Question:
I have a few questions about herpes and I hope you guys can help me out.

1) If you have herpes in one place on your body is it possible to spread it to another part. Example, my boyfriend and I think we have herpes, but it has only showed up on him once and it was on his genitals. Last week his nose started to hurt really bad in one nostril, he showed his mother (she works at a hospital) and she said it looked like herpes. Well, now it is the other nostril that is sore and he said that it looks like little pimples when he looks inside. He also has a spot on his neck we aren't sure is herpes, but it looks more like my herpes did. As far as I knew it was not possible to spread it around to other parts of the body once you had the virus.

2) Can herpes be different sizes? I know herpes varies on everyone, but can the size range vary alot? When I have had signs of it, I usually get things that look and feel alot like zits, with a tiny little shiny head no bigger than the size of a pencil with dull lead. My boyfriend, when I saw it, had yellowish-brown scab type things and were about the size of a pencil eraser, quite a bit bigger than mine.

3) How often can you get a herpes outbreak? I read that this also varies from person to person and that it could be a couple times a month to a couple times a year. I am asking this because almost every time my boyfriend and I have sex one of us starts getting it, or at least that's what we think. If I stay pretty dry and we try doing it, it starts to hurt really bad and I feel like my skin gets ripped apart towards the perineum. Then next day or so I'll look and on both sides I have spots that look like cuts with a little whitish color on parts of them. Then if we have sex when I'm sore from sex the night before, when we are done, his penis hurts really bad and then he starts to get the scabs. It is really becoming a problem for us, because the only time we are normal is if we don't have sex. Is this normal?

4) If herpes goes untreated and you have no other diseases or problems, can it cause more serious problems? I am not one that likes to take medicine for every little thing that happens and either is my boyfriend. I can't afford to see a doctor to get tested for herpes, my boyfriend has insurance for one and could go if he wanted to but he doesn't want to. He promised me he'd go if I went on birth control, but he still hasn't. I just want to find out for sure what it is, whether we get meds or not. I just want to make sure it isn't going to cause me anymore problems, such as spreading inside my body and making me unable to have kids someday.[/b]

Answer:
Once this is answered, this would be a nice topic to sticky... I'd like to see all the real answers also.

Answer:
If you have herpes in one place on your body is it possible to spread it to another part. I use to think it was, but according to the UK Herpes site no..

Here's the link and quote:

http://www.herpes.org.uk/faq.html#11

11 - Can I spread the infection around my body?
You do not spread the virus to other parts of your own body after the first episode. Even in new cases the infection is usually limited to one part of the body.

Can herpes be different sizes? Usually, I think the blisters are pretty much always the same size... (ie, the size of a dull pencil tip) BUT... because they tend to cluster, you can get 2 blisters RIGHT next to each other that end up being one blister because they were so close... Everyone's skin is a little different too, so that could have an effect. As far as the other things you described as far as what his look like compared to yours... Could be his are at different 'stage' when you see them... because typically, they do scab... and if his are so close together that instead of a bunch of tiny scabs, he gets a big scab over several blisters... it could look different...

How often can you get a herpes outbreak? I read that this also varies from person to person and that it could be a couple times a month to a couple times a year. I am asking this because almost every time my boyfriend and I have sex one of us starts getting it, or at least that's what we think. If I stay pretty dry and we try doing it, it starts to hurt really bad and I feel like my skin gets ripped apart towards the perineum. Then next day or so I'll look and on both sides I have spots that look like cuts with a little whitish color on parts of them. Then if we have sex when I'm sore from sex the night before, when we are done, his penis hurts really bad and then he starts to get the scabs. It is really becoming a problem for us, because the only time we are normal is if we don't have sex. Is this normal? Frequency of outbreaks just varies... From your discussion of the discomfort you feel from having sex...

If I stay pretty dry and we try doing it, it starts to hurt really bad and I feel like my skin gets ripped apart towards the perineum. Then next day or so I'll look and on both sides I have spots that look like cuts with a little whitish color on parts of them. Then if we have sex when I'm sore from sex the night before, when we are done, his penis hurts really bad and then he starts to get the scabs To be honest, this doesn't sound like an outbreak.... It sounds like irritation from sex... If you get dryness problems, you should use a lubricant... KY or something... Skin on the genitals is REALLY sensitive, and the things you describe especially on HIM... I get that if I have sex for too long, or too frequently... If you use a lubricant it usually solves the problem... Or at least makes the problem much less frequent... because again... I don't think those things are outbreaks... I think its just 'trauma' to the skin down there from sex...

If herpes goes untreated and you have no other diseases or problems, can it cause more serious problems? I am not one that likes to take medicine for every little thing that happens and either is my boyfriend. I can't afford to see a doctor to get tested for herpes, my boyfriend has insurance for one and could go if he wanted to but he doesn't want to. He promised me he'd go if I went on birth control, but he still hasn't. I just want to find out for sure what it is, whether we get meds or not. I just want to make sure it isn't going to cause me anymore problems, such as spreading inside my body and making me unable to have kids someday.[/b] The short answer is NO... Your body will deal with the virus well itself.. You really don't need any treatment... there are a couple things to keep in mind during pregnancy... that topic I'll post a link to below...

Here is a link and quote from the same website I quoted above that answers this question

http://www.herpes.org.uk/faq.html#21

21 - Do I need treatment?
Like flu, herpes simplex will get better by itself. Some people are affected more than others. Primary herpes simplex infections clear up even if no treatment is given in almost all cases.

22 - How can the doctor help?
The doctor may prescribe antiviral tablets to speed up healing and reduce the severity of a first episode. Aciclovir is the most commonly used antiviral drug for this purpose. You don?t need the tablets if the first episode is mild, or if you have almost recovered before you see the doctor. Aciclovir is also put into a cream (e.g. Herpetad, Soothelip, Virasorb, Zovirax) but tests have shown that these creams are no better than a placebo (a dummy cream). Manufacturers do not recommend them for use on mucous membrane (inner ?wet? skin) as it may irritate this sensitive skin.

If you get more episodes later on, these are less likely to be treated with antiviral tablets as treatment has to start early on to have any significant effect. See below for self-help suggestions. Members can ask for our Anti-viral drug fact sheet ? see subscription form.

Some people are unlucky and get frequent recurrences. In these cases the doctor may prescribe a longer course of tablets to keep the virus dormant ? perhaps for six months at a time. For most people this is not necessary either because their body deals with the virus without help or because they find that adopting a healthier life style does the trick. See What can I do to prevent frequent recurrences?


26 - Does herpes simplex cause sterility? Does it make any difference to getting pregnant?
No. Having herpes simplex will make no difference to getting pregnant ? except that you may have to avoid having sex at certain times.

Another quote from the website:

Herpes simplex is seldom of any medical importance

Regarding PREGNANCY:

http://www.herpes.org.uk/faq.html#27

27 - How may herpes simplex affect pregnancy?
If you have caught herpes simplex before becoming pregnant you can give birth normally. This is because during the last few months of pregnancy, babies in the womb develop antibodies to all the infections (?childhood illnesses?) that their mothers have previously caught (and have antibodies for). These protect the baby from infection during childbirth and for 3 to 6 months afterwards; longer when breastfed.

During pregnancy, herpes simplex normally only causes concern:

if the mother catches it (for the first time) during the early stage of pregnancy (like other infections, this may trigger a miscarriage).
if the mother has it for the first time during the last few months of pregnancy. There will be no time for antibodies to have formed before birth.
if baby is being born before 32 weeks (very premature). These babies do not have full antibody protection so they could be infected during the birth if the mother has sores at the time.
In the second and third cases, there is a danger that the baby could contract herpes simplex so a Caesarean-section is usually performed.

A four page, referenced "Pregnancy and Childbirth" leaflet is available to members - see subscription form.



Aloeman just posted the link in the 'great websties sec'

Its funny, everytime I have done a google search, the UK herpes site pops up near the top, but I'ven ever clicked on it cause it wasn't an american site (not that it matters)

But after having gone to the UK site.. its one of the best I've been too...

here's the links to the main page, and a GREAT question and answer page:

Main:
http://www.herpes.org.uk/index.html

GREAT question and answer page:
http://www.herpes.org.uk/faq.html

Answer:
Hi......
I have a question.....if I had it around a tooth on the gumline.....how could I transfere it??? I have the baby, and he may have scratched his lip on Fr...not sure.....and he got an cut like irritation to lower rt lip....and now its Tues...its gone, except a tiny, tiny mark......Ive been so depressed......if I sneezed around him or talked close to him, could I have given it to him......do kids feel sick like we do???
Help me out........I hate this...its bad to have it yourself...but trying not to hurt your family is the worst!!!!
Thanks.......JM

Answer:
if I sneezed around him or talked close to him, could I have given it to him...... No... Your son is fine.

if I had it around a tooth on the gumline.....how could I transfere it??? You wouldn't transfer it from there. You shouldn't worry! k? :wink: :D