Dean Edell: Herpes, it's a word that's easy to say, but difficult to talk about. It's one of the most common infectious diseases affecting up to 60 million Americans. Herpes is spread by intimate body contact. It's part of the same virus family as Chicken Pox and Shingles. Once you have got it, it's with your for a life. Here is how to protect yourself and your partner from this intimate invader.
Susan Martin: Herpes in the vast majority of people is the silent condition.
Dean Edell: Susan Martin could be your neighbor, sister, friend, or co-worker and like one in five people, she has Herpes.
Susan Martin: About the only thing that people know about Herpes is Herpes is forever.
Dean Edell: Susan contracted the virus almost 20 years ago from her sexual partner.
Susan Martin: I actually went to the doctor with strep throat and then while I was there said, oh by the way doctor, I want to take a look at this other thing too.
Dean Edell: Genital Herpes is spread by skin to skin contact, usually through sexual intercourse or oral sex. It's an equal opportunity virus. It's doesn't care if you are rich, poor, educated or employed, any warm body will do.
Catherine Lynch: There are two different types of Herpes. There is the Type 1 which we generally think of as Cold Sores and the Type 2 which is general Herpes.
Dean Edell: Herpes comes from the Greek word Herpein, which means to creep or crawl and just like this herpeton, the virus can creep out of dormancy and become contagious.
Catherine Lynch: They may run a fever, and then get this pain, stinging, blisters and then the ulcers in the genital area.
Dean Edell: Susan is lucky, she had symptoms. Nearly 85% of people who carry the virus don't even know they have it.
Jay Reese: There are a lot of people who have actually had Herpes without every having an outbreak of blisters, without having any pain.
Deal Edell: And sometimes mild symptoms can be mistaken for something else like the yeast infection, Jock itch, or even ingrown hair.
Jay Reese: In my experience, the greatest misconception is that if you don't have a sore you can't transmit.
Dean Edell: Almost 70% of Herpes cases are spread without any symptoms. A simple blood test can tell if you carry the virus.
Susan Martin: I think that those of us who are diagnosed with it are actually safer because we are aware about symptoms and are on the medication or taking other precautions.
Dean Edell: Antiviral medications can help manage the condition. They can be taken during an outbreak to heal symptoms faster or used every day to suppress the virus.
Catherine Lynch: When you use it in the suppressive nature, especially it comes in handy for that couple that's trying to have a family and yet one partner has not been infected.
Dean Edell: And it's a better approach for those who have recurring outbreaks. Doctor Thomas Heineman says that's important because people with Herpes are at a higher risk for getting and transmitting HIV.
Thomas Heineman: Presumably because of easier to transmit the virus in that setting.
Dean Edell: Rachel Heacox doesn't have Herpes and she wants to keep it that way. She is part of a clinical trial to test her Herpes vaccine for woman.
Rachel Heacox: I think it would just give you a peace of mind that you won't contract something that cannot be cured and that you could spread to others.
Dean Edell: The vaccine is being given to women who have never been exposed either Type 1 or Type 2 Herpes. So far, the results are promising.
Thomas Heineman: There is 75% protection against Herpes disease in women who received the vaccine compared to those who didn't.
Dean Edell: The vaccine will not cure Herpes for those who are already infected, but if successful, it could be given to girls before they become sexual active and prevent them from getting the disease.
Thomas Heineman: This vaccine may prove to be the first vaccine of any sort to prevent a sexually transmitted disease.
Dean Edell: But for millions like Susan who have the virus, the best advice is to practice safe sex, don't have sex during an outbreak, take an antiviral and tell your partner.
Susan Martin: No one has ever broken up with me because of it. No one has ever not wanted to see me because of it.
Dean Edell: Susan hopes by telling her story, more people will understand that Herpes is a common condition and nothing to be ashamed of.
Susan Martin: And I have chosen to live in the state of happiness and I am not going to let a little virus whether it's north of the West or the south of the West cause me to move.
Dean Edell: The initial Herpes infection is usually the worst, recurring outbreaks aren't as severe because the body has developed some of immunity. For most people, recurrences lessen as time goes on.
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