According to U.S. health officials, genital herpes is one of the most common sexually transmitted diseases, and infects about 16 percent of Americans between the ages of 14 and 49. JoAnne Allen from Reuters states, “Black women had the highest rate of infection at 48 percent and women were nearly twice as likely as men to be infected.”
Genital herpes can cause painful genital sores, and “also increases the likelihood of acquiring and transmitting the AIDS virus,” reports Allen. There is no cure for herpes, but there are several drugs that can help with symptoms and outbreaks. A lot of times people don’t even realize they have herpes; about 80 percent do not know they are even infected. Dr. John Douglas of the CDC says, “Because herpes is so prevalent it becomes … a really important reason to use condoms on a consistent and correct basis with all of your partners.”
Find a doctor near you to get tested.
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
Isn’t herpes is skin to skin contact, why would Dr. John Douglas encourage to use condoms? Would you risk it…I mean have sex, put a condom on even though your sex partner is having an outbreak?
I’m not sure Lyn…I agree with you, it still seems extremely risky.
Thanks for reading!