Safe Sex & Herpes

[BradAndJanet]

One clarification, dream43. The herpes virus that causes shingles and chicken pox is not the same as the herpes virus that causes genital herpes (which can be sexually transmitted) and herpes mouth sores. I don't know what you've got that causes the itching red spots, but it's not genital herpes, it's something else.

-B

[rduelist]

We have found that if you are up front about it you will not be shunned. A large number of people will not play with you, but quite a number will. Also the number who have it and dont mention it in profiles is too large. Informed people will sometimes play, because knowlege will let them know that it is better to be careful with someone who you know has it than be surprised by the deceptive and ignorant people who have it. Also we have had good luck with the Herpes_Swingers group on Yahoo, we have met several nice couples there. We actually prefer to play with others who already have it. Given the numbers, it is not hard to find others to play with.

Good luck

[nicecouplemn]

We recently found an unwelcome visitor in a very sensitive place. Mrs has been diagnosed with HSV2 and following this initial post, early tomorrow morning I will see if the clinic can confirm if I also have it. I have had HSV1 as long as I remember. Open sores on gums however not frequent, almost all in fall or winter. Also small bumps on tounge tip that have a pretty intense sting about them.
We have a group we belong too and have been to several parties in the last year. Mrs finds she just cant participate with a clear conscious and I agree its best I dont tho I have never exhibeted any symptoms. So now we are putting this out in the open. We wanted to go on the basis that Transmission doesnt have to occur but find it deceptive and unethical. So from now on we will enter into couples situations or parties as a knowingly infected couple. I will post the results of my upcoming appointment. We have an incredible friend we love dearly who does not yet know and we know she deserves honesty. It hurts us we could lose her. THat would be like a death in the family.
So we have these conflicts and whatever we have done wrong in the past we intend to avoid in the future. I hope people understand the soul searching and agony this is putting us through. We are sure there are many like us.
We hope to make new friends similarly infected. We want to swing and be guilt free in the process.

[EmpyreanPleasur]

Everyone has facts and opinions...here are mine.

First, women who have cervical dysplasia have HSV. Most doctors don't explain this to them. Cervical cancer is almost exclusively caused by HSV. Many women are only diagnosed by having a cervical biopsy when an abnormal pap smear comes up.

On top of that, not only can you be a carrier or an "aymptomatic shedder" but someone can have ONE tiny little lesion and be unaware of it - remember, the lesions are not only located on the genitals but on the cervix as well.

Given this, it is no wonder that most people dont know they have it and how rampantly it is spreading.

Also, you can be a carrier or be infected but it lies dormant for YEARS and then becomes active, so you may never know where or when you contracted it if you've been sexually active with more than one partner in your life.

Herpes carries a stigma to it as it has for many years, but I think we really need to learn to accept it as a part of life. It is a VIRUS. No different from a cold. Just because it is passed on sexually, that does not make it a "dirty" disease or make the person who has it dirty.

Dropping this stigma will make people more open to learning about it, getting themselves diagnosed and treated and even prevent more deaths as cervical cancer is easy to treat IF FOUND EARLY. No one WANTS to have it, but I think society is going to have a bigger problem if they don't start recognizing it and get over the reputation it has because eventually it may become a matter of not IF you get it but WHEN will you get it.

[Gabbycat]

"First, women who have cervical dysplasia have HSV. Most doctors don't explain this to them. Cervical cancer is almost exclusively caused by HSV."

Uhh... wrong. Cervical cancer is caused by the human papilloma virus. However
... "certain herpesviruses (HSV), including HSV-6, HSV-2, HSV-7, and cytomegalovirus, have been detected in women with cervical cancer. HSV-6 is under particular suspicion as playing a role in activating the papillomavirus gene. The presence of these very common viruses, however, may simply be coincidental, and they may serve no purpose other than being bystanders."
http://www.umm.edu/patiented/doc46full.html

I had cervical cancer about 15 years ago. It was not caused by herpes. I did not have herpes.

[EmpyreanPleasur]

Originally Posted by Gabbycat

"First, women who have cervical dysplasia have HSV. Most doctors don't explain this to them. Cervical cancer is almost exclusively caused by HSV."

Uhh... wrong. Cervical cancer is caused by the human papilloma virus. However
... "certain herpesviruses (HSV), including HSV-6, HSV-2, HSV-7, and cytomegalovirus, have been detected in women with cervical cancer. HSV-6 is under particular suspicion as playing a role in activating the papillomavirus gene. The presence of these very common viruses, however, may simply be coincidental, and they may serve no purpose other than being bystanders."
http://www.umm.edu/patiented/doc46full.html

I had cervical cancer about 15 years ago. It was not caused by herpes. I did not have herpes.

My apologies and I am sorry if I offended you! I confused the HPV (still an STD) and the HSV by trying to do this by memory which was wrong to do. You are absolutely correct it is caused by HPV.

However, the rest of the facts are correct and just like Herpes, HPV is becoming more and more prevalent and like herpes, both are pretty hard to detect with asymptomatic contagious periods. Both are significantly on the rise and we need to realize that it may be impossible to limit our exposure with anything but abstinence and we need to not be judgemental of people who have either.