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Saturday, March 30, 2013

Cure For Herpes | How “Get Rid Of Herpes” Helps People Cure For Herpes Permanently – Vkool.com

Get Rid Of Herpes is the newly updated cure for herpes designed by Sarah Wilox, who promises to teach sufferers how to treat herpes naturally and permanently. A full Get Rid Of Herpes review on the site Vkool.com shows if the treatment is helpful for sufferers to follow.

Seattle, Wa (PRWEB) March 21, 2013

Get Rid Of Herpes is the new cure for herpes written by Sarah Wilcox, who claims to help sufferers eliminate herpes quickly and naturally. The helpful program covers tested and proven methods that will help sufferers resist the herpes virus effectively. In other words, this program is totally a natural program that does not relate to drugs, pills, or supplements, which can harm users’ health. Thanks to this new guide, people will eliminate herpes permanently and achieve confidence back. After the builder released the natural guide, she received a lot of ideas from customers regarding their success with Get Rid Of Herpes. As a result, the site Vkool.com tested the new method and has given a complete review.

The full review of Get Rid Of Herpes on the website Vkool.com points out that this is a new and effective home remedies for herpes created to help sufferers treat the herpes virus quickly and permanently. The natural treatment will reveal some causes and symptoms of the herpes virus, and it teaches them how to resolve the condition quickly. in other words, the helpful program provides sufferers with some useful tips that will help them avoid herpes from the outbreak forever. The new guide will reveal some safe ways to sufferers to help them accomplish the permanent relief from the outbreak without side effects. Furthermore, the guide gives some reasons why the basic protocol is helpful for sufferers to treat herpes quickly. The natural method will teach them how to get a long term remedy from episodes safely and effectively. Moreover, the new treatment also supplies users with some detailed guides that help them follow with ease. In fact, this is a safe and effective treatment method that can help sufferers remove their herpes virus quickly and permanently. Thanks to this program, people will have a strong health and enjoy their life with lots of fun.

Selena Math from the site Vkool.com points out that: “Get Rid Of Herpes is the helpful and effective home remedies for herpes that will teach sufferers how to cure herpes quickly. The new solution supplies sufferers with the valuable information that they should know about the herpes virus condition. In other words, the helpful program will provide users with a 60-day money back guarantee if they are not satisfied with the result”.

If people wish to achieve advantages and disadvantages from Get Rid Of Herpes, they could visit the website: http://vkool.com/treatment-for-herpes/

For those who wish to get immediate access to view Get Rid Of Herpes review should visit the official site.

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About the website: Vkool.com is the site built by Tony Nguyen. The site supplies people with tips, ways, programs, methods and e-books about many topics including business, health, entertainment, and lifestyle. People could send their feedback to Tony Nguyen on any digital products via email.

Tony Nguyen
Vkool.com
84915555999
Email Information


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Friday, March 29, 2013

Condoms Don’t Always Prevent Herpes Infection; polyDNA Monthly Survey Results Show Public isn't Aware of Facts

During one particular study, it was noted that "24 sets of condoms were tested and all failed." (Human Life International, 2010) [1]

Rochester, NY (PRWEB) March 27, 2013

As new results from a monthly survey come in, polyDNA has learned that the public is unaware that genital herpes can be transmitted even when using condoms.

For instance, the public did not realize that the CDC notes on its website, that while condom use can reduce the risk of herpes transmission, “outbreaks can occur in areas that are not covered by a condom.” [2]

Another study showed that "Spillage from condoms occurs as much as 65% to 75% of the time."[3] and “Higher per-use rates of breakage or slippage (of condoms) among non-main partners were also observed in our analysis involving heterosexual partners during vaginal sex .” [4]

This is also one reason that Bill Gates, the Microsoft founder and philanthropist has promised to offer a $100,000 grant through the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to anyone, from students and scientists to entrepreneurs, who can invent a next-generation condom. [5]

polyDNA found that the public was simply unaware that because of issues such as spillage, slippage, and breakage, condoms may fail, thus increasing the risk of herpes transmission. Moreover, the public also did not realize that herpes may be transmitted through skin-to-skin contact around areas the condoms do not cover.

The public should be aware of the relationship between safer sex practices and genital herpes prevention. polyDNA recommends boosting the immune system against a latent herpes infection through the use of a scientific, all natural remedy. That remedy is Gene-Eden-VIR. A recent post marketing clinical study showed that Gene-Eden-VIR is effective against the latent herpes virus. [6]

This all-natural product was scientifically designed to help the human body maintain low concentrations of the dormant or latent herpes virus.

By helping the body's immune system target the latent herpes virus, people also lower their risk of developing fever blisters, cold sores, or genital herpes symptoms.

Gene-Eden-VIR is highly effective against the latent herpes virus, each ingredient was chosen through a scientific approach. Scientists scanned thousands of scientific and medical papers published in various medical and scientific journals around the world to identify the safest, most effective natural ingredients that target the latent forms of both HSV-1 and HSV-2. [7]

In addition, each bottle is GMP Certified.

To learn more about Gene-Eden-VIR, visit http://www.gene-eden-kill-virus.com.

References:

1. http://www.hli.org/index.php/condoms/139


2. http://www.cdc.gov/std/herpes/STDFact-Herpes.htm


3. Bjorklund and Gordon. Univ of Manitoba. Nov. 1990.


4. http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/09540121.2012.668285


5. http://www.scienceworldreport.com/articles/5769/20130325/bill-gates-offers-1-m-invent-worlds-next-generation-condom.htm

6: http://www.cbcd.net/Gene-Eden-VIR-Clinical-Study.php


7: http://www.gene-eden-kill-virus.com/studies.php


polyDNA is a biotechnology company that develops dietary supplements using the unique scientific method developed by Dr. Hanan Polansky, which is based on Computer Intuition.

In addition to his unique scientific method, Dr. Polansky published the highly acclaimed scientific discovery, called Microcompetition with Foreign DNA. The discovery explains how foreign DNA fragments, and specifically, DNA of latent viruses, cause most major diseases.

polyDNA developed Gene-Eden-VIR , an antiviral natural remedy that helps the immune system kill latent viruses.

Mike Davis
PolyDNA
5852509999
Email Information


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Questions after contracting herpes

Guest author from our community: Katie S.

Contracting herpes often comes as a shock to people and leaves them in a state of confusion, fear, and shame. When I was first diagnosed my biggest questions were “How did this happen to me?” “How will this affect me?” and “Will I ever be able to live a normal life again?” Herpes was a scary realization at first, and I spent a lot of time worrying about the unknown. Now that almost a year has gone by, my life is nowhere near the horror story that I imagined it would be. In fact, my relationship to herpes has completely changed, and my life is more open, loving, and exciting than ever. I’d like to share some information I wish I knew when I was first diagnosed.

“How did this happen to me?”

There are different ways that someone can get herpes. According to the CDC, herpes can be spread through anal, vaginal, or oral sex. HSV-1 and HSV-2 can be found in and released from the herpes sores that the virus cause. HSV-1 is oral herpes, which can be transmitted by kissing when there is an open sore to the mouth. An open sore on the mouth can also spread the virus to the genitals during oral sex, causing the partner to breakout in “fever blisters.” HSV-2 is genital herpes, which is mainly spread through genital to genital contact when there is an open sore. The virus enters a new host through breaks in the skin. There is also a smaller possibility of spreading herpes when no signs of the virus are present. This is called viral shedding.

“How will this affect me?”

Herpes hasn’t affected my body nearly as bad as I thought it would. The first outbreak was the worst, leading me to believe that I was going to have flu like symptoms and extreme burning every time I got an outbreak. What I’ve come to find out is that none of my outbreaks have been anywhere near as bad. The first herpes outbreak is always the worst because your body hasn’t built up anti-bodies to the virus yet. The sores may take up 3 weeks to heal (without medication), and can cause burning, itching, fevers, chills, and swollen lymph nodes. According to WebMD, people who have symptoms average about 5 outbreaks during the first few years. 15-20% of people actually never have an outbreak again after their first. In my experience, I have had 3 visible outbreaks in my 1st year of having herpes. Each outbreak has been shorter and less painful than the previous, and they are nothing like the horror pictures that are shown in health class.

“Will I ever be able to live a normal life again?”

Yes! My life is totally the same. The only thing that’s changed is that I don’t have sex when I have an outbreak. I still work the same job. I still exercise. I still go out and enjoy time with friends. I eat. I sleep. I play with every dog in sight. I shamelessly eat chocolate in inappropriate amounts. Everything I did before my diagnosis; You name it, and I still do it.

As I shared before, contracting herpes hasn’t been the horror story that I thought it would be. I used to think that it would take away so much from me. What I’ve come to realize is that “I” am the only one who can take away anything from me. Herpes doesn’t have that right.

I am the author of my own life. Sometimes, I write with a pen and can’t go back. But what I can do, is keep writing and move forward.

“Nobody can go back and start a new beginning, but anyone can start today and make a new ending.” — Maria Robinson

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Saturday, March 23, 2013

5 herpes facts vs. fictions

Guest author from our community: Katie S.

Once upon a time, I was a 25 year old shameful woman who started making up fictitious stories. I was diagnosed with genital herpes, and told myself that life as I knew it was over. I was such a convincing story teller; that I made myself believe I wasn’t lovable, I had to live in shame, and that nobody would understand what I was going through. My story telling was leaving me feeling depressed, confused and hopeless; and I was driving myself out of my mind. After a while, it became time to “face the facts” about genital herpes. Little did I know that understanding the seemingly terrifying “facts” actually meant helping to free myself from my horror stories.

1) I am alone and no one will understand.

Facts: 1 in 6 people have genital herpes. Over 25 million Americans have the herpes virus. According to the Herpes Clinic, Herpes is the most prevalent viral sexually transmitted disease. There are more cases of genital herpes than there are all the other viral STDs combined. Every 30 seconds, another person gets genital herpes. If the number of people infected with genital herpes continues to grow at the present rate, it is predicted that in time nearly half the US adult population will have genital herpes. (More herpes statistics.)

2) I’ll never have children now, because I would never want someone else to get herpes.

Facts: 20-25% of pregnant women have herpes.  According to the Baby Center, if you contracted herpes before your third trimester of pregnancy, the risk of your baby contracting it is less than 1 percent, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. That’s because you begin to develop antibodies to herpes soon after you’re first infected, and they’re passed onto your baby through the placenta. In six to 12 weeks, your baby will have some immunity as a result of these antibodies, which offer some protection if you’re unknowingly shedding virus. Also, if you wanted to further reduce any risk of spreading the virus, there is the option of having a C-section. Newborn herpes is relatively rare (about 1,500 newborns are affected each year).

3) I’m going to have terrible outbreaks for the rest of my life.

Facts: The initial herpes outbreak is the worst, and it may last 2-4 weeks. Your body has not developed antibodies to the virus yet, so the initial outbreak may cause herpes symptoms of fever, headache, muscle aches, fatigue, swollen lymph nodes, and other flu-like symptoms. The virus causes small red bumps that may turn into blisters or open sores. Over a period of days, the herpes sores become crusted and then heal without scarring. As antibodies develop, herpes outbreaks become much less severe, much less painful, and last for a much less time. The average number of outbreaks is 4-5 per year.

When initially dealing with the shock of being diagnosed with herpes, my mind ran wild with stories. These three are only a couple of the initial stories that I made up, and as I write more blogs, I will share just how ridiculous my stories were. I became a prisoner of my mind; so fearful of the unknown. Researching what herpes actually was and how it would actually affect my body is when my mind started to quiet and I could start getting back to living my life. Although I love a good story every now and then, the stories I was making up about having herpes were terrifying me and the facts about herpes were not nearly as scary as I thought they were. So, if you’re making up stories about the unknown of having herpes; please do yourself a favor and stop. I promise it’s not as bad as you think it is!

4) I can never talk to anyone about this. My friends will look at me differently.

My friends knew that there was something going on with me; I was not acting like myself. After a couple of weeks of not getting out of bed unless I absolutely had to, I realized that I cope better when I can talk to people about what’s going on. I opened up to my best friend, and it turned out that she had herpes, too. She knew a lot of other people in our community who also have the virus, and after getting their permission, she told me who they were. I’ve had an amazing support system of people in my community.

5) I can never date again.

Fact: I have dated more than ever since I’ve been diagnosed with herpes. At first, the thought of having the “herpes talk” was terrifying, but as time went on and I became more comfortable with myself, disclosing this to somebody became much less scary. I have used a herpes dating website to meet people. I have made some wonderful friendships, and I am now dating someone exclusively; taking our time to see where it goes.

Before meeting him, there were some people who I had the Herpes talk with. I found out that the more knowledge and confidence I had, the much less scary it is for other people. If you are mortified to tell them, and acting like it is a death sentence, then the other person is going to interpret it as so, since most people don’t know what herpes actually is. A more confident conversation might go something like this: “I really like you, and after getting to know you, I feel safe with you. I want to share something with you that’s personal to me, and important for you to know if we’re going to take things any further. I am feeling vulnerable, but I am telling you this because I care about you and honesty is important to me. I have herpes, and want to talk about safe sex.”

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Thursday, March 21, 2013

Vaginal herpes outbreak or yeast infection?

Guest author from our community: Katie S.

When first experiencing symptoms of an STD, not everybody knows that it’s actually an STD that’s occurring in their bodies. When my body first started displaying herpes symptoms, I 100% mistook it for a yeast infection or UTI. My brain couldn’t even fathom the thought that it would be an STD. I’d had yeast infections before, and I figured that this must just be the worst one I’ve ever gotten. When I went to the clinic, expecting to walk out with an antibiotic, I was shocked to be walking out with Acyclovir for genital herpes. 

After getting home and looking up herpes, I realized why I was so confused. Vaginal herpes symptoms are very similar to yeast infection symptoms. They both can cause vaginal discharge and odor, burning, itching, irritation, redness, bladder infection like symptoms, swelling and blisters. Unlike yeast infections where itching in usually generalized throughout the vagina, a herpes outbreak will usually be in one or two designated areas. A herpes outbreak also consists of blisters that turn into herpes sores, that then crust back into healthy skin. During a herpes infection, flu-like symptoms may appear 24-48 hours before any itchiness is perceived especially during the first episode. This doesn’t happen with vaginal yeast infections.

It’s been 10 months now, and I’ve gotten pretty used to my herpes outbreaks. I’m very happy to say that none of them have been as painful as my first herpes outbreak. I take herpes medication whenever I feel any sort of itching, burning, or discomfort beginning in my body (also known as herpes prodrome symptoms). This helps to stop the outbreak, and make it less painful. My body has gotten used to the virus, and my brain has gotten used to the fact that it literally is just a skin condition that happens to be in a very private area. There’s no need to make it more than it is!

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Tuesday, March 19, 2013

Get to know your herpes prodrome symptoms

What is herpes prodrome? A prodrome is a physical sensation that signals that the herpes virus may be starting its travels to the surface of your skin. It will generally manifest as itching, burning, and/or stinging anywhere from 30 minutes to two days before an actual herpes outbreak. The longer you have herpes, the less often this will occur as your body builds up more and more immunity against the virus. Get to know your body. Pay attention to what it’s saying to you. It will keep you more in tune with yourself and with your partner.

Knowing your own body and the signals it gives you provides another level of protection for your partner.

General denial has many people just avoid considering that any sort of sensation “down there” might be associated with an oncoming herpes outbreak. But it’s important to get to know how your body is interacting with this virus. Getting to know your own body’s prodrome sensations will help you to take your herpes medication more strategically if you don’t want to take daily suppressive therapy (if you are on episodic therapy, meaning only taking medication when you feel the prodrome sensations and/or during each herpes outbreak).

Another great reason to know your body and how your prodrome symptoms manifest is that it gives your partner another level of protection. Even if you take suppressive therapy and wear protection, there is still a chance of spreading herpes. Knowing your body and the signals it gives will allow you to avoid sexual contact during prodrome sensations. Your partner will thank you.

Keep in mind, too, that herpes prodrome sensations won’t always manifest in an actual visible outbreak. That’s why they can be sneaky. It’s safe to assume that anytime you feel an itching, burning or pain in the general area where your herpes outbreaks occur that the virus is starting to wake up. And those sensations could be a signal that you are having a viral shedding occurrence (the herpes virus “silently/invisibly” sheds an average of 5-10% of the time). Even if there is no visible signs or symptoms, you can still spread herpes at that point. But this doesn’t mean you have to be paranoid about sex! (For a great reframe on this, read “Keeping your partner herpes-free can be super sexy.”) You’re protecting your partner and flexing that muscle of integrity. The more body aware you become, the more informed you can be of when to have sex and when to not. That is where your partner’s trust in you grows. The more you can be aware of your own body has your partner trusting you on when it is safer to have sex. And trust is the foundation of any relationship.

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Could you use herpes to empower your life?

Guest author from our community: Lively

Some people feel they are at the effect of life. Others feel they can deal with anything life throws at them. Most of us move between one and the other as we grow and learn. A new challenge can overwhelm us for a time … until we learn how to deal with it. Once we know how to do that, it can be a very short time before we forget how demanding the learning was, and what it took. This may include courage, tenacity, stepping so far outside our comfort zone that we can’t remember where it was before, the willingness to expose ourselves, be vulnerable, accept our imperfection, even (OMG!) allow others to see and accept our imperfection.

So in the midst of dealing with the shadow of herpes, we find this website where some crazy guy is calling it A Gift. An Opportunity. How does that work?

“The first thing to understand is that we have the capacity to either pull away from ourselves or to expand into ourselves.”

I may be able to throw some light on this, as I’ve been around on Planet Earth for a while, have had my share of dramas and challenges, and travel through them pretty smoothly these days. This doesn’t come without much learning and testing, of course, and a commitment to minimizing pain in life … I thought that if I have to have it sometimes (seems that we do), then I may as well learn how to get the most value out of it in the hope of either having less of it in the future, or being less bothered by it in the future, or even both. So you may fancy a shorter learning curve than I had.

That intention has brought me some interesting adventures, but what’s useful to know is that it works so well that I have been known to get excited when a new challenge presents (and I don’t mean just the small ones). It is possible and possibly smart to use every adversity as a learning experience and to milk it to the max. Doing this has made me fearless in some ways and most of the time; it has minimized suffering; it has made processes that were once torturous into fascinating adventures. Even this one. So how do you do it?

The first thing to understand is that we have the capacity to either pull away from ourselves or to expand into ourselves. Mostly we pull away from pain, and expand into pleasure, at least as far as we allow ourselves. (That’s an entirely different article.)

We can learn to expand into pain, confusion — all the emotions — instead of clamping them down or denying them. First we probably will do the automatic pullaway; then we can learn to catch ourselves and ask: What might happen if I just felt this fully? If we breathe as fully as we can, we discover that all emotions pass. Yes, all of them. Emotions are like the weather, they are never permanent … unless we resist. Heard the adage “what you resist persists”? In my experience, it sure does. May as well surrender and let it have its moments. Because they really are moments once we allow space around them and accept them as a legitimate element of ourselves. Resist and they can go on for decades!

First …

Intend to accept the upset of herpes. All of it, the beginning, the middle and the end. At diagnosis time; When we are negotiating the herpes talk and protection in relationships including what if someone gets herpes from us; and when you have become at peace about herpes and all that it entails. Accept it all. Accept the time, the emotion, the learning curve and the crazy things we think about ourselves while we are learning. It is a portal to a higher state of love, compassion, power and freedom. I am asserting that. I know you may not be able to digest that just yet.

Second …

Own this. No one and nothing can make you feel something that wasn’t already within you. So whatever you feel about herpes was already there. Whatever horrible stories you tell yourself that herpes means about you, were already there. It’s how the unconscious works. Google it if you like, a big discussion about that is beyond the scope of this article. Or take it on trust. You already had all those difficult emotions, all those horrible thoughts about yourself. All that herpes does is reveal what’s there. This is part of its gift. Now you know those emotions and thoughts are there, now you can do something about accepting them for now, and then choosing something else you like better for your future. Easier said than done, I know but quite learnable. Not only learnable, but learning it will empower you like nothing else in life, as once you know a way to reconfigure your own emotions and thoughts — and there are MANY ways — you will be able to use that for anything in life that you wish to change or modify.

Here’s something very important to know: We filter experience through what we believe. You’ve probably heard that before. So why would one person say “the glass is half full” and the other “the glass is half empty”?

Well, it may mean nothing at all! And it also may mean that the first one sees life as generous kind and okay, and the second sees life as stingy, limited and tough. Caution applies though! It may not mean that in any individual case. It’s an illustration only.

Although we inherit many beliefs when too young to discern what we are picking up, it’s worth looking at what a belief is. We have a thought; if we continue to choose the same thought it becomes a decision; if we continue to choose the same decision it becomes a belief; once it’s a belief your very own brain will filter out anything that doesn’t fit the belief. Our very own brain will always make us right on our beliefs. So we’d better get cooking on how to change those thoughts we have….we think “no one will ever love me with herpes” even though this site has many stories of those who found an accepting partner. So why do we think that? Oh, perhaps it’s US! We haven’t yet learned to love and accept ourselves yet with herpes, so we think no one else will. This doesn’t look like good news but it is! We can learn to love ourselves with herpes, even to thank herpes for the growth it made unavoidable for us. If that sounds like it will never happen, stay tuned! It already has, to many, many people.

So your job is to transmute the energy of all your upset about herpes into whatever you need and choose: higher levels of self-esteem, self-respect, self-love, compassion, power, choice to grow, choice to become more than your thoughts and feelings, choice to grow beyond whatever you or anyone else has been telling you that herpes means.

As you reclaim the energy of the thoughts /feelings you have about herpes, those filters weaken and you begin to see other possibilities that were literally Invisible thus Unavailable to you before. It feels a magical process…perhaps it is. It requires you to be willing to let go of your opinion, of your feelings, of the thought that you know everything (makes it impossible to grow). Yet feelings pass anyway and more good news: Practice pays off! You can get very fast at doing this. Sometimes our security is that we think some things are set in concrete and never change. It’s a false security.

Learning to flow with life in its ups and downs is the best security you can ever have. You can question yourself:

What are MY values?Is joyous consensual sexuality ever slutty?Did I protect myself before herpes? Will I now?Am I worth the effort of learning? Do others deserve my consideration?Can I forgive myself for letting this happen to me?What can I learn from it that is worth more than my upset about it?Do I matter anyway? Who cares if I do or don’t? (Clue: if not you, then who?)

There are no right answers here, just your authentic truth. As you can see, the depth goes much further than our little skin condition. If you choose, you can make this the springboard for a much clearer, more loving life for YOU. What you will have to offer others will also expand.

The greatest value you can take from herpes or any other challenge is to use the energy of its upset to grow yourself in the way that you choose to do that. The upset will show you what you had within you that you did not know, and now you do. Becoming more conscious is the fuel of power.

Anything less and you are choosing to be a victim of life — not of herpes, not of your “giver”, not of anything but Life itself. Why would you choose that? Remember: thoughts become decisions; decisions become beliefs; once a belief is set your filters stop you seeing your full options; you could get stuck there.

Your mission if you choose to accept it is to allow herpes to be the catalyst of a bigger more loving more compassionate YOU, and yes, a more powerful You. Then you really do have something new to offer yourself and others you invite into your life; as well as a roadmap of how to leverage any upset that you have in your body, not just as a good idea, as a physical fact.

Yes it takes time and can be emotionally overwrought at times; but that’s just life isn’t it? Once life has given you the herpes pathway to growth, there’s no giving it back. So kindly, lovingly, in rage and fury and sadness and shame, and all the emotions you discover within you, take the journey on. Take it on willingly, with certainty that you can make this the pivotal point of discovering your own power. There is no better place than this community to do this. There is nothing else to do.

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Monday, March 18, 2013

I spread herpes to him

Guest author from our community: Katie S.

Life loves to give me surprises every year; and 2012 was no exception. I got a last minute ticket to a festival that I’d been wanting to go to for years; my mom paid me a surprise visit in Colorado; I was intimate with somebody and got herpes; I was intimate with somebody else and gave him herpes. Wait.. what? What did life just give me?! I thought this would never actually really happen? I thought I could never do this to anyone?! My ignorance was bliss for years, but then reality hit and I realized that life happens… even if you’re not prepared.

What I wish I knew before any of this happened, are the facts about herpes, and how it is spread. I certainly would have been more prepared, and more cautious. After learning about my herpes diagnosis is when I began looking up the herpes statistics. I learned that an estimated 80% of Americans have Oral Herpes (HSV-1). It can be transmitted through skin-to-skin contact; from mouth to genital, or genital to genital contact. There is a much larger risk of spreading the virus when a mouth sore is present, and a much smaller risk when there is no sore present.

It is estimated that 1 in 5 Americans have Genital Herpes (HSV-2) which is generally spread from genital to genital contact. Again, there is a much greater risk when a herpes sore is present, and much smaller risk when there is no sore present. When herpes is spread without a sore being present, this is called asymptomatic shedding. Asymptomatic shedding cannot be predicted but is known to occur on at least 5% of days during the year.

Knowing that I spread herpes to someone else is the hardest thing I’ve ever gone through. I used to beat myself up constantly, anguishing about him and what he was going through because of me. I was at my lowest low, and tried to find some self-forgiveness in the fact that I’d passed the herpes virus before I even know I had it. With time, support, and a lot of love, I have experienced self-forgiveness and love in way that I never thought possible for myself. I am so thankful for the support and realizations that have come along the way. I have realized that life is 10% what happens to you, and 90% how you respond to it. The best way to respond to life is to find compassion for yourself, be love for yourself and others, and learn from whatever life gives you.

herpes forum


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Sunday, March 17, 2013

People with herpes

Guest author from our community: Katie S.

After my herpes test came back positive, I was having a difficult time coming to terms with it. When I go through hardships, I want to talk to my friends and family. With herpes, I only wanted to talk to people who understood. I was afraid of the stigma around herpes, and afraid of what my friends and family might think. I joined a website that included herpes dating and a herpes forum. I started talking with other people who have herpes. I quickly realized just how wrong the stigma about herpes actually is. Through my experience having herpes, I have met some of the most interesting people, with the most loving, open, and kind hearts.

I never knew how many people have herpes. Herpes statistics show that about 1 in 6 American’s have genital herpes. Herpes does not have a certain type of person that it likes to host, regardless of what social stigma would have people think. You don’t need to be “dirty” and/or “stupid” to get herpes. It can happen to anyone. It’s an equal opportunity virus. With having herpes for almost a year now, I’ve been in touch with many others who share the virus. Some of these people include doctors, yoga instructors, wine enthusiasts, bar tenders, life coaches, nurses, caretakers, contractors, computer engineers, business owners, and wakeboarding coaches. In short, the other thing they share in common is being perfectly human. I’ve realized just how much we are all normal people, and we share a virus that’s totally manageable.

I’ve realized just how physically and emotionally manageable herpes is just by the people who I’ve met with herpes. I have gotten advice on using herpes medication for suppressive therapy. I’ve learned that it can be used to decrease outbreaks and greatly lessen the chance to spread herpes to a partner. I’ve also learned that taking a pill or two after having sex can decrease your chances of getting a herpes outbreak. It’s been important for me to learn how to manage my herpes physically, but the amount of love and support from others with herpes has been the most heartwarming and important to me through this journey emotionally.

Even before I had herpes, I loved to connect with people. One of my favorite things in the world is when people come together and support each other, showing love with no boundaries. It’s the world I’ve always wanted to live in, and I’ve experienced a lot of it within the herpes community. I have shared my diagnosis with close family and friends, all of whom have met me with love and understanding. I have shared my diagnosis with others who can relate, and I’ve never received so much love and support from perfect strangers. It’s been so beautifully eye-opening to see how powerful we are in helping others to love themselves, and to show ourselves the amount of love we deserve.

I’ve had lots of advice, kind words, and humor that have been spoken to me by people who have herpes. Here are some my favorites:

In an email from someone after I was first diagnosed:

“My interpretation is simple: Go live your life, be at peace (as much as you can) with your fuck ups and successes. Don’t spend all your time locked away on a spiritual quest.  Be okay with the fact that sometimes you’re the most wonderful person on the planet and a total jackass.”

In a text message from someone I met online:

“To get up each morning with the resolve to be happy is to set our own conditions to the events of each day. To do this is to condition circumstances, instead of being conditioned by them. Please believe me, these are words to live by. Think positively and masterfully, with confidence and faith, and life becomes more secure, more fraught with action, richer in achievement and experience. Without hesitation, treat people as if they are what they ought to be, and you can help them become what they are capable of becoming.”

From someone’s Facebook page:

“The secret to happiness does truly lie within our own attitude … and even more so … within our ability to let go … to fully embrace the now… and to fully trust that whatever you are handed at any given moment is exactly what you need … and that in fact it is all perfect … and it is …”

From a Herpes Opportunity forum post just this week:

“The next day, I put my big girl pants on and began the road to my own sort of recovery, learning a lot along the way about self worth, acceptance — both of my diagnosis and also that there are things out of my control, responsibility for my actions, and many other emotions that varied depending on the situation I was in.”

From a forum response post by Adrial:

“And as for herpes? That will work itself out in the same process you are continuing through learning to love and accept yourself as you are. It’s the same process. Once you truly realize on a deep level who you are, that will begin to shift how you relate to others and will allow them to see you on a deeper level, too. I have so much trust in your own process and that time will take care of itself. No matter how long it takes, you are on the path. Don’t look to clock time for an answer of how long it will take. Look to your own heart and ask what it needs. That will tell you your next step.”

herpes forum


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A guide to common eye infections

A guide to common eye infectionsA guide to common eye infections
© Thinkstock

Conjunctivitis is a harmless infection that affects the conjunctiva, a transparent membrane that covers the inside of the eyelids and lines part of the ocular globe. It’s generally caused by a virus (adenovirus) or by bacteria (staphylococcus, streptococcus, pneumococcus or haemophilus). The infection can also be caused by allergies.

Conjunctivitis is normally diagnosed when:

The eye becomes red and feels itchy.Thin or thick secretions cover the eye, making it difficult to open in the morning.Conjunctivitis, especially when it’s caused by a virus, is mostly harmless and will usually clear up within a few days. At the same time, the infection tends to spread to the other eye, so it’s a good idea to use different drops for each eye. It’s highly contagious, so you have to be careful. Avoid rubbing the infected eye, wash your hands regularly and don’t leave compresses lying around before you wash them to stop the infection spreading to other people. For the same reasons, don’t use eye drops that have expired, as the bottle could contain germs that lead to conjunctivitis.  

Some forms of conjunctivitis can be more serious: in newborn babies who have caught the infection during birth from gonococcus, chlamydia or type 2 herpes in the mother. Conjunctivitis caused by chlamydia trachomatis leads to the development of a trachoma and is the most common cause of blindness in the world. Bad hygiene often plays a role in the development of conjunctivitis. It can be prevented simply through washing your hands and will disappear quickly when treated with antibiotics.

These bacterial infections are also quite common. Small red swellings develop around the roots (or follicles) of the eyelashes around the edge of the eye. These are mostly caused by staphylococcus, as is the case with boils, and a few sties can develop around the eye. After the sty has burst, it will heal by itself. All you have to do is apply an antiseptic cream or a warm, damp dressing to help the process.

Chalazions, similar to sties, are an inflammatory reaction caused by the obstruction of tiny glands called Meibomius, which produce the oily substance in tears. Unlike sties, chalazions are painless, but they can make the eye vulnerable to further infection.

Other tissues in the eye can also become infected. The cornea, a transparent fibrous membrane covering the eye, is particularly susceptible. Keratitis can either be a viral infection (caused by the adenovirus, herpes or varicella zoster viruses), a bacterial infection of a fungal infection. Contact lens wearers are particularly at risk.

Corneal infections can lead to the appearance of erosions and ulceration on the cornea, which alter your vision and can become troublesome. Keratitis usually only affects one eye, making it red, painful and sensitive to light.

If you get keratitis, you should consult an eye specialist. Eye drops with antibacterial or antiviral properties may be prescribed in some cases to fight the infection and prevent the cornea from turning opaque and obscuring your vision in the long term. The symptoms will take longer to clear up than conjunctivitis.

Herpetic keratitis is treated with aciclovir, an antiviral prescription drug that’s taken orally or given intravenously. You can’t use this with creams containing corticoids, as these could worsen the infection. One of the key problems with this form of keratitis is that it tends to come back, so a long course of treatment with aciclovir may be required to get rid of it.

Ophthalmic zoster is a secondary infection of the ophthalmic part of the trigeminal nerve, caused by the varicella zoster virus. It manifests itself through inflammation of the cornea, causing intense pain. It can also affect the uvea, retina and motor nerves in the eye, and can lead to paralysis of the eye in such cases. 

The uvea, which is made up of the iris, ciliary body (which produces the aqueous humour) and a vascular membrane called the choroid, can also be prone to infection. Certain viruses like the cytomegolovirus, and parasites like toxoplasma, can also cause infections of the retina, especially in people with low immunity or people suffering from AIDS. 


Dr Corinne Tutin

More information:
Cold and flu remedies
Conjunctivitis
Baby washing and care


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Friday, March 15, 2013

Op-Ed: Yes, I Have An STD, But It Shouldn't Be a Scarlet Letter

When I tell people what I do professionally – I’m the founder of The STD Project, a website all about STDs from someone with an STD – colorful responses abound. When I launched the site, the shock and utter loss for words I elicited even from friends and family was palpable, to say the least. Never mind the small bit of crazy it takes to spend one’s days brazenly telling others you have an unsightly disease that resides on your genitalia. To make matters worse, I quit an incredibly lucrative career to launch the site.

As an accountant working for a Big Four accounting firm, and then a Fortune 500 corporation, I’m certain my new vocational choice was far from anyone’s mind when I announced the website in April 2012. Understandably, my decision to replace a highly coveted career with a financially insecure and lofty goal had my loved ones worried. But my parents understood why I’d chosen to take action.

In Search of a Better Condom

Fourteen years ago, at 16, I contracted genital herpes. Diagnosed and shamed by my family doctor, I rode home with my mother in tears – convinced I would never have a “normal” sex life, a loving partner, or a healthy relationship ever again. In the years that followed, I was cast out of the church and labeled a harlot, made to sleep separately from friends during overnight stays for fear of transmission, and called a bevy of names. I was scarlet-lettered.

Rest assured, however, this is not a “woe is me” kind of story. On the contrary, having herpes never stopped me from dating, having a (very) healthy sex life, or accomplishing my goals, despite my initial misconceptions. In some ways, it likely lit a necessary fire within me — I’ve always been rather indignant and reticent toward social constructs — so I set off to prove to others, and mostly to myself, that I deserved more and could be more than just a woman with genital herpes. Having auditioned for “American Idol,” conquered my fear of heights by skydiving (three times), run a 25K, and earned two honors degrees, I’ve accomplished that.

So, when I launched The STD Project, I felt I was finally ready to tackle the embarrassment and shame I’d experienced years ago. I was healed, resilient, and could begin to forge a social movement despite the inevitable reproach headed my way.  What I hadn’t anticipated was what happened in the months following the site's launch: an array of questions and earnest interest, an outpouring of support, and message upon message from family, friends, acquaintances, and strangers the world over sharing their personal and unmistakably paralleled sexual health and STD journeys.

Sharing my story with others, reading and listening to theirs, and honing my skills as an educator, speaker, and writer has also afforded me the peace I would have paid anything for years ago. Sometimes it feels selfish, attaining the healing – healing I wasn’t aware I still needed – that The STD Project has prompted.

Keeping me grounded is the realization that there’s still so much work to be done. Stigma abounds and people are made to feel like pariahs – alone, ridiculed, and shunned when diagnosed – the same stigma that paralyzed me, when what we really need are more education, awareness, and treatment.

So, I’m carrying on.

I am an STD advocate. I will continue to be an advocate until others don’t have to endure what was once, for me, a very arduous journey.

Related Stories on TakePart:

• Could Herpes Kill Breast Cancer? 

• HIV Vaccine Under Study May Last a Lifetime

• HIV Epidemic in Latin America, Caribbean: Making Progress

Jenelle Marie is the founder of The STD Project, an award-winning website and progressive movement aimed at eradicating the stigma associated with contracting an STD and living with an STD by facilitating and encouraging awareness, education, and acceptance through storytelling and resource recommendations. You can also find The STD Project on Facebook and Twitter. Look for her e-Book, “The Relationship Survival Guide to Living with an STD” available in 2013. TakePart.com

These are solely the author's opinions and do not represent those of TakePart, LLC or its affiliates.


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Thursday, March 14, 2013

Chat Sports Brings on Stanford Economics PhD Student as Sports Analytics Expert

Mar 11 (Reuters) - Leading money winners on the 2013 PGATour on Monday (U.S. unless stated): 1. Brandt Snedeker $2,859,920 2. Tiger Woods $2,671,600 3. Matt Kuchar $2,055,500 4. Steve Stricker $1,820,000 5. Phil Mickelson $1,650,260 6. Hunter Mahan $1,491,965 7. John Merrick $1,343,514 8. Dustin Johnson $1,330,507 9. Russell Henley $1,313,280 10. Michael Thompson $1,254,669 11. Charles Howell III $1,238,219 12. Brian Gay $1,171,721 13. Jason Day $1,080,664 14. Chris Kirk $1,004,053 15. Keegan Bradley $976,993 16. Josh Teater $883,229 17. Bill Haas $876,800 18. Scott Piercy $868,592 19. ...


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Wednesday, March 13, 2013

Cold sores actually have nothing to do with colds

 Fever blisters can be treated in most cases by applying a topical antiviral to the lesion. (Fotolia.com / December 18, 2012)

http://www.kidsdr.com

Fever blisters are fairly common and are also often called cold sores, but have nothing to do with a cold.

These sores typically appear on the outside of the mouth, on the lips. The vast majority (about 95percent) of fever blisters are due to a virus, typically herpes type 1. Because these blisters are caused by a virus, they are contagious and most people will be exposed to the virus during their lifetime.

Children are typically exposed via contact with an adult, sibling, or relative who has a fever blister, or with other children who've mouthed toys, cups, etc., contaminated with the virus.

In many cases, exposure may be asymptomatic. Others who pick up the virus develop painful vesicles appearing both inside the mouth and on the tongue and gums, as well as on the lips, three to five days after exposure.

This initial illness is called herpetic gingivostomatitis. The initial infection tends to be more uncomfortable, and it may take up to two weeks for the lesions to resolve. The most difficult aspect to deal with is oral discomfort, so it's important to make sure young children with the virus stay hydrated. Popsicles are often helpful for this.

Once you've been exposed to the herpes virus, this virus remains in nerve endings where it may remain dormant and asymptomatic for years. About 60 percent of children are positive for HSV-1 by adolescence.

At other times, the virus may become active (in times of stress, after sun exposure, or accompanying fever or menstrual periods), resulting in a fever blister. If a child develops a fever blister, they also are contagious and may spread the illness by touching or picking at the lesion, then touching other people or objects with their mouths.

Fever blisters can be treated in most cases by applying a topical antiviral to the lesion. These prescription medications may shorten the duration of the fever blister by a day or two, especially if started early and applied frequently. If your children experience recurrent fever blisters, speak with your pediatrician about the use of oral antiviral medications.

Remember, if you have a fever blister, don't kiss your baby. Although most viral shedding occurs after the initial HSV infection, you remain contagious with each fever blister so it's better to take precautions for a few days.

(Dr. Sue Hubbard is a nationally known pediatrician and co-host of "The Kid's Doctor" radio show. Submit questions at http://www.kidsdr.com.)


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Tuesday, March 12, 2013

Getting snippy over adult circumcision

Is it healthy to get circumcised well into your mid-40s? And can not being circumcised cause urinary tract infections?--Anon.


Like my first boyfriend, I thank you sir, for putting the fate of your penis in my very unqualified hands. Circumcision is a hotly contested issue among those who have penises (those without prefer to spend their time learning how to grow basil off of fire escapes). Circumcision among adults is even more controversial, the prevailing theory being, "Well, you've had it this far and it's gone OK, right?"

But just when you thought you and your foreskin could relax a little, maybe take up whale watching, the American Academy of Pediatrics (which is THE authority on tiny penises) decides to throw an anti-bone at your boner. After 30 years of neutrality on the issue of infant male circumcision, in August of 2012 the AAP started endorsing the procedure, claiming that the benefits of circumcision outweigh the risks. And what are the benefits, you ask?

Quite a few, it turns out. You're correct that circumcised men get fewer UTIs than those with intact foreskin (I would be remiss if I didn't point out the self-given name for those against circumcision is "Intactivists." And let's not forget the National Organization of Restoring Men, or NORM, if you will). Your odds of getting a UTI as a dude are 30 times less likely than they are if you're a lady (around 5 to 8 per year per 10,000). However, once you hit 60 years old, your odds are just as high as the ladyfolk. Cut men also have lower risks for HIV, genital herpes, penile cancer, HPV, syphilis, and there are reduced risks of cervical cancers among their female sex partners.

Infant circumcision has been slowly falling out of fashion for decades. In the U.S., circumcision rates declined to 54.5 percent in 2009, from 62.7 percent in 1999. This decline is in direct opposition to the penis aesthetic as dictated by "Sex and the City" (In one episode, Charlotte described her uncircumcised beau as "like a Shar Pei."). Whether circumcision is healthy for you is a matter between you and your doctor, and not just because I'm tired of talking about your penis all the time! Though I can tell you that adult circumcision isn't often covered by health insurance (it isn't considered medically necessary) and that it can cost between $1,500 and $3,000. For that price, you better shop around and make sure your doctor is a cut above the rest. 

 Want to ask Anna an anonymous question about love, sex or dating? Email your quandary to redeyedating@gmail.com.  Need to give your dating life a boost? Sign up for RedEye Dating.

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