Herpes: can it be treated?

Genital herpes cannot be cured, but it can be treated. Antiviral medications are available to help reduce the symptoms of genital herpes and decrease the number of recurrences. These antiviral medications include acyclovir, famciclovir, and valacyclovir. Valacyclovir can also be used to reduce the risk of transmitting herpes to your sex partner(s). It should be used in combination with safer sex. You should discuss the value of using antiviral medications with your physician.

Here are some suggestions if you have, or think you may have, a first episode of genital herpes:

Go to your doctor or clinic as soon as possible. Early diagnosis and treatment will help you to feel substantially better more quickly.Have a trained professional diagnose the problem and confirm the presence of herpes by a virus test taken from the affected area (a culture test is the most common method, but a blood test for antibodies may also be used). A blood test for syphilis, HIV, and possibly hepatitis B may also be performed.If the pain is severe, you may wish to take a prescription pain reliever.If it is helpful, take very warm showers to run warm water over the area 3 or 4 times a day.When you get out of the shower or bath, blow dry the genital area with a hair dryer. Set the temperature on low or cool.Make sure you are passing urine without difficulty. Try urinating in the shower or tub to decrease the sting. Pouring a glass of warm water over the area may also be helpful. Some people have found that drinking a lot of water (8 glasses a day) dilutes the urine enough that it hurts less.If you cannot pass urine and you've tried several times, wait a couple of hours - even 3 or 4. If there is still no result, you must get medical attention. Not passing urine can lead to serious problems, but they can generally be prevented. Either visit your own doctor or go to the emergency room of a local hospital.Avoid wearing tight underwear. If possible, do without underwear altogether. Try wearing loose clothes made of pure cotton. When you get home, take a shower or soak in the tub. Leave your clothes off if you can.Talk to your physician about the value to you of using antiviral medications.Avoid (because they may be worse than doing nothing):cortisone cream or ointmentantibiotic cream or ointmentany cream or ointment that does not contain a useful, specific antiherpes drugpetrolatum (e.g., Vaseline®)antibiotics (unless you have a clear-cut secondary infection)alcohol (because it stings)ether (because it stings and can catch fire)DMSO (dimethyl sulfoxide)Avoid (because they are of no proven benefit):

If you have your first episode of herpes during pregnancy, consult your physician as soon as possible about what you can do to reduce your baby's risk of infection. Take care of yourself by giving yourself time to heal, treating any other infections, and treating your herpes.

It is hard to learn and figure out everything all at once, but the answers will come. Your ability to cope and your methods for coping will also evolve. Speak to your doctor about how to cope with herpes and reduce the risk of passing the infection on to your sex partner(s).

With recurrent herpes, it is important to fully understand the active phases of infection so you can avoid contact when necessary. It is also important to use safer sex precautions, such as condoms and dental dams, for the prevention of herpes and other sexually transmitted infections. Since people can spread the herpes virus even when they have no noticeable symptoms, it's important to take these precautions at all times. It's important to know that condoms don't provide complete protection from herpes, since they don't always cover all affected skin.

If you are facing issues such as loneliness and the fear of discussing herpes with new partners, keep in mind that these are very common issues and that frustrations can be overcome through a commitment to yourself and to your ability to grow from this experience. In addition, you may wish to have treatment for recurrent herpes. People with recurrent genital herpes now have choices to make regarding antiviral treatment for control of the infection. Talk to your doctor about medications that might help treat your symptoms, reduce the number of outbreaks, or reduce your risk of passing on herpes to your sex partner(s).

Stephen L. Sacks, MD, FRCPC, with revisions by the MediResource clinical team

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NIH launches trial of investigational genital herpes vaccine

Researchers have launched an early-stage clinical trial of an investigational vaccine designed to prevent genital herpes disease. The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), part of the National Institutes of Health, is sponsoring the Phase I trial, which is being conducted at the NIH Clinical Center in Bethesda, Md.

Genital herpes is one of the most common sexually transmitted infections in the United States. Most genital herpes cases are caused by infection with herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2); however, herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) can also cause genital herpes. An estimated 776,000 people in the United States are infected with HSV-2 or HSV-1 each year. There is no vaccine to prevent genital herpes.

“Although genital herpes is treatable, it is a lifelong infection that can exact a substantial psychological and physical toll on infected individuals and places them at higher risk of acquiring HIV,” said NIAID Director Anthony S. Fauci, M.D. “Furthermore, mothers with active genital herpes infection at time of delivery can transmit the virus to their newborns, which can lead to severe illness and death.”

“A protective vaccine would help to reduce significantly the spread of this all-too- common sexually transmitted infection,” Fauci added.

Led by principal investigator Lesia K. Dropulic, M.D., of NIAID’s Laboratory of Infectious Diseases, the trial will test an investigational HSV-2 vaccine candidate, called HSV529, for safety and the ability to generate an immune system response. The investigational vaccine manufactured by Sanofi Pasteur was developed by David Knipe, Ph.D., professor of microbiology and immunobiology at Harvard Medical School, Boston.

Preclinical testing of the candidate vaccine involved a 10-year collaborative effort between Dr. Knipe and Jeffrey Cohen, M.D., chief of NIAID’s Laboratory of Infectious Diseases.  The experimental product is a replication-defective vaccine, meaning that scientists have removed two key proteins from the vaccine virus so that it cannot multiply to cause genital herpes.

The clinical trial is expected to enroll 60 adults ages 18 to 40, who will be divided into three groups of 20 participants each. The first group will be of people who have been previously infected with HSV-2 and HSV-1 or solely with HSV-2; the second will have individuals who had been infected with HSV-1 only; and the third will consist of those who have not been  infected with HSV-1 or HSV-2. The investigational vaccine is being tested among study participants who have previously been infected with HSV to determine if it may pose any safety issues.

Within each of the three groups, researchers will randomly assign participants to receive three doses (0.5 milliliters each) of the investigational HSV529 vaccine (15 participants) or a saline-based placebo vaccine (five participants). The three vaccinations will occur at study enrollment and again one month and six months later. Participant safety will be monitored throughout the course of the trial, and researchers will follow participants for six months after they have received their last dose of vaccine. Blood samples will be used to evaluate the candidate vaccine’s ability to stimulate immune system responses to HSV-2, including production of virus-specific antibodies and T-cell responses. The study is expected to be completed by October 2016.

HSV-2 is generally transmitted through sexual contact and can spread even when the infected individual shows no symptoms. Although HSV-1 commonly infects the mouth and lips, it can also cause genital herpes. Once in the body, HSV migrates to nerve cells and remains there permanently, where it can reactivate to cause painful sores and blisters.

For more information about this clinical trial, see http://www.ClinicalTrials.gov using the identifier NCT01915212.

NIAID conducts and supports research—at NIH, throughout the United States, and worldwide—to study the causes of infectious and immune-mediated diseases, and to develop better means of preventing, diagnosing and treating these illnesses. News releases, fact sheets and other NIAID-related materials are available on the NIAID Web site at http://www.niaid.nih.gov.

About the National Institutes of Health (NIH): NIH, the nation's medical research agency, includes 27 Institutes and Centers and is a component of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. NIH is the primary federal agency conducting and supporting basic, clinical, and translational medical research, and is investigating the causes, treatments, and cures for both common and rare diseases. For more information about NIH and its programs, visit www.nih.gov.

NIH...Turning Discovery Into Health®

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Genital Herpes May Never Go Dormant

By Jennifer Thomas
HealthDay Reporter

WEDNESDAY, Nov. 18 (HealthDay News) -- Herpes, the sexually transmitted disease that causes genital lesions, never truly goes into a dormant state, new research suggests.

As a matter of fact, even when it's not causing an outbreak, the virus is shedding tiny bits of itself in the genital tract.

While the study did not specifically address whether or not the very small amounts of virus being continually shed are enough to infect someone else, the findings have the potential to change the way in which scientists view the life cycle of the disease.

The herpes virus is believed to hide out in the neurons around the spine during latent periods, then periodically travel down neurons that end in the genital tract, where it infects the skin cells, causing a lesion.

The accepted view is that the virus was largely inactive during latent periods, said study author Dr. Joshua Schiffer, a senior fellow at the University of Washington in Seattle.

"We've known for many years that herpes maintains a latent state in the nerves around the spinal cord. In effect, it hibernates there," Schiffer said. "The older idea was that it didn't do much while it was there ... But what our model suggests is the virus is continually being released from the neurons."

The study appears in the Nov. 18 issue of Science Translational Medicine.

The study looked at herpes simplex 2 virus, not herpes simplex 1 virus, which causes cold sores or fever blisters, though it can also cause genital lesions. Schiffer said he suspected the findings would hold true for herpes simplex 1 as well, though previous studies suggest herpes simplex 1 may shed less often.

Schiffer and his colleagues used data from two previous studies. In the first, participants swabbed their genitals every day during an outbreak and until their lesions went away. In the second, patients swabbed their genitals four times a day for 60 days, even when they were asymptomatic.

The data was then put into a mathematical model to determine the probable rate of shedding. According to the study, 85% of shedding episodes were asymptomatic, or did not cause a lesion. About 60% lasted less than 12 hours.

About 45 million Americans, or one in five over the age of 12, are infected with the genital herpes virus in the United States, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. But many of them aren't aware they are infected because they've never had, or have never been aware of, their lesions. "Within their skin there is this constant battle going on within the virus and the immune system," Schiffer explained.

Typically, patients are counseled to avoid having sex during an outbreak and to use a condom to prevent transmission when they are not having symptoms.

Antiviral drugs available, including acyclovir, valacyclovir and famciclovir, can control many, but not all, outbreaks, Schiffer said.

Nancy Sawtell, a researcher in the division of infectious diseases at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, said the study opens up new avenues for research. But it's too soon to suggest that low levels of viral DNA necessarily mean a person can still infect another.

She noted that the researchers tested for viral DNA, which is only a portion of the virus and doesn't in and of itself mean a person is infectious. "The presence of viral DNA does mean you are infected, but it doesn't necessarily mean you have an infectious particle there," Sawtell said.

Secondly, because the neurons themselves were not examined, it's possible the viral DNA that's present could have originated from somewhere else in the body. Previous animal studies have shown herpes does indeed go into an inactive state.

"It would be really nice to be able to look at the neurons in this human model to determine that the virus is coming from the spine, and wasn't just present in the genitalia and missed by an earlier swab," Sawtell said.

Couples trying to avoid infecting one partner should continue to take the same precautions they did prior to the study, including using condoms even when asymptomatic.

"I wouldn't panic over it," Sawtell said. "We have a lot to learn about how infectious these low levels of viral DNA actually are."

Copyright © 2009 ScoutNews, LLC. All rights reserved. SOURCES: Joshua Schiffer, M.D., research associate, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, and senior fellow, University of Washington, Seattle; Nancy Sawtell, Ph.D., researcher, division of infectious diseases, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio; Nov. 18, 2009, Science Translational Medicine

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Herpes viruses associated with cognitive impairment

The herpes virus that produces cold sores during times of stress now has been linked to cognitive impairment throughout life, according to a new University of Michigan study that for the first time shows an impact on children ages 12-16.

Researchers at the U-M School of Public Health study examined the association between two latent herpes viruses—Herpes Simplex Virus Type 1 and cytomegalovirus (CMV)—and cognitive impairment among individuals across three age groups: 6-16, 20-59, and 60 and older. The researchers used data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.

HSV-1 is the oral herpes virus. Previous research has linked it with neurological disorders associated with aging, including Alzheimer’s disease and dementia, but few studies have examined whether these pathogens may influence cognition beginning early in life.

“This study is a first step in establishing an association between these viruses and cognition across a range of ages in the U.S. population,” said Allison Aiello, associate professor of epidemiology at the U-M School of Public Health.

The research, published in the Journal of Infectious Diseases, demonstrates that HSV-1 is associated with lower reading and spatial reasoning test scores among children ages 12-16; impaired coding speed, which is a measure of visual motor speed and attention, among middle-aged adults; and immediate memory impairment in older adults. CMV also was associated with impairment in coding speed, learning and recall in middle-aged adults.

More than one third of the U.S. population is positive for these viruses by early childhood. Some individuals may not be symptomatic.

“If HSV-1 begins to have impact on cognitive function early in life, HSV-1 infection in childhood may have important consequences for educational attainment and social mobility across the lifespan,” said Amanda Simanek, formerly an assistant research scientist in the U-M Department of Epidemiology and now an assistant professor of epidemiology at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.

“Once acquired, herpes viruses are never cleared from the body and instead persist in a latent state. Such pathogens are, however, subject to reactivation and capable of invading the central nervous system, where they may exert direct damage to brain.”

Simanek said reactivation of herpes viruses triggers the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines, which have been linked to cognitive impairment. Cytokines are hormones involved in cell signaling and regulation; pro-inflammatory cytokines play an important role in the immunological response to infection and tissue injury. Excessive inflammation, however, has been linked to various chronic disease outcomes.

To date, much of the public health focus surrounding herpes viruses has been on treating symptoms and some on prevention.

“If future research continues to support this work and identifies a definitive mechanistic pathway, there are several implications for public health preventive measures,” Aiello said. “For example, antivirals targeted against these infections may be recommended as well as continued efforts in developing vaccines to target HSV-1 and CMV.

“These viruses are very ubiquitous and reactivate in response to exposure to stressors. If they are truly detrimental to cognitive function, individuals may want to consider reducing stress to avoid reactivation and possible damage associated with these infections, especially if they are known to be positive for HSV-1 as indicated by the presence of cold sores during times of stress.”

The researchers say further studies are warranted to examine the biological pathways by which these herpes viruses may affect cognitive impairment over time.

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Get Rid of Herpes Reviews - Clear Herpes Virus from the Body for a Lifetime

Oakland Gardens, NY -- (SBWIRE) -- 12/12/2013 -- Having the dreadful problem of herpes can be painful, annoying, depressing, and very stressful. Herpes victims are not only subjected to social exclusion but their sexual life is greatly affected as well. Herpes has been the most common sexually transmitted diseases. It can be transmitted very easily through sexual intercourse. People might not even notice the eruption of herpes in their partner until it’s too late. Sarah Wilcox’s eBook - Get Rid of Herpes – is specifically designed to eliminate the root cause of herpes by utilization of efficient methods and techniques to help sufferers of herpes to live a herpes free and healthy lifestyle. Not only this, this eBook reveals methods to heal the blisters and stop further outbreaks of herpes. All in all, Get Rid of Herpes is worth a try as it guarantees victims a herpes free life.

Sarah Wilcox was a former victim of herpes. She has been suffering from herpes throughout the better days of her life but only until recently, she was fortunate to find out this effective herpes treatment. With the help of this remedy, Wilcox had to no longer go through the different courses of anti-viral medications and was blessed to live a herpes free and healthy life once again. A great number of people all around the world suffer from this awful disease and doctors just treat this as a form of an allergy and carry the misconception that it can only be treated temporarily until the anti-viral medication course is in effect. The truth is, these drugs do not help at all and their overdose can lead to very severe consequences multiplying the misery.

The Get Rid of Herpes Program is one of the most comprehensive natural remedies for herpes that a person can get out there. Moreover, there are no lengthy explanations and complicated terms. All the information is packed into a 46-page eBook guide. It gives a detailed description of Herpes so that it will be easier for customers to understand how the remedy will kill viral pathogens associated with this disease. This eBook explains and analyzes how the science based and proven herpes cure method works efficiently to eradicate the Herpes Simplex Virus. The herpes relief remedy is described in an easy and thorough manner. There is absolutely no difficulty in carrying out the protocol illustrated in Get Rid of Herpes. In addition to this, there is a lot more interesting and helpful information regarding herpes and its remedy. This remedy is not the only solution described in the eBook, a very helpful diet program is also mentioned as a cure in one of the chapters named Herpes Diet Simplex. Sarah Wilcox wants to help the sufferers of Herpes Simplex Virus as she already had been through the worst herpes could do to its victims. Along with her, there are thousands of satisfied customers out there who have used the same method of herpes cure to get rid of it permanently.

Click Here For Get Rid Of Herpes Instant Access

Get Rid of Herpes is designed as a digital publication which demonstrates the herpes treatment protocol in a step-wise manner. Here is a food for thought, if people really want this remedy to work against Herpes Simplex Virus, they should not feel reluctant to carry out the step-by-step herpes treatment protocol and must remain persistent to attain genuine and permanent results of ending rashes and blisters which can be seen within days. However, tackling the virus and terminating future outbreak can take at least a month.

Who does not want a life free of Herpes? No matter how dubious this remedy may look, the fact still remains that this is the only solution discovered till now by Sarah Wilcox to the devastating problem of herpes affecting not only her but millions of people around the world. Sarah Wilcox gave it a try and it successfully worked for her. Through Get Rid of Herpes, Sarah Wilcox has guided the readers about the simple method of herpes cure she carried out on herself. Not only simple, another advantage of this remedy is that it is totally home based regardless of how serious is the stage of the Herpes Simplex Virus. This treatment does not require the use of any drugs, supplements, and herbal herpes formulations. Sarah Wilcox has affirmed a permanent relief from all kinds of herpes through this trouble-free and workable remedy.

About getridofherpes.net

This eBook gives a detailed description of Herpes so that it will be easier for customers to understand how the remedy will kill viral pathogens associated with this disease. It explains and analyzes how the science based and proven herpes cure method works efficiently to eradicate the Herpes Simplex Virus. The herpes relief remedy is described in an easy and thorough manner. There is absolutely no difficulty in carrying out the protocol illustrated in Get Rid of Herpes. In addition to this, there is a lot more interesting and helpful information regarding herpes and its remedy. This remedy is not the only solution described in the eBook, a very helpful diet program is also mentioned as a cure in one of the chapters named Herpes Diet Simplex. Sarah Wilcox wants to help the sufferers of Herpes Simplex Virus as she already had been through the worst herpes could do to its victims. Along with her, there are thousands of satisfied customers out there who have used the same method of herpes cure to get rid of it permanently.

Click Here to Download the Get Rid of Herpes Ebook

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Cancer Is My Herpes: Living With Recurrent Disease

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About a year ago, I learned about some "worrisome" spots that had shown up on my quarterly CT scan. This was about six months after my last of 24 chemotherapy infusions, and to say I was bummed upon hearing the news would be an understatement. But I slowly wrapped my brain around the notion of a "third option" relating to cancer, the third option being something between permanent remission from cancer... and death.

Now the thought of just "learning to live with" cancer was unappealing then and is unappealing now. Of course, I (and anyone else without a death wish) would prefer to live a long life, free of illness and disease, without the scepter of cancer hanging over my head. But as a couple of wise blokes named Mick Jagger and Keith Richards once wrote, you can't always get what you want.

Over the course of the past year, I and my oncology team have watched and monitored those worrisome nodules, hoping they'd either go away or at least remain unchanged. The nodes were too small and scattered to biopsy; but since cancer rarely remains completely stagnant, the thought was that if they didn't grow, they likely weren't cancer. Unfortunately, they grew. Not at an alarming rate, but slowly and steadily they grew. And just as slowly and steadily, my CA125 (cancer marker) levels crept upward.

My family and I watched and waited, hoping for the best but fearing the worst, until a couple of weeks ago, my oncologist called me in for the hard conversation.

"Given the growth of these nodules over the past several months, and the increase in your CA125 levels, we do believe your cancer has returned."

As difficult as this was to hear, I have to say I wasn't surprised. I had never rested easily with the knowledge of those mysterious nodules inside me, not even for a day. In my heart of hearts, I think I always knew they were dangerous. I'd hoped with every fiber of my being I was wrong, but my gut told me my fears were well placed.

I did, however, question the use of the terminology about my cancer having "returned." Because even though I was told at the end of treatment more than 18 months ago that my scans and blood work showed "no evidence of disease", we've essentially been watching these spots for more than a year. So my cancer hasn't actually returned. The truth is, my cancer likely never left. When I pressed my oncologist about this, she acknowledged that I was correct. The nodes on my CT scan were now simply large enough to see. However, they'd likely been there all along.

Cancer.org published a helpful informational paper about recurrent cancer, describing how sometimes small clusters of cancer cells that could not be seen or found on scans or other tests, grow large enough over time to be detected or cause symptoms. While I'm not yet experiencing symptoms as a result of the nodules in my pelvic region -- they're still too small -- they are definitely now detectible and need to be addressed.

Right now the plan is for me to resume chemotherapy after the first of the year. And this time I'll likely be on some form of chemo drug for the rest of my life or until there's a cure. The thought of this both exhausts and terrifies me. I don't want to die. My daughter just turned two. I want to be around to see her grow up. I want to grow old with my husband. I'm not ready to go anytime soon... not by a long shot. So I'm scared and even a little angry.

Aside from processing these feelings, exploring treatment options and second opinions, and learning to cope with the stress and anxiety that came with this news, I'm also learning to reframe my thinking about cancer as a recurrent disease. I can no longer look myself in the eye and tell myself with 100 percent certainty that "this time" I'm going to beat cancer for good. In actuality, the cancer will likely continue to crop up, just hopefully with longer periods of time with no detectible activity between "episodes."

While I strongly dislike the thought of this, I also have to acknowledge that many people live long lives with recurrent, incurable disease. Those with rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes, COPD, severe asthma and even HIV, all learn to manage their symptoms with medication, diet, exercise and other lifestyle changes and therapies, and deal with flare-ups as necessary when they occur.

I remember when an HIV/AIDS diagnosis was considered a death sentence. And it was. I lost several friends to the disease in the late 1980s and early 1990s, before the advent of the "AIDS cocktail" of antiretroviral therapy. Today HIV/AIDS is manageable, and considered a chronic illness rather than a fatal one. Turns out, many cancers fall into the same category.

I have to wrap my mind around the fact that, unless a cure is discovered in my lifetime, cancer is going to be part of my life for the rest of my life. Cancer is my herpes. Or my diabetes or RA or COPD. It's in me and I am going to have to accept it and learn to manage and dominate it. I want to live a long life, so in my mind, I have no other choice.

Image via Brooke Kelly Photography

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Agenus genital herpes vaccine succeeds in mid-stage trial

n">(Reuters) - Agenus Inc said a trial of its experimental genital herpes vaccine reduced the rate at which patients released the virus, reducing the likelihood of infecting others, sending its shares up 32 percent in premarket trading.

The 15 percent reduction in the release of the virus by patients receiving the vaccine in a mid-stage trial compared to those on a placebo, who showed no reduction.

The vaccine, HerpV, also reduced the severity of the infection by 34 percent.

The mid-stage trial had 80 patients with a history of 1-9 herpes recurrences within the prior 12 months. Of them, 70 received the vaccine and 10 received placebo, Agenus said in a statement.

HerpV, being developed as an "off-the-shelf" vaccine, contains Agenus's QS-21 Stimulon adjuvant that boosts specific immune responses.

The trial tested the efficacy of the vaccine by measuring the release of the virus by patients 45 days before and after three injections of HerpV. A majority of the patients also received a booster injection, given 6 months after the first vaccination.

Genital herpes, a highly contagious sexually transmitted infection, is usually caused by the herpes simplex virus (HSV). There are two types of HSV and Agenus's vaccine targets HSV type 2, which most often causes genital herpes.

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 776,000 people in the United States get new herpes infections annually and one out of six people aged 14 to 49 years has genital HSV-2 infection.

Agenus said it expected more data in the first half of 2014, showing how the patients fared after the booster shots.

The company's partners are also testing the QS-21 Stimulon adjuvant in combination with other vaccines.

Agenus shares were up at $3.16 in trading before the bell. The stock closed at $2.40 on Wednesday on the Nasdaq.

(Reporting by Esha Dey in Bangalore; Editing by Saumyadeb Chakrabarty and Kirti Pandey)

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Herpes Simplex

Studies show that genital herpes simplex virus is common. In the United States, one out of five of the total adolescent and adult population are infected with herpes simplex virus.

There are two types of herpes simplex viruses (HSV). HSV type 2 is the one that most commonly causes genital herpes. You can get HSV type 2 during sexual contact with someone who has a genital HSV-2 infection. The infection causes painful sores on the genitals in both men and women. HSV type 1 is the herpes virus that is usually responsible for cold sores of the mouth, the so-called "fever blisters." You get HSV-1 by coming into contact with the saliva of an infected person.

However, HSV type 1 can cause genital herpes, usually caused by oral-genital sexual contact with a person who has the oral HSV-1 infection, and HSV type 2 can cause cold sores.

Herpes can be treated but not cured. Symptoms appear briefly and then disappear; the disease lies dormant in nerve cells, but it may be reactivated by stress or illness. It is believed to be more contagious during active periods when blisters are present, however, it can be transmitted person-to-person without active lesions.

Persons taking drugs that suppress the body's immune system (for example, cancer or organ transplant patients) are at a higher risk of contracting herpes because their bodies are in a weakened state. There is also some evidence that links genital herpes with a higher rate of cancer of the cervix in women.

There are some serious complications of herpes simplex:

Eye infections - the herpes virus may infect the eye and lead to a condition called herpes keratitis. The inflammation results in the feeling that there is something in the eye, pain, sensitivity to light and discharge. Drugs are available that prevent severe scarring of the cornea and in eliminating infection.

Infections in babies - a pregnant woman who has genital herpes at the time of delivery can transmit the virus to her baby as it passes through the birth canal and touches the affected area. The baby can die or suffer severe damage, particularly mental retardation. Women who know that they have had genital herpes or think they might have it during pregnancy should tell their physician so preventive measures can be taken.

A Cesarian section is indicated for some patients. It is estimated that only half of all infants delivered through an infected vagina acquire the disease, but the ones that do are at risk for having a severe infection.

The newborn also is infected by exposure to the virus from non-genital lesions. If the mother or a person working in the nursery has active blisters on the lips or hands, the baby can become infected. Family members and friends with active herpes simplex virus should not handle a newborn.

Note: Pregnant women should avoid sexual contact with a partner with active genital herpes, especially in the later stages of pregnancy. The use of condoms can be suggested for those who will not abstain. There is no evidence to suggest that infection of an infant with herpes simplex virus (HSV type I) carries a different risk than infection with genital herpes HSV type II).

Herpes symptoms can vary. Many infected individuals have few, if any, noticeable symptoms. In people who do have symptoms, the symptoms start 2 to 20 days after the person was exposed to someone with HSV infection. Symptoms may last for several weeks.

The first episode of herpes is usually worse than outbreaks that come later. The predominant symptom of herpes is the outbreak of painful, itching blisters filled with fluid on and around the external sexual organs or, for oral herpes, on or very near the lip. Females may have a vaginal discharge. Symptoms vaguely similar to those of flu may accompany these outbreaks, including fever, headache, muscle aches and fatigue. There may be painful urination, and swollen and tender lymph glands in the groin.

Usually the blisters will disappear without treatment in two to 10 days, but the virus will remain in the body, lying dormant among clusters of nerve cells until another outbreak is triggered. Factors that can trigger an outbreak include stress, illness such as a cold, fever, fatigue, sunburn, menstruation or sexual intercourse.

Many patients are able to anticipate an outbreak when they notice a warning sign (a tingling sensation, called a prodrome) of the approaching illness. It is when they feel signs that an outbreak is about to start that they are particularly contagious, even though the skin still appears normal

Most people with genital herpes have five to eight outbreaks per year, but not everyone has recurrent symptoms. As time goes on, the number of outbreaks usually decreases. Oral herpes can recur as often as monthly or only one or two times each year.

Sores typically come back near the site of the first infection. Usually, as the outbreaks recur, there are fewer sores and they heal faster and are less painful.

Unlike other sexually transmitted diseases, herpes cannot be cured because medication that will attack the virus while it lies dormant in the nerve cells will also damage the nerve cells. However, there is treatment available for acute outbreaks that involves the use of anti-viral drugs such as Acyclovir, Valaclovir or Famcyclovir.

Acyclovir has been found to reduce the reproduction of the virus in initial outbreaks, thus possibly lessening the number of subsequent outbreaks. To be effective, therapy must be started immediately after the first sores appear. Every sexual partner of the infected person needs to be examined, and if necessary, treated.

Famcyclovir has similar effects and may work to prevent a herpes infection from establishing itself if taken soon enough in the course of the illness. Valaclovir has similar effects.

Long-term drug therapy ('suppressive treatment') may be helpful for individuals who suffer frequent recurrent outbreaks. Suppressive treatment will reduce outbreaks by 85 percent and reduces viral shedding by more than 90 percent.

Topical antibiotic ointments also may be applied to prevent secondary bacterial infections.

During an outbreak of genital herpes, a number of measures can be taken to make the patient more comfortable:

Wear loose clothingAvoid excessive heat or sunlightKeep the sore area clean and dryPlace cool or lukewarm cloths on the sore area for short periods of timeDo not use perfumed soaps, sprays, feminine deodorants, or douchesTake aspirin, acetaminophen or ibuprofen for the painAvoid touching soresWash hands if you do touch the sores

What type of treatment will you recommend to decrease the symptoms or the length of the active period?

Will you be prescribing any medication? What are the side effects?

Can laser therapy be used?

How is laser therapy performed?

How effective is this therapy?

Because the chances of contracting this disease increase with the number of sexual partners a person has, limiting the number of partners is the first step toward prevention.

To keep herpes from spreading, intimate contact should be avoided when sores are on the body. Itching, burning or tingling may occur just before the sores develop. Sexual intercourse should be avoided during this time.

Herpes can even be spread when there are no sores or symptoms. To minimize the risk of spreading herpes, latex condoms should be used during all sexual contact. Spermicidal foams and jellies may offer added protection although the evidence on this is controversial.

The herpes virus can also be spread by touching the sores and then touching another part of the body. If you touch the sores, wash your hands with soap and water as soon as possible. Also, do not share towels or clothing with anyone.

Babies can be infected with the herpes virus. If pregnant, you should tell your doctor if you have ever been exposed to anyone with herpes, even if you have never had any symptoms. Your doctor can take special precautions at the time of delivery to protect the baby from getting infected with herpes.

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HerpV: Genital Herpes Vaccine Shows Promise

Nov 7 (Reuters) - Agenus Inc said a trial of its experimental genital herpes vaccine reduced the rate at which patients released the virus, reducing the likelihood of infecting others, sending its shares up 32 percent in premarket trading.

The 15 percent reduction in the release of the virus by patients receiving the vaccine in a mid-stage trial compared to those on a placebo, who showed no reduction.

The vaccine, HerpV, also reduced the severity of the infection by 34 percent.

The mid-stage trial had 80 patients with a history of 1-9 herpes recurrences within the prior 12 months. Of them, 70 received the vaccine and 10 received placebo, Agenus said in a statement.

HerpV, being developed as an "off-the-shelf" vaccine, contains Agenus's QS-21 Stimulon adjuvant that boosts specific immune responses.

The trial tested the efficacy of the vaccine by measuring the release of the virus by patients 45 days before and after three injections of HerpV. A majority of the patients also received a booster injection, given 6 months after the first vaccination.

Genital herpes, a highly contagious sexually transmitted infection, is usually caused by the herpes simplex virus (HSV). There are two types of HSV and Agenus's vaccine targets HSV type 2, which most often causes genital herpes.

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 776,000 people in the United States get new herpes infections annually and one out of six people aged 14 to 49 years has genital HSV-2 infection.

Agenus said it expected more data in the first half of 2014, showing how the patients fared after the booster shots.

The company's partners are also testing the QS-21 Stimulon adjuvant in combination with other vaccines.

Agenus shares were up at $3.16 in trading before the bell. The stock closed at $2.40 on Wednesday on the Nasdaq. (Reporting by Esha Dey in Bangalore; Editing by Saumyadeb Chakrabarty and Kirti Pandey)

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When will we see a herpes cure?

As a feature of CNNhealth.com, our team of expert doctors will answer readers' questions. Here's a question for Dr. Gupta.

From Lloyd Bartley, Bowling Green, Kentucky

“How close are scientists to developing a cure for herpes, figuratively speaking will we be seeing a break through in 10, 20, or even 30 years?”

Answer:

Well, Lloyd, there is good news and bad news on the herpes front. The good news: Researchers have made serious strides and now better understand the mechanism behind herpes outbreaks. The bad news: There is very little funding for that research.

After receiving your question we reached out to a leading herpes expert, Bryan Cullen, the director at the Center for Virology at Duke University. Cullen is hopeful that a cure for herpes could come within 10 years, once funding hurdles are crossed.

Nearly one in five people over age 12 in the U.S. is affected by herpes. It is caused by a virus - either the herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) or the herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2). Both strains can cause genital herpes, but HSV-1 usually infects the mouth and produces cold sores.

Despite funding challenges, Cullen and his team are inching closer to a cure. They conducted a study recently that identified the pathway herpes takes as it infects. They now know how herpes embeds itself into the cells and how it eludes treatment. Now that they have honed in on the physiology of the disease - and its triggers - researchers believe they are steps closer to creating drugs that could cure herpes.

While we wait for a cure, there are drugs out there that can at least suppress herpes. Three antiviral drugs: acyclovir, valacyclovir, and famciclovir are commonly recommended to quell outbreaks. A physician might recommend taking these drugs when an outbreak occurs to quiet symptoms; or taking them continuously to reduce the likelihood of an outbreak.

And of course the best way to avoid spreading herpes is to abstain from sex, but if you are sexually active, engage in safe-sex practices such as using condoms.

Editor's Note: Medical news is a popular but sensitive subject rooted in science. We receive many comments on this blog each day; not all are posted. Our hope is that much will be learned from the sharing of useful information and personal experiences based on the medical and health topics of the blog. We encourage you to focus your comments on those medical and health topics and we appreciate your input. Thank you for your participation.

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I have something embarrassing to admit

Last night was Halloween. And I have something to admit to you.

(As I type this, I feel fear and sadness slowly churning in my stomach. Nervous anticipation.)

It feels vulnerable to consider telling you this. Why? Because me “admitting” this could lead to you judging me. Maybe you will judge me, maybe you won’t. I can’t control either your judgments or acceptance or what you will ultimately think of me. But there’s a part of me that judges myself about this, so it’s easy to jump to the assumption that you will judge me, too.

Sound familiar? I am also wanting to share myself with our community in service of deeper connection and understanding. So you can know me better, so we can know ourselves better. And I trust that all of you will receive this well, with acceptance and heart. Because that’s just the kind of community this is. Understanding. Heartfelt. Giving. Loving. Supportive.

So what is this embarrassing admission?

“I stayed in last night for Halloween. Alone.”

I stayed in last night for Halloween. Alone.

So maybe you understand why I have some shame around that (maybe you have a similar shame pattern). Or you may think “So what? Why is that a big deal?” This goes right to the heart of shame. It tends to keep us alone because we’re afraid to share it. Because we’re afraid others might think less of us. Because of our own self-judgments about ourselves.

A little backstory …

I transferred from a small middle school (12 kids in my 8th grade class) to a huge high school (hundreds of kids in my 9th grade class). The transition jarred me. And I withdrew a lot. I had tons of self-judgment around what being alone meant. I especially judged myself when I stayed in on nights where everyone else was probably hanging out with their good friends. Nights like Friday or Saturday or those “partying” kinds of holidays (like Halloween) were the roughest for me. I was very shy and didn’t think I could make friends, so my own doubts around my “coolness factor” had me avoiding a lot of opportunities to become friends with people.

So I stayed alone a lot. In fact, the hardest time every day at school was lunch time. It seemed like every kid at school had a group of people to eat lunch with. Quite a few times, I would walk past all the lunch tables filled with potential friends and sneak into the woods to eat my lunch alone. And what did I get really good at doing while I was alone? Judging myself. Pitying myself. Little did I know, but I was practicing feeling like I wasn’t enough …

Three years ago before I had my big breakthrough around herpes (my herpes opportunity), Halloween rolled around and I found myself pitying myself again. Nobody will love me with H. Nobody even wants to hang out with me as a friend. Who am I kidding? I’m nothing. I turned off all the lights, curled up on the couch and attempted to watch a movie. I ended up crying for most of the night. I felt so, so sorry for myself. So much pity. So much. Much like those lonely lunches in high school.

So I say all of this not to throw myself a pity party and have all of you feel bad for me. No, no, no. Quite the opposite. I look back at these times with tons of compassion. I see how that belief that I’m not enough and people don’t like me still lives in me now on a certain level. It might be smaller than it once was, but it’s still there. I have the best friends I’ve ever had in my life these days. I’m enjoying such fulfilling and deep relationships across the board. But I still have bouts of loneliness. Sometimes I feel like I’m not enough and nobody in their right mind would want to hang out with me. I still feel sometimes that I have to prove to people that I am enough instead of just being it (maybe even this blog article is doing that on some level).

So that is what got sparked in me last night. The dreaded lonely Halloween.

Originally, I was assuming I was going out with a few of my best friends, but those plans fell through. I found that old, familiar empty feeling in my chest, and my heart heavy with grief as I considered that I might not go out for Halloween. (I’m feeling that sadness creeping back in even as I type this now.) I noticed that voice in my head creeping in, trying to convince me that nobody wants to hang out with me. I noticed that self-pitying machine sputtering back to life as I heard people joking around and having fun as they walked through my neighborhood.

I had moments last night where I was able to pop out of it, to see it for what it was: I was simply staying in on a Thursday night. No biggie, right? I also had moments where I was deep in self-judgment and just feeling sad. That old story and pattern would take over every now and again. On a certain level, I still believe that staying in means that nobody wants to hang out with me. It was back-and-forth like that in my mind for most of the night.

What I hope you get is …

Whatever your story is, whatever has hurt you in the past, whatever pain you still have inside you … Living is a process of feeling deeply while healing these old wounds. Healing old patterns. Re-evaluating old stories. We’ve all got ‘em. Whatever triggers all of this old pain, whether it’s being alone on Halloween — or thinking of another word that starts with H — treat it as an opportunity to accept yourself in the moment, just as you are. Our imperfections make us who we uniquely are. Can we honor our pain when it comes up, let it go, then be grateful for our awesome life, too? I believe we can.

So, in honor of Halloween being the time where many wear masks, here’s to taking our masks off the day after. So we can truly see one another for who we are. Enjoy your weekend, Herpes Opportunists. Whether you go out and party it up with friends or choose to stay in or anything in between. Regardless, know that you’re worth it and that tomorrow is another day.

P.S. Tonight, I’ll be going out blues dancing with one of my best friends; then we’re off to a day-after-Halloween party. I’ll be wearing my hip hop frogger outfit. (See me in full character in this glamourous selfie. Does this give me the coolness factor? Who knows.) See you on the dance floor, froggies.

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Herpes movie? Interview with “Party Favors” director

Sometimes it seems like movies and TV shape how people see themselves and one another. That’s why I’m excited that Michael Matucci is bringing a real story about H to the big screen in a Hollywood movie. Michael is making a bold move to take the conversation about H out of the shadows and into mainstream culture. AND… you can help! Contribute something to the Kickstarter campaign (launching in a few days). Even a small donation helps and let’s the crew know how much this matters.

My buddy David (who also helps to lead the Herpes Opportunity weekend workshops) and I had a great chat with the creator/writer Michael Matucci about this upcoming movie (set to start filming in a few months) called “Party Favors.” We talk about why he created it and what he wants people to get from the movie:

[ KICKSTARTER CAMPAIGN LAUNCHING SOON! ]

“Based on a true story, Party Favors illustrates the isolation of stigma and the power and freedom of transparency.”

Look at it this way for a minute… Herpes affects a huge percentage of real people, yet it’s nowhere to be found in popular culture. I wonder which celebrities, rock stars and movie stars have herpes? I wonder how many of them keep secret about it because of shame and fear.

That’s why both this movie and Herpes Opportunity are so awesome. (Don’t you think?) We have open and real conversations about our experiences and our lives. Simply having the conversation is often a healing transformational experience for many people (just see all the success stories here and here). At the Herpes Opportunity, people realize they are not alone, and this movie has the potential to bring that same realization to thousands of people who still feel that way.

From the Party Favors website:
“Party Favors  is an up close and personal film. It’s the story of dashing singles, busy charming the city of LA by day and attempting to keep life on the surface at night. It’s all to avoid facing the secrets that bubble within. Based on a true story, Party Favors illustrates the isolation of stigma and the power and freedom of transparency.”

Sound familiar?

The freedom that comes with shameless transparency — especially around something as vulnerable as our sexuality — has the potential to transform sexual shame into deep connection. That’s the deep connection our world is yearning for. And not just connection in a romantic sense. Human connection. And that’s why this film is exciting to me. It’s a perfect complement to exactly what the Herpes Opportunity stands for.

Here’s what Michael writes about the movie:

I talk too much. Always have. Get me going on a topic—politics, corporate mischief, ignorance, plastic bags, sodas—I just go!  I excitedly started telling others about my newest movie script, Party Favors, based on the true story of a couple of dashing guys who seemed to have it all on the outside but kept the uncomfortable secrets of their chronic STDs deep within. Instead of the usual, “Wow, Michael. Sounds cool!” I watched as discomfort crept across their faces like an evening shadow. “A movie about a guy with herpes?! Uhhh…”

Folks, this is why I make films.

Misconceptions and prejudices are shattered when we meet the people who actually live with whatever it is that we are critical (read fearful) of. The characters in Party Favors are beautiful, stylish, and dynamic. They sweep you off your feet. Their dance is dazzling and electric.  They have solid day jobs and make entertaining company at night. And they, like millions of others, are living with chronic STDs.

After eight months of preparation, I am burning up to shoot “Party Favors,” and get some common sense conversation about sexual health into the public realm. We will be giving it away for FREE on our YouTube Channel, RADartists. I want to show how H or anything about which we feel shameful is, like Adrial says, an opportunity. It’s an opportunity to be a greater you.

You don’t have to be content to be an audience member. Step off the bleachers and get on the field by promoting this endeavor and/or contributing to the Kickstarter Campaign. Together we can mash stigma. Find out more at RealizeArtistsDreams.com/partyfavors.

The movement is coming. Help me give your story a Hollywood ending and let’s enlighten millions.

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[Video] Doctor answers questions about genital herpes (HSV) and HPV

Dr. Peter Leone (who has appeared in the New York Times and NPR’s Talk of the Nation) stopped by our monthly herpes support group on April 8, 2013, in Raleigh, NC, to give herpes facts and update us on the latest herpes statistics. He gave so much clarity around all the horribly misunderstood herpes information out there!

Topics covered:

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Here’s why you suck with herpes

“You suck. You’re worthless. You won’t find someone to love you. Who would possibly accept you with this disgusting H thing? Who are you kidding? You should give up — right now!”

Sound familiar?

Let’s get one thing perfectly clear: I’m not the one saying all these nasty things to you right now. No, no, no — I couldn’t be that cruel even to my worst enemy! Based off of so many people I’ve talked with in our Herpes Opportunity forums, our Herpes Opportunity weekend workshop and private coaching clients, I have heard this kind of junk coming straight out of their own heads! And I assume that on some level that kind of smack-talking is going on in your head … right … now.

So what’s the answer to why you suck?

“We can’t solve problems by using the same kind of thinking we used when we created them.”
(Albert Einstein)

You suck because you believe that you suck. That’s it.

No one can convince you of something that you don’t already believe on some level. Albert Einstein said “We can’t solve problems by using the same kind of thinking we used when we created them.” So how are we going to solve this H “problem”? (It’s a whole other discussion on the power of words we use and the kind of impact those have on our experience of life.) First, step outside of it actually being a problem. It just is. Can you change the fact that you have herpes? No. Yes, you could hold out hope of a herpes cure, but sometimes hope can hold us back from living. So if you can just accept that one fact (Say it with me: “I have herpes. So what?”), then you are free to move into healing your own relationship to yourself. Denial that you have herpes actually holds you back from getting on a deep level that you don’t suck. Actually, it’s quite opposite from sucking. Because it’s not really about herpes. It’s about whatever beliefs you have rattling around in your head that have you thinking that something as simple as a skin condition can mean that you are unlovable.

Based on Brene Brown’s research (see her inspiring TED talk here), the people who had love and belonging and those who didn’t only differed on one thing: The belief that they either deserved it or didn’t. That’s it. So what does it take to believe that you are worthy of all those things? It’s not a process of learning more, but a process of unlearning all that programming that has you believing all that bullshit of you being anything less than awesome.

Tell me, what makes a newborn baby worthy of love? If you looked at a newborn baby (how about imagining you as a newborn baby), how many reasons could you rattle off that this little bundle of joy isn’t worthy of being held, accepted, loved? I would assume none. I know it would be quite difficult for me to judge that innocent baby. Maybe your powers in baby judging are better than mine, but I assume we’re on the same page here. So my question is, what’s the difference between you and that baby? What makes it deserve nothing but love and acceptance and what makes you deserve all this self-judgment and beliefs of not-enoughness? Herpes? I don’t think so.

So let’s wrap this up with an obvious statement: You don’t suck. You’re awesome. Get over it. Own it. Drop all the other bullshit. Start believing that you are worth it. Why? Because you are. And the more energy you put into entertaining the possibility you aren’t just fuels the fire of not-enoughness (have you ever heard the great phrase “What you focus on becomes bigger”?). If you entertain the facts of your awesomeness and all the wonderful proof that goes along with that, then your awesomeness gets to grow within you (and in all of your other relationships, too).

So start now. You deserve it. It’s up to you. You awesome human being, you.

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Why a herpes cure wouldn’t have helped me before now

Guest author from our community: Beckie

For years, I found ways to deny that I have herpes. My first herpes outbreak was brutal and traumatic, but after that, I never had another herpes outbreak. At the time of the onset, I was in a committed relationship with a supportive partner. And because I wasn’t having any outbreaks to remind me I had herpes, I did a very good job of forgetting about it. And even when I did feel occasional tingling, itching or discomfort, my mind didn’t immediately think it was related to herpes prodrome symptoms — I just brushed it off as nothing.

“I  believe I’m going to be able to heal now … because I dealt with the root issue …”

So yeah, on one hand the herpes was manageable for me and I was able to move on fairly quickly from it. But on the other hand, I’d had a huge amount of emotion triggered with the herpes diagnosis, and instead of dealing with it, I shoved it back down into my body. I couldn’t deal with it. It was too heavy. Too painful. I wasn’t strong enough yet. And I can have compassion for myself about this — it was a mountain of baggage.

Nevertheless, because I wasn’t dealing with my mountain of shame through having herpes, my body needed another outlet. So guess what? My inherited varicose veins started getting worse. Despite the fact I was losing weight and eating healthier than I’ve ever eaten. Interesting, right? Sure, science would say they’re genetic and inevitably would get worse over time, but I don’t really buy that. Something within my mind/body was causing them to get worse within this time frame. And for me, they were absolutely a trigger for shame. Every message I ever took in from society taught me they’re unsightly, disgusting and should be hidden (sound familiar?).

From my place of reflection today, I find it just too coincidental that the varicose veins started to get noticeably worse around this time. It was like my body said, “Damn. She’s not dealing with the shame through the herpes. Well, let’s make the veins worse and see if she’ll process some of that shame and self-loathing now.” Fascinating. What’s strengthened this theory is the fact that once I really started to deal with the shame through joining the herpes support forums, talking with Adrial, writing the blog about curing herpes shame and doing the herpes interview video, I experienced a shift in my perception of my veins.

I started tapping into some awesome self-love, and began to see my legs through a different lens – with love and compassion instead of shame and self-loathing. Think about it: my body didn’t manifest cancer or diabetes or something else that gets compassion from society. Nope, when I didn’t deal with the herpes, my mind and body manifested shameful varicose veins. I had to start dealing with my deeply layered shame that was building up like a pressure cooker. That emotion had to go somewhere.

So now that I’m on the other side of all this, here’s my whacky idea: Because I’ve finally dealt with the majority of my shame, guilt, self-loathing and self-doubt through tackling the herpes, my belief is that my body isn’t going to need to process it through my vascular system anymore. I can finally handle my emotions and process them gently and easily. I don’t need to bury them, meaning my body doesn’t have to find a way to deal with it physically.

Call me crazy, but I really do believe I’m going to be able to heal my veins now. Because I dealt with the root issue that was creating them. I got the lesson. No proof yet, but I’ll keep you posted! Oh yeah, and the scientists in Vaccine-land can come out with a herpes cure now. Thanks for waiting for me. I’m ready now.

Much love,
Beckie

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How Beckie cured herpes shame in 2 months

Guest author from our community: Beckie

I have had a quantum shift since finding Adrial a few short weeks ago via his Herpes Opportunity interview on The New Man podcast. Like, we’re talking “skies-parting-angels-singing-miracle” shift here. Finding and listening to that podcast was surreal. I was blown away with Adrial’s courage to face his herpes diagnosis head-on, and then, to turn around and do something transformative with it. He did something unfathomable to me given the level of shame I’ve carried regarding having herpes for over 5 years. I’ve been able to shift a lot of things in my life through diligent inner spiritual work, but not this. Not this deep, dark secret named herpes. I didn’t have a template, a mirror, the way. Until now.

“I’m not over-exaggerating when I say I feel like I’ve gotten my life back.”

What Adrial and Beckie talk about in the video:

Why recording this video is such a huge step for Beckie’s herpes healing processHer touching story behind why getting herpes was so difficult for herWhat seeming “corny cliché” was the secret to Beckie’s transformationWhy being open to the possibility of being lovable is the first step to healingHow herpes is like a magnifying glassHow the fear of “people might find out” is actually holding us back from living fullyHow Beckie cured her herpes shame in 2 months after seemingly trying everything else firstThe “snake-in-a-dark room” analogy and how it “sheds some light” on herpes

[continued from top]
Finding Adrial and eventually having a Skype coaching session with him provided me with the missing puzzle piece. And specific to my situation was the fact that I hadn’t yet had the herpes talk to a man other than the guy I was in a relationship with during my first herpes outbreak. After that long-term relationship ended, I went into shutdown mode. I told myself I was open to finding love again, but I really wasn’t. It’s taken me three years of intensive inner work to remove all the blocks I had to love, but I’m finally open again — sexually and in all other ways. I’ve finally gotten to that place of empowerment within myself to attract the guy I really deserve to be with. I would have been settling if I’d gotten into a relationship before now … the shame would have caused me to settle.

Disclosing to Adrial was extremely powerful. He was able to receive me with love, compassion, non-judgment and empathy. Something profound shifted after this. I’d finally experienced a template of a man who could hold and honour this part of me. What that’s done is raise the bar as to the type of man I’m going to attract because I’m not going to settle for less than this now.

Not only that, but becoming part of the Herpes Opportunity community and meeting other empowered people on the herpes community forum has helped me squash the perceived mountain that herpes represented in my life. In a very short amount of time, I’ve taken back the power that I’d given to herpes, and for the first time in my life, I know I can do anything.

I’m not over-exaggerating when I say I feel like I’ve gotten my life back.

Already I’m having beautiful new people and opportunities coming into my life. It’s like conquering this has opened the floodgates to my highest potential, what I’m truly capable of creating. For anyone reading this debating about whether or not to take that next step and book a session with Adrial, do yourself a favour and book it. You will no doubt benefit from it, but if you’re ready for it, it could be the life-changing shift you’ve been seeking. Much love to you all!

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[Video] Brenda (aka “Whoopsidaysi”) talks about her transformation

Guest author from our community: WhoopsiDaysi

“And the day came when the risk to remain tight in a bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom.” — Anais Nin

I would be lying if I said getting herpes was the best thing to ever happen to me. Much like I would not say being divorced was the best thing to ever happen to me — three times. (But that is another blog altogether.) What was the best thing to happen to me though was what I learned from those experiences. As painful as they both were to deal with, and as much as I thought “my life is over” after each event, I realized that hidden within those experiences were lessons waiting for me to learn. I learned we are the masters of our destiny and also of our mind. We choose what we think, how we feel, what we believe, and how we are going to react in any given situation. The experience of having herpes is no different.

“And the day came when the risk to remain tight in a bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom.” — Anais Nin

I remember getting the herpes diagnosis. It was on the heels of my son leaving home, which, to my surprise was a rather traumatic event for me. My reaction actually caught me off guard. As I was coming to terms with the ending of that part of my life, my marriage, my third and the one that I honestly thought was going to go the distance, dissolved before my eyes in a matter of two weeks. I was devastated and was at what I thought was my lowest point. I was to discover there was one point lower … At the end of November 2011 I noticed an irritation that just wouldn’t go away, no matter what I tried. I rationalized, bargained with God and prayed that it wasn’t what I feared it was. A herpes outbreak? You see, I had a partner 10 years previous who had herpes. My fears came to life on December 3, 2011 when I sat in the doctor’s office and I got the verdict: I have herpes. Welcome the bottom of the lowest point in my life. As I was considering my life of celibacy and rejection, I reached out via the internet. Low and behold, contrary to my belief, I was not the only “damned one” on this planet. There are many people with herpes. Thus began my unfolding and blossoming.

My journey had taken many twists and turns until one day I found myself sitting in a meeting room in Raleigh, North Carolina with a bunch of strangers who, after a few short days, would become part of my soul. When I first heard of the Herpes Opportunity, I was skeptical. I had no idea what it was about. I was in Canada on the other side of the country. Honestly, was I going to travel all the way to North Carolina for some herpes weekend? Turns out, yes — and I am so glad that I did. I got so much out of one short weekend. It is hard to describe what it is like but I’d love to share what I came away with …

The experience of the Herpes Opportunity weekend is something that is unique to each participant. It’s like listening to a song. It all depends on where you are in your life and the experiences you have had. The song may mean something different to you depending on what is going on in your life. The Herpes Opportunity weekend is like that. It all depends on where are you in your journey of healing, which makes it such a unique experience for each participant. This is not your typical workshop where you sit and listen to lectures. The weekend starts by you getting to know each other and developing a sense of trust and safety … and then the adventure begins.

I had so many takeaways from the weekend. For me, the biggest take away was learning to become more loving and accepting of myself and realizing that we all share so many of the same feelings, fears, insecurities, and false beliefs. When one person healed, we all healed. There is something about the group dynamic that is so amazing. I also realized there is something beautiful in just being with another person in their grief and pain. And when I realized how beautiful that was for someone else, I was able to extend that to myself. I have learned to sit with my emotions, whatever they are, and accept them as they are in that moment without judgment. By honoring my feelings, I can let them be expressed, heard and then pass.

After the weekend, I was so open to pushing my comfort zone to see what was possible. My heart was open and I was eager to try new experiences and to stretch myself to see what I was really capable of. Upon my return, I took a Nidra class, a tai chi class, a few kundalini yoga classes, attended a drumming circle and a chakra clearing meditation class. I have become more comfortable being uncomfortable and trying to see where my limits really are. I am now challenging my beliefs about “what is possible for me.” I am far more open in telling people I have herpes as well. I used to be afraid to have people know for fear they would judge me and reject me. Now I am doing YouTube interviews! If you would have asked me a year ago if I would do that sort of thing, it would be a definite “Are you insane?” Even now, it certainly pushes my comfort zone, but now I am open to it. I see my discomfort as more of a challenge than a limitation.

This herpes thing can be the worst thing to ever happen or it can be a blessing. The only person who can determine that for you is you. You can choose to be a victim or a victor. You can choose to see herpes as an opportunity or a limitation. It’s all in how you choose to look at it. If you are curious to see if maybe there is a way to loosen the hold that shame has on you around herpes, I would encourage you to push your comfort zone just a bit and come out to the Herpes Opportunity weekend. You can feel the fear and do it anyway, just like every single person who attended the last weekend in January did. Each of us was uncomfortable and unsure of what we were getting into, but we came anyway. And in our discomfort, we found healing, love and acceptance. Listen to that small, still voice within you. If this is an experience that both scares you and excites you all the same, then take that leap and see what is possible. You will be so glad you did.

“It’s impossible,” said pride
“It’s risky,” said experience
“It’s pointless,” said reason
“Give it a try,” whispered the heart
— Author unknown

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Herpes treatment

Guest author from our community: Ashley

I’ve had herpes for four years now. I take daily suppressive medication (Acyclovir) and that helps to keep outbreaks at bay. Early on, I didn’t have health insurance. I had to find more holistic remedies that didn’t cost me $50 per month. Below are the top herpes treatments that I’ve found and that work for me. There are plenty of others that you can find online, but I can’t speak to their efficacy.

“Here are the top herpes treatments that I’ve found and that work for me.”#1: Tea Tree Oil and Eucalyptus Oil

Tea Tree Oil  and Eucalyptus Oil are essential oils that have antiviral properties when applied directly to a herpes blister. The positive effects of tea tree oil and eucalyptus oil were reviewed in a 2001 study done in Germany. They each help to dry out the blister and speed healing, as well as provide some soothing relief of the pain and burning accompanied by an outbreak. The major con is that there is a very strong odor associated with both tea tree oil and eucalyptus oil, which can be slightly off putting, unless you like the smell. They are both effective, but I prefer tea tree oil. There is no need to use both, using one is sufficient. Make sure to wash your hands before and after application of the oil. I use Q-tips to apply the oil and throw away each Q-tip after use. NEVER dip a used Q-tip back into your bottle of essential oil. I’ve found that using tea tree oil shortens the duration of my outbreaks and helps the sores heal more quickly.

#2: L-Lysine

L-Lysine is an essential amino acid that promotes membrane health. When taken orally (approximately 1000-1200mg daily) it can help to inhibit viral shedding and prevent outbreaks. L-Lysine has antiviral properties and also helps inhibit the effects of L-Arganine, which speeds up viral production. L-Arganine is found in foods like chocolate, red meat, fish, poultry, wheat germ, grains, nuts and seeds, and dairy products. Since L-Arganine is found in so many foods, as well as being produced naturally by the body,L-Lysine is important to take as a daily supplement. L-Lysine is available over the counter at most grocery stores, vitamin shops, or pharmacies. It is often available as an “immune booster” formulary with things like Echinacea or Garlic, which are perfectly fine.

#3: Stress Management

Stress Management is probably the most important of the techniques. In a 2001 scholarly article by JH Gruzelier, a study was cited in which participants in a 6-week self-hypnosis training saw a 50% decrease in herpes outbreaks. Increased stress leads to increased outbreaks. Use of stress management techniques such as self hypnosis, guided imagery, exercise, or deep breathing can help to reduce outbreaks. Things like cigarette smoking should be avoided because nicotine actually triggers the body’s stress response. If you don’t know how to practice self-hypnosis, find a hypnotist in your area and schedule a session. Meditation is also helpful, so a yoga class would be a great alternative. The most important thing is to keep emotional stressors to a minimum and to manage stress as it comes rather than letting it build to an explosive level.

This is by no means a comprehensive list. These are just things that have worked for me over the last four years. If you have another holistic remedy that worked well for you, I encourage you to comment or share it on the Herpes Opportunity forums. The more we can learn from each other, the more we can help each other be the healthiest and happiest we can be.

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Disclosing cold sores (oral herpes HSV-1) to potential partners before kissing?

This is a question brought up a lot on the Herpes Opportunity forums.

“Should I / How do I disclose that I get cold sores to potential partners before kissing them?”

The answer can be a confusing one, simply because it’s up to the individual on what’s right or not. And there has been a great debate on the forum before about it, and recently another question on this topic has been thrown into the ring …

So let’s get into this question a bit deeper, shall we?

“If 80% of people have cold sores, whose responsibility is it to bring it up? Those who have it or those who don’t?”

The reason this conversation is a bit hard to pin down is because when it comes to oral herpes (HSV-1) specifically, 80% of Americans 14-49 years old have it. Now that’s a VAST majority of people, isn’t it? We’re not just talking a measly barely-tipping-the-scales 51% majority or anything. So considering this statistic, with whom does the responsibility to bring up the topic fall? (In a perfect world, we all would be talking about every aspect of our sexual and intimate histories with each other before getting intimate, but that ain’t the world we live in.)

Here’s another way to think of this without herpes specifically as the topic … Here’s the scenario: Eight out of 10 people in a room are sick with the flu virus. All 10 people know before walking into the room that 80% of the people in that room are sick with the flu. Which group should be covering their mouths? The 8 people who are sick or the 2 people who aren’t? You’ll find people to argue either point. What it comes down to is this: What does your integrity tell you to do considering the circumstances? Would you feel guilty if you kissed someone without telling them you have oral herpes (cold sores)?

My personal opinion is we just have the conversation, regardless of whether or not herpes is on the mouth or genitals. It’s still an opportunity to have an important conversation and care about someone else’s health. Imagine if before we even kissed, a nonchalant “Hey, just FYI I get cold sores — just like 80% of us — and just wanted to let you know. Do you get cold sores?” Doesn’t have to be a dealbreaker-feeling conversation. No shame. No guilt. No weirdness. Just a simple conversation about herpes. No biggie. That’s the world I want to live in. Where everyone can talk openly about something simple like herpes so it can open the door to deeper conversations and deeper connection.

So what do YOU think? Click here for the post if you’d like to join in on the discussion.

“Yeah, but what about ‘down there’? Ahem, (oral sex) …”

This leads to the obvious next question that’s asked … what about herpes and oral sex? You see, this is where this discussion gets fascinating (as far as I’m concerned). Why? Because what if someone has genital herpes of the HSV-1 variety (read about the differences between HSV-1 and HSV-2) and their partner goes down on them (after a proper herpes talk, of course), then what makes the potential of passing HSV-1 to that person’s mouth any different than passing it to their mouth if you have oral herpes and kiss them? The end result is the same: HSV-1 is passed to their mouth (to recap, which 80% of Americans ages 14-49 have). [Sidenote: There are also a lot of questions about receiving oral sex when you have HSV-2; there is less than a 1% chance of passing genital HSV-2 to your partner.]

This confusing double standard between no shame in oral herpes, but mucho shame in genital herpes is proof positive to me that our culture has a severe sexual shaming problem. The fact that we get something through kissing doesn’t have any stigma, but if we get something through expressing ourselves in a sexual manner, we might want to consider shaming our natural urges? Bull honkey. Yeah, I said it. Bull honkey. Time to realize that sex is a natural, beautiful thing. No shame belongs in sex. So how do we shift it? With ourselves first. Accept yourself with herpes. Disclose with self-acceptance and integrity. The stigma will shift, I promise you. Start now.

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[Video] Growing through the yuck of having herpes

Guest author from our community: Ashley

It is easy to get sucked into the negative when you get a herpes diagnosis. I remember the day that I was diagnosed. I was at the health center at my university and I had the most horrific first herpes outbreak anyone could imagine. Two solid weeks of not being able to sit, lay down, use the bathroom, or shower without excruciating pain. Not to mention the accompanying nausea, fatigue, and general feelings of misery. The nurse gave me the diagnosis and I felt my heart hit the floor. Who would want me now since I have herpes? With shaking hands I dialed my then boyfriend’s cell phone number. “The rash I have? It’s herpes,” I said, cringing with every word. “I had a feeling that’s what it was,” he replied calmly. “Are you mad?” I asked. “No sweetie,” he said, “you’re still the same person you were an hour ago. It’s just herpes. It’s not life-threatening.”

“Healing is not a linear path. There are twists and turns, forks and loops. It took a lot of tears, many sleepless nights, and a lot of support to get me to where I am now.”I was shocked. I was expecting anger — even fury. I spread herpes to him unknowingly because I didn’t recognize the symptoms, and here he was reassuring me! Together we researched home remedies and information on herpes that was now a part of both of our lives. We supported each other through our first outbreak and subsequent herpes outbreaks, until we finally went our separate ways a few months later. It was wonderful to have someone who understood what I was going through. It was even more incredible to have a partner who cared about me and supported me through a period of pretty intense anger and self-loathing. I felt dirty. I felt unlovable. I felt unattractive. He helped me get through those feelings, at least temporarily.

It wasn’t until I attempted to get back into the dating scene that I realized that not everyone was so understanding. I was rejected countless times. It got to the point that I started disclosing on the first date just to get it over with. My reasoning was at least if (and when) he rejected me, at least we would have only wasted one date. All those feelings of inadequacy, self-loathing, and depression came flooding back. I became convinced that I was never going to find someone who would want to “deal with” my condition. I felt myself descending into what I have now termed, “the yuck.”

The yuck is a place of toxic feelings. It harbors the helpless victim mentality and feeds into feelings of anger, resentment, blame, and sorrow. It is easy to get trapped in the yuck. It’s like quicksand. One minute you’re doing okay and then as soon as you have a bad date, an outbreak, or even hear a herpes joke, you’re right back down in the pit of despair. I felt broken, worthless, and alone.

Gradually, I started to learn more about herpes. I learned about herpes transmission rates and ways to keep outbreaks under control. I learned that there were herpes dating sites and herpes support sites for people with herpes. I found a therapist and did some hard work with her, including letting go of my anger at the guy who raped me (which is how I ended up with herpes). I started to grow. I decided that I needed something to represent my new outlook on life. I’m a firm believer in body reclamation, and for me, that sometimes takes the form of tattoos.

The tattoo of the lotus flower on my right shoulder.

Halloween 2009, three months after my rape and one month after my herpes diagnosis, I decided to get a lotus tattoo on my right shoulder. The lotus flower grows in the mud in shallow water and does not bloom until it reaches the surface. While it’s growing, the flower petals are safe inside the blossom, which keeps them from getting stained by the mud. I always loved the symbolism of the lotus flower, but I didn’t realize how accurate the metaphor was for me until about two years later. I battled my anger, my resentment, and my self-consciousness many times over those two years. Healing is not a linear path. There are twists and turns, forks and loops. It took a lot of tears, many sleepless nights, and a lot of support to get me to where I am now.

Underneath the lotus is a Tibetan Buddhist mantra: “Om Mani Padme Hum.” This mantra is a devotion to Avalokiteshvara, the bodhisattva of compassion. It serves as a daily reminder that I cannot know where someone else has been or what has led them to this point. It encourages me to show compassion to others as well as myself.

Thanks to Adrial and the Herpes Opportunity, I found the strength to “come out” about having herpes. I told my friends, family, and the internet. I have to say, I have never felt so free in my entire life. It feels wonderful to be able to speak openly about having herpes, instead of saying the word in hushed tones while constantly looking over my shoulder wondering who might be listening and judging. I look forward to talking about herpes during my weekly Skype call with Adrial. I get excited that other people will see our videos and hopefully crack a smile or giggle at our silliness. I feel genuine and authentic, which is a huge improvement over the way I felt when I was still “in the yuck.”

I encourage everyone to take time to reflect on where they are in the growth process. Are you still in the yuck? Don’t worry, there are others there too and you can help each other grow. Are you growing but not quite at the surface? Reach out and let people help you. And to those who have blossomed: Share your beauty with the world. Don’t be afraid of your roots. Remember them; because they are a testament to your strength and perseverance throughout this journey.

Ashley Manta is a feminist sexuality educator, certified consulting hypnotist, and sex-positive pleasure advocate. She has given presentations on topics including sexual violence awareness, positive body image, and sexual empowerment. She is available for a variety of  workshops which you can find on her website or you can follow her on Twitter @ashleymanta.

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Added by Adrial:

Our herpes community forum member DrSuz emailed me this after watching the video:
“Adoring the Skype party with you and Ashley. Pure positivity! Here is a favorite poem very pertinent to topic of this video. Enjoy!”

Sweet Darkness

When your eyes are tired
the world is tired also.

When your vision has gone
no part of the world can find you.

Time to go into the dark
where the night has eyes
to recognize its own.

There you can be sure
you are not beyond love.

The dark will be your womb
tonight.

The night will give you a horizon
further than you can see.

You must learn one thing:
the world was made to be free in.

Give up all the other worlds
except the one to which you belong.

Sometimes it takes darkness and the sweet
confinement of your aloneness
to learn

anything or anyone
that does not bring you alive

is too small for you.

— David Whyte
(House of Belonging)

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