A Herpes Dating Service Comparison

By D G Gordon  

Many herpes dating services have popped up online in the last several years, though only a few will be familiar to many. Positive Singles and MPwH have an obvious profile online, where sites like AfterH, DatingwithH and HMates may not ring so loud a bell.
To stand out from the crowd as a herpes dating service generally means that you are not merely creating a dating site, but a bona fide community. This is especially important with a condition like herpes, where many who have been infected take some serious time to get used to both the disease and the unfortunate stigma attached to it.
By creating a community, you increase both your popularity and activity numbers with your membership. Popularity is a necessity for a dating site, as it increases the chances of finding a compatible match for everyone. But site members must also be active, which means not merely creating a profile, looking around once or twice, and never coming back.
This article will take a brief look at the popularity and activity within the 2 most prominent herpes dating services, Positive Singles and MPwH. This will be determined by data I pulled from doing a 'test search' where I compared the two sites by searching profiles in each, using the state of Colorado, for both 'men searching women' and 'women searching men' (all ages for both).
Which Herpes Dating Service Creates the Greatest Popularity?
In my 'test search' within Colorado (chosen because of its medium-size), one of the striking things noted was how few members there were on both sites living with HSV-1. These numbers were particularly bad on MPwH, where I found that there were just 11 'men seeking women' (and same number for 'women seeking men') with HSV-1 in the entire state. On Positive Singles, these numbers were markedly better, with 177 of the former and 36 of the latter.
The numbers for those living with HSV-2 were much better, especially in Positive Singles where the amount of profiles returned were roughly two and a half times that of MPwH for both 'men seeking women' (500 vs. 190) and 'women seeking men' (500 vs. 189). Note that Positive Singles returns a maximum of 500 profiles for any search (any more would be including too many outdated ones, as they arrange their results by last login).
Which Herpes Dating Service Features the Most Active Members?
Although percentage of active members were similar for both sites, Positive Singles had more active members to choose from due to the greater popularity. For example, 230 of the men with HSV-2 had been on the site within the last month, compared to 106 on MPwH. Among women, 167 had been active on Positive Singles in the last month, versus 74 women active on MPwH.
Activity is probably the most important measure of an online dating site, as it's easy for a site built in the year 2000 to simply keep every profile ever created within their database. Make sure to check the 'last login date' category on profiles when searching (as mentioned, profiles are arranged this way on Positive Singles to make it a little easier).
This little assessment should give you an idea of what the popular dating sites are about. Good luck out there!

I'm a mid-thirties single guy who loves the online dating scene. I encourage you to continue reading detailed reviews of herpes dating sites.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=D_G_Gordon

101 Things You Need to Know About Herpes

By Dylan Morris

1. Genital herpes is caused by two forms of the herpes simplex viruses: HSV-1 or HSV-2.
2. Most oral herpes is caused by HSV-1, and most genital herpes is caused by HSV-2.
3. Most people do not show signs or symptoms from HSV-1 or HSV-2 infection.
4. at least 45 million people ages 12 and older, or 20% of U. S. adolescents and adults, have had genital herpes.
5. Genital HSV-2 infection is more common in women (approximately one out of four women) than in men (almost one out of eight).
6. Both herpes Type 1 and 2 can be transmitted by contact with the sores that the herpes viruses cause, but also between outbreaks (sometimes called OBs) via "shedding" from skin that does not have a sore on it.
7. Herpes transmission frequently occurs from an infected partner who does not have a visible sore, and may not even know that he or she is infected with the virus.
8. Genital OBs of HSV-1 recur less frequently than genital outbreaks caused by HSV-2.
9. First symptoms of genital herpes, they can be quite intense. Subsequent OBs are more mild. Symptoms can include:
10. small area of redness, sometimes with raised bumps or fluid-filled blisters;
11. Itching, burning or tingling in the genital area;
12. Flu-like symptoms (headache, swollen glands, fever);
13. Painful urination and/or discharge.
14. Initial herpes outbreak usually occurs within two weeks after the virus is transmitted, and the sores usually heal within two to four weeks.
15. Sometimes, a person does not become aware of the infection until years after it is acquired.
16. Do not squeeze OB blisters because that may cause infection to spread.
17. Genital herpes infection can be more severe in people with immune systems depressed due to other causes.
18. Genital herpes can cause psychological distress in people who know they are infected, due particularly to the attached social stigma.
19. Any area in the groin can be affected by genital herpes.
20. Herpes is not the only infection that causes genital sores. Bacterial infections have also been known to cause sores that resemble herpes sores. So, it's best to get tested.
21. Genital herpes can lead to potentially fatal infections in babies.
22. Genital herpes can sometimes be diagnosed by visual inspection of the outbreak, or by taking an actual sample from a sore.
23. The only sure way to avoid getting herpes and other STDs is abstinence, or a long-term, mutually monogamous relationship with someone who is not infected.
24. If you inform your partner of your herpes, you can discuss it instead of making excuses as to why you don't want to have sex.
25. Genital herpes caused by HSV-2 carries an 80-90% chance of OBs.
26. Genital herpes caused by HSV-1 carries a 50% chance of OBs.
27. OB sores can occur in areas that are not covered by a latex condom, so condoms are not fool-proof in protecting from contracting genital herpes.
28. Even if a person does not have any symptoms he or she can still infect sex partners.
29. You can't get herpes from swimming pools, towels or toilet seats.
30. Frequency and severity of herpes OBs vary between individuals.
31. The most common symptom of genital herpes is one or more sores or blisters that appear on the genitals, anus, buttocks.
32. Some things thought to trigger Obs are:
33. stress;
34. anxiety;
35. other illnesses;
36. menstruation;
37. and extreme weather exposure.
38. OBs are most common in the first year after infection with herpes.
39. Oftentimes signs like tingling, itching, numbness or tenderness where the sores will appear occur a few days before an OB.
40. Genital herpes can be well managed with medication, stress management and healthy eating.
41. Genital herpes infections almost never cause long-term damage in healthy adults.
42. Research has shown that genital herpes does not cause cervical or any other types of cancers.
43. With proper treatment and open communication, most people with herpes find they can have normal, healthy, enjoyable relationships.
44. Symptoms of the herpes virus can be similar to symptoms of other diseases, so the best way to be sure whether you have it to get tested.
45. For immediate relief from an OB:
46. You can take warm baths or hold ice packs on the sores for several minutes.
47. You can wear loose cotton clothes to prevent chafing.
48. Keep the area dry with baby powder or cornstarch.
49. You can take aspirin, acetaminophen, or ibuprofen to relieve pain and fever.
50. Women who get herpes before becoming pregnant have a low risk of passing the virus to the baby.
51. Risk of infant herpes increases if mother gets herpes during final trimester of pregnancy.
52. A genital herpes diagnosis in a long-term, monogamous relationship does not mean a partner was unfaithful.
53. Herpes can be transmitted through oral sex.
54. There is no absolute cure for the herpes infection at this time.
55. If you have genital herpes, avoid (or reduce) activities that may affect OBs, like:
56. poor diet;
57. overexertion;
58. emotional or physical stress;
59. lack of sleep;
60. excess alcohol;
61. and surgical trauma.
62. Excessive friction during intercourse may trigger OBs.
63. Genital herpes does not mean that your sex life is over.
64. Approximately 70% of genital herpes cases result from asymptomatic shedding, when no signs or symptoms exist.
65. It's been reported that people who tell their partners of their diagnosis are rarely rejected.
66. Herpes has not been found to affect fertility or ability to have children.
67. Research suggests that when someone has both HIV and HSV, the HIV virus may be increased in genital secretions, increasing the risk of HIV transmission to sexual partners.
68. Cold sores and canker sores are not related, though people mistake the two.
69. Cold sores are contagious.
70. Canker sores are not contagious.
71. Cold sores appear around the mouth and symptoms include:
72. tiny, fluid-filled blisters or sores around the mouth, surrounded by red (inflamed) skin;
73. days before appearance of blisters soreness or tingling around mouth area;
74. and, discomfort and appearance of blisters generally last between 7 and 10 days.
75. Cold sores can sometimes be found on nostrils, chin or fingers.
76. Oral herpes OB can occur from contact with someone who has an active lesion through activities like sharing eating utensils, razors and towels.
77. Cold sores typically heal without medicine(http://www. herpaflor. com). But, you may want to seek medical attention if:
78. the blisters don't go away within one to two weeks;
79. you have a pre-existing health condition that has put your immune system at risk;
80. symptoms are severe;
81. you have frequent outbreaks;
82. or if eye irritation occurs.
83. Some people are at greater risk of contracting cold sores and should be avoided, including:
84. infants;
85. people with eczema;
86. or people with a suppressed immune system caused by cancer, AIDS or an organ transplant.
87. If herpes infects the eye, it can cause corneal scarring -- one of the major causes of blindness in the U. S.
88. Expectant mothers must alert their physician if either she or her partner has genital herpes.
89. To protect yourself and your partner from contracting oral herpes and to avoid spreading it to other body parts:
90. don't kiss or have skin contact with infected persons during an OB;
91. don't share items like eating utensils, towels, lip balm;
92. during OBs, wash your hands carefully and regularly;
93. use caution when touching other body parts, especially eyes and genitals (http://www.herpes-virus.org);
94. avoid stressful situations, like cold or flu, lack of sleep or prolonged sun exposure without sunblock;
95. and, use sunblock on lips and face prior to prolonged sun exposure- in winter and summer.
96. In some cases, the decision to not use condoms may be agreed upon in a relationship where both partners understand the risks of contracting genital herpes.
97. Because of society's negative misconceptions about genital herpes, you should prepare yourself before approaching others about the topic.
98. Discuss your genital herpes with a partner when you are not 'in the mood' for sex, when you're feeling confident, and when you can pay full attention to the conversation.
99. Anywhere you feel safe and comfortable is a good place to talk about herpes with a partner.
100. Discussing genital herpes may strengthen your relationship and bring you closer together as a couple.
101. Some people find that seeking counseling helps them cope with their diagnosis.

Dylan Morris is a freelance writer and supporter of nutraceuticals, natural, herbal treatments for disease control and prevention. Visit http://herpaflor.com/ for more information.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dylan_Morris

 

The Ethics Of A Life-Long Herpes Infection

By Christopher Scipio 

From day one my own personal life-long herpes infection has presented me with several ethical challenges. It has challenged me on the question of who to tell and when. It has challenged me on the issue of what to say and how to others with herpes. It has challenged me on the question of "Do I have any responsibilities towards trying to prevent the people in the community who do not herpes from getting it, and if so what are they"?
On how to tell and when:
When I was diagnosed with herpes the doctors told me that it was safe to have sex with others as long as I avoided having sex during outbreaks and that I would get warning signs of when an outbreak would be coming. Luckily, we are working with much better information these days. A person with herpes is potentially contagious every-single day of the year and safer sex including using a combination of a condom or dental dam and an anti-viral gel is the best way of ensuring that one isn't inadvertently spreading the virus.
I was an irresponsible coward when I first got herpes. Because thedoctors told me that I wasn't contagious without outbreaks and because I was in the habit of using condoms, I decided that I only had to tell someone that I had herpes if and when it seemed like the relationship was turning serious and there would be regular sexual contact. I had justified my cowardice by thinking that the risk to others was too small to stick my neck out and get the rejection due to a herpes leper. Please don't be like me. Not telling someone before you have sex that you have herpes is absolutely the wrong thing to do. There's no real way to justify it. I now tell potential lovers I have herpes even before the first date. It gets the weight of this guilt most herpes people have off my chest and to me it feels like the right thing to do.
Many people tell me that it's okay if you're not going to have sex with someone to wait and see if the relationship becomes serious before telling them about herpes. Sure this is much better than waiting until after sex, but to me it still isn't good enough. If you care about someone, if you respect them , why not tell them as early as possible so they can decide if they want to invest the energy and time in getting to know you better? Isn't it a bit manipulative to allow someone to develop feelings for you without warning them that they risk a life-long viral infection if they get involved with you? Think about it. If you wait until they are already emotionally attached to you, they may feel compelled to continue with the relationship when they may not have if you had told them up-front. It takes more courage and integrity to tell early but it feels better to have the weight off your chest and the person you tell will usually respect you for giving them the choice.
I am especially appealing to men since I believe that men are not as protective of their sex partners when it comes to telling about herpes as women are. Guys, please don't have sex with anyone without telling them about your herpes. And if they don't know the facts don't understate the risks- herpes is a more physically and emotionally devastating disease for women than it is for men and it is much easier for a man to give a woman herpes than it is for a woman to give it to a man.
On how and what to say to others with herpes:
I am a holistic healer- a herbalist and homeopath. My family have been healers for many generations in my native country of Trinidad and Tobago and as far back as Africa. I had little to no interest in treating herpes as a healer until I got herpes myself. Wanting to change a negative to a positive, I decided to make the holistic treatment of herpes the cornerstone of my practice. The bible says "the stone that the builder refused, I will make my cornerstone. Bob Marley and the wailers sing about it too.
It didn't take me long once I decided to become a holistic viral specialist to realize that I was confronted with a daunting challenge. Most professionals including all the herbalists and homeopaths I know rely heavily on referrals to build their client-base. Here I was now working with a client-base that I was never going to get a lot of referrals from. My patients with herpes don't go around telling the world that I helped them with their outbreaks. Some of my patients have yet to tell their significant others that they have herpes, many have not told their closest friends and their family. I am not a company. I don't have an advertising budget. The only way for me to reach out to others with herpes and encourage them to come for me for treatment was to speak out in public about my herpes work and about herpes in general. This forced me to be far more out of the closet than would have been my personal choice.
I seem to always create challenging situations for myself. Speaking to others with herpes is not a task for the faint of heart. Some people like to shoot the messenger- I have the bullet-wounds to prove it. But I can say that speaking to others with herpes has been and continues to be one of the most gratifying experiences in my life. I feel a deep bond with many of the people with herpes who interact with me. I felt this kind of bond when I played team sports. I've felt this kind of bond all my life with other black people. There's something about "us against the world" that can make people tight with other. I love my herpes friends. I love my herpes patients- even the ones who misbehave. I am not grateful for getting herpes, but I don't regret it either. Nevertheless, the truth hurts, and I have some bitter truth to tell others with herpes:
Having a lover who also has herpes isn't a free ticket for unprotected sex. Even if you both have the same strain Even if one gave it to the other. Having unprotected sex with each other can and often will make one or both partner's cases of herpes worse. It's called re-inoculation and it's a message many with herpes don't want to hear.
If you have herpes or cold sores you are potentially contagious everyday and there is no sure way to tell if you are shedding virus. So do consider using a condom/dental dam combined with an anti-viral gel when having sex and do be careful about sharing wet towels or wash cloths with others.
No two people get herpes the same way so you are going to have your own individual experience with the virus and will have to find your own way of dealing with it on all the different levels you will have to deal with it.
A cure for herpes in our lifetime is unlikely and there are no quick-fix solutions for managing herpes. Herpes cannot be managed with a topical agent alone- whether it be creams, lotions, or essential oils. Managing herpes takes changing your diet, managing stress and other triggers, and may also require either taking herbal medicine or drug therapy.
You may not get fewer outbreaks as you get older. While this is often the case, since no two people get herpes the same way, other diseases, menopause, self-abuse, re-inoculation by unprotected sex and other factors can change the pattern of frequency and severity of outbreaks at any point during your life-long journey with herpes.
Cold-sores are just as contagious if not more contagious than genital herpes and you can infect others when there are no signs of sores present.
Having herpes does make you more vulnerable to other sexually transmitted infections including HIV, cervical dysplasia and genital warts.
Daily use of l-lysine is an ineffective strategy for treating herpes and can do more harm than good. There are more effective natural remedies such as garlic for treating herpes without side-effects.
On talking to those who don't have herpes:
The reality check for me is that the mainstream and alternative media do not want talk about herpes. They would prefer to keep us in a ghetto. There is a lot of misinformation floating around and people without herpes have few places to turn to hear the facts about herpes. They don't hear the facts in their churches, young people are not being educated enough about herpes in school. Most parents aren't teaching their children about herpes, older siblings are not passing information down to the younger ones.
It's really up to us who have herpes to try harder to dialogue with those who don't. HIV won't be the last word in human population control from the world of viruses. If we don't learn how to better protect the population from getting herpes and other sexually transmitted infections we are going to be in a lot of trouble. Herpes is a gateway disease it provided easy access through your mucus membranes for any sexually transmitted virus.
It is my unshakeable conviction that those of us in the herpes community need to be more vocal in the media and to also reach out to those around us. Each one teach one. Each one reach one.
Christopher Scipio
Holistic Herpes Treatment Specialist

About The Author
Christopher Scipio , is one of the most experienced holistic practitioners treating the Herpes virus. A homeopath and herbalist who hails from a long line of Caribbean natural healers, Scipio has during the last 15 years developed a very successful natural protocol in treating the Herpes family of viruses. http://www.natropractica.com.

Article Source: EzineArticles.com

Safe Treatments for Genital Herpes

By Dave Kowloski

Although there is as yet no known cure for herpes there are several safe treatments that you can use to alleviate symptoms. You should always visit your doctor first and get an early diagnosis.
First get a trained professional to diagnose the problem and confirm the presence of herpes by a viral test taken from the affected area. A blood test for syphilis, HIV and possibly hepatitis B should also be performed.
If you are in severe pain you may wish to take a prescription pain reliever. Take warm showers and run warm water over the infected area three or four times a day. When you get out of the shower or bath dry the genital area with a hair dryer set on a low or cool temperature.
Make sure you are passing urine without difficulty. Keep trying if you are having problems and maybe try in the shower to decrease the sting. Drinking lots of water may help dilute the urine enough so that it hurts less. If you cannot pass urine after several hours you should seek medical attention.
Avoid tight underwear or, if possible do without underwear altogether. Loose clothes or pure cotton are best.
Get treatment from your doctor or clinic with acyclovir (Zovirax) or a similar antiviral agent. It is important to start this treatment as soon as possible. Less effective is an ointment preparation of acyclovir although this may also help relieve any stinging.
Avoid other types of cream such as cortisone or antibiotic creams and Vaseline as these are of no benefit and may be worse than doing nothing.
Each person is different and each treatment should be tried and used to suit. You ability to cope with genital herpes outbreaks is very much a learning process, one that will evolve over time. There is no truth in the rumour that stress heightens herpes outbreaks but if you follow the suggestions above you should be able to make things easier for yourself.

Don't be alone with herpes. There are some good online herpes dating sites where you can meet people just like you. Why not visit Positive Singles where you can join for free and begin to live your life to the full again.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dave_Kowloski

 

Know the Symptoms of Herpes to Get Quick Relief

By Alvin Dior

Genital herpes, commonly called herpes, is a painful problem to deal with. In male genital herpes, the symptoms can appear down the shaft of the penis or anywhere in the genital area, which make sexual intercourse very risky. The same goes for female genital herpes also. Blisters and sores inside the vagina can make the life of a woman very uncomfortable. It is important to detect the symptoms early to ensure quick relief. As it is, there is no complete cure from the virus that causes genital herpes, cold sores and shingles or herpes zoster. But with strong antiviral treatments, you can get the much needed relief from the unsightly and painful symptoms. Currently the herpes simplex virus management is done with Valtrex and Famvir, 2 very potent antiviral medicines. These 2 drugs are used for both short-term and long-term genital herpes treatment.
An overview of the herpes simplex virus
To find out how antiviral medicines work, you should be familiar with the virus that causes herpes. The herpes simplex virus can be spread through any form of person-to-person contact. But transmission of the virus occurs mostly during sexual contacts, including kissing and fondling. If a person is having an active outbreak, the risk of transmission increases because it can be spread even if you are exposed to the infected area. The viruses are so small that they can enter your body through your skin pores. If you are living with an infected person, make sure you don't use the same towels or are exposed to area where there is an outbreak.
Herpes symptoms - Primary and secondary outbreaks
The painful herpes symptoms may appear in two phases - primary and secondary. The primary outbreak is when you are affected by the disease for the first time in your life. Valtrex is most recommended to help a patient cope with primary herpes outbreak. For some people, the secondary outbreak may never occur at all as the herpes virus can go into a dormant mode after treatment. Even if it occurs, it can go unnoticed because of the mildness of the symptoms.
Symptoms during an active herpes outbreak
During an active outbreak of herpes, you may experience irritable symptoms such as itching and red watery lumps in the genitals. These lumps can burst after some time, causing more irritation and pain. Some people may also experience difficulties in urinating. You can sometimes have fever, although it is more common with cold sores than with herpes.
Comprehensive herpes management with Valtrex and Famvir
Herpes cannot be fully treated, but it can be managed effectively with Valtrex and Famvir. These 2 drugs can give fast relief from the immediate symptoms of herpes, and if taken as advised by doctor, they can also lessen the frequency of possible active outbreaks in future. Valtrex is the only medicine which has been proven effective in preventing herpes transmission between sexually active partners, given that they practice safe sex. Famvir is more effective than Valtrex when it comes to fighting recurrent outbreaks. Talk to your doctor as soon as you notice the symptoms of an active outbreak and act as per medical advice.

By this article Alvin Dior, has provided information to know the symptoms of genital herpes to get quick relief.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Alvin_Dior