Ideally, you should not have any sexual contact once you have HSV infection. This would not benefit you, but it would help the rest of mankind. Once you have been diagnosed as positive with genital herpes, it would be quite pointless to identify the source, since you may have had it for years already and the first outbreak only happened recently. What you needed to do is to take steps so that you may still live a relatively normal life. People with genital herpes do live normal lives. And one of the first things to do is to have a capable health professional who is experienced in treating HSV infection. It is also important that you are able to communicate openly with your doctor. Don't choose a doctor that you will feel uncomfortable with. HSV infection is a sensitive disease and can bring you several emotional problems. You do not need a doctor to add to your burden. Another important thing to do is to learn about the disease. You must understand how it is transmitted so that you can avoid spreading it to other people and prevent complications. Specifically, avoid touching the infected area no matter how itchy or painful it is. And when you do, wash your hands immediately. Otherwise, you run the risk of infecting your lips, eyes and even your brain. If you already have a partner, discuss the situation with him or her. Chances are your partner may also have genital herpes but the symptoms just don't show. There will be emotional trials for both of you regarding your relationship, but you must stay mature above it all. Together with your doctor, you may consider taking the acyclovir treatment. This can lessen the severity of the herpes blisters and can hasten the healing of the sores. You may also find out the periods in which you are most contagious. Some are most contagious at the time when the blisters begin to appear and others are most contagious either the week before or after the appearance of the blisters. You may also decide whether you will take the acyclovir when needed (as the blisters are about to appear) or will take this medication everyday (called suppressive therapy). Most important of all, if you have genital herpes, you must tell your new sex partner about it, before you have any intimate contact. The decision to take the risk must be left to them. |
