Hot tub safety

[Elusive BiFem]

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Originally posted by bobandsandy
Not sure how you make the leap to females on that.

We have several friends with herpes and can tell you that not everyone experiences the virus the same way. The only male we know with it carried it for 15 years and only found it during a blod screening for another health matter.

One of the females experiences regular episodes that are quite uncomfortable and the other would'nt know she had it if she hadn't been told by her old boyfriend and confirmed it with the doc.

B+S
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B&S...I'll respond here since WR and I have been on the phone talking about this.

If you look at the article I mentioned in my other post (after your post) under the "Facts about Herpes" you will see that more women than men have herpes. Don't know why, but I have read that numerous times in various articles. Additionally, women can carry the virus on their cervix and when they do, they do not necessarily have pain and/or symptoms. Essentially, the cervix has few nerve endings that cause pain. (I think that is a correct statement...I'm having to call on information learned about 25 years ago!)

OK...and beyond that...the physiological climate of a woman probably lends itself more readily to contracting the virus...the warm, moist area vs. that of a man. And simply...on a woman, there is literally more area - as in cubic square inches or something - than a man. Now granted, I'm kind of making this up as I go, but for those with mathmatical types of brains, it may make some sense. Additionally, women are more susceptible to microscopic abrasions and tears during the sex act. I would suspect that might lend itself to some increased susceptibility to contracting the virus.

You are absolutely correct in saying that not everyone experiences the virus in the same way and that might be for a variety of reasons, up to and not limited to their various pain thresholds. Also, some people are not as "in tune" to what is going on in their bodies as others. WR and I just had this conversation....think of the Junior League housewife that married her husband straight out of school...no other sexual partners...and THINKS hubby has been true blue over the past 20 years when in fact, as he traveled the country, he found himself in occasional compromising positions. 20 years down the road, she breaks out with something, but it never occurs to her that it is herpes...She has NEVER been exposed! At least she doesn't think so. Lots of reasons people might carry the virus and not be aware.

Bottom line...all numbers seem to indicate that 1:4 carry the virus. Look around you. Those are not good odds when it comes to NOT contracting the virus. Statistically...two couples...4 people...one of those 4 carry the virus...and might not even know it.

Does this make any sense at all? I don't think we can say that people are deliberately trying to deceive us when they tell us they don't have herpes. They may well carry the virus and have absolutely no clue on earth that they do.

- EBF


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[luv2was]

Originally Posted by smoothsteve

... basically, what we what to know is if theres any chance we can get anything while in the jacuzzi [but not having sex]?....

I know this is an old thread... and it may have been answered elsewhere... but here it goes...

The short answer is maybe, maybe not... it depends. But this is a good question to ask.

How safe you are in any pool environment has to deal with the concentration of the sanitizing agent used, and the "contact time" of it with any pathogens that may be present. Pool chemistry is a simple, yet not so simple science.

As for what you may be at risk for, you will have to find a source to answer questions about which pathogens survive in what environment, and for how long. It can be fairly complicated.

I do know this: If everything is correctly balanced in a pool or spa, it is one of the safest places you can be. And the more the pool chemistry gets out of balance, the higher at risk you are for "whatever".

The smaller the volume of water, and the higher the temperature, the more difficult it is to maintain correct pool chemistry. So that makes spas (hot tubs) one of the hardest things to maintain.

I'd suggest installing a shower by any pool or spa, and getting everyone to get clean before entering, as this will make the pool perform at its best. And anyway, isn't it much more fun to play together when everyone is squeaky clean? "Crack Wash" contributes more problems to pools than any other single source under normal conditions... so a good shower is a good idea.

There's lots of accurate information on the web regarding pool safety... just Google whatever it is you want to know. This CDC document lists "contact times" for some common pathogens (based on specific conditions). For example: e-coli is inactivated in under a minute at 1ppm Chlorine, etc. (pH and temperature are important factors). Giardi? About 45 minutes. I've not found a source yet for inactivation times for baddies such as HSV-2 or HIV, but I bet sooner or later it will turn up. BTW... The average swimming pool is maintained at about 3ppm Chlorine (parts per million).

You can never be too safe, but it shouldn't spoil your fun either. Best to know the folks you are playing with, that is for sure... but nothing is guaranteed, ever.


:-)