Protection From Contracting Herpes

There are many people who are living with the herpes virus, so it is up to you to do whatever you can to protect yourself.  If your partner is honest, you will be better prepared, but you also need to know how to have protection from contracting herpes from a partner who either does not know they are infected, or who is not being honest about their personal health.

Luckily, there are ways to protect yourself from contracting the herpes virus yourself, even if your partner is infected.  Here are some ways that you can ensure you are taking every precaution to protect yourself:

•    Talk Openly With Your Partner – Be sure to open discussion with your partner, and let them know that you are not judging them or planning on leaving them even if they are infected with a sexually transmitted disease.  Many people fear rejection once their partner finds out, so they may try hiding important information.  Let them know that it is in the best interest of both of you to know all the facts so that all precautions can be taken to avoid spreading the disease.
•    Avoid Sex During Outbreaks – This period of time is when the virus will be the most likely to be transmitted to others, so avoiding sexual activity during this time is important.  The time considered to be an outbreak includes the time that the infected person first begins to experience symptoms, such as tingling and burning in the genital area, right up until the time that the last sores have healed.  Sexual activity has also been shown to prolong the healing of an outbreak, so avoiding sex will help ensure faster recovery.
•    Keep Your Sexual Partners to a Minimum – Having sex with many different partners increases your risk of coming into contact with and spreading the herpes virus.  Having only one partner in a monogamous relationship will help to keep both of you safe.
•    Avoid Contact With Other Infected Areas – Sores can appear in other areas than the genitals and are just as contagious.  They can appear on the buttocks or thighs, and fingers, eyes and other parts of the body can be infected by touching a sore, so avoiding these areas is very important.
•    Use Latex Condoms Between Outbreaks – Using condoms will not offer complete protection, but will help to keep you safer between outbreaks of open sores.  They will limit the chances you will contract the virus, providing there are no visible sores.

Other than complete abstinence, there is no guaranteed protection from contracting herpes.  But, following some simple measures to try and keep the spread limited will offer the peace of mind that the virus is not being spread.  Open discussion and understanding of the virus is crucial for both partners to be able to keep the virus under control.

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