because most people have no idea they have it.
Around 90 percent of people with HSV-2 have never received an official diagnosis, according to theCDC.
And even when symptomsdocrop up, a lot of them can be written off as nothing to worry about.
For example, cold sores are one of the most common symptoms of HSV-1.
After all, herpes is a virus, so it does actually make sense.
Canker sores are those crazy-painful wounds inside your mouth, while cold sores usually show up on the outside.
(The HSV-2 virus usually lies in the sacral ganglion at the base of your spine.)
While it would be a lot easier to manage if that were the case, unfortunately it isnt.
Even without an outbreak, theres the risk of whats known as asymptomatic shedding, says Levine.
If you dont have the lesions, theres no real test for it, says Levine.
Herpes medication lowers the viral load, so it can keep an outbreak at bay," says Levine.
This is key, as neonatal herpes can be really dangerous to newborns.
Breathe a sigh of relief: a recent herpes diagnosis doesnt necessarily mean anyones beencheating.
you could have it for a long time and then it just reactivates, says Levine.
Thats why he recommends having a naked conversation before you get naked.
Discuss any past diagnoses with each other, and get tested together if youd like some peace of mind.
