Question:
i am sexually active and have been since i was 15, i am now almost 18. the last couple of weeks i have been feeling itchy down there. i have noticed a "pimple" on one of my buttocks and a scab in my pubic area that has fallen off. i also have sores in the very back of my tongue. they are a bit uncomfortable. i have a feeling i do have herpes....i just want to know what all of u think. im scared. and i have a feeling my boyfriend might have them too. however, i dont know who gave them to who. i dont know what to do. and i dont know if i should tell him or not. can someone please help me? im in desperate need of help!! HELP ME PLEASE!!!!!!!!!!!

Answer:
it sounds like it might be herpes...but really hard to say. If you are having unprotected sex, it would be wise to go to your doctor,local clinic or planned parenthood and request that they test you for all STDS INCLUDING herpes. Do it NOW while you still have lesions. Best to do it right away. OR you can also have them do bloodwork to find out for sure.

Until then , I would have no further sexual contact with your boyfriend until you know for sure what is happening. He should get tested as well, especially if it turns out you do have herpes. I am hoping you don't, but just for your own peace of mind, get checked asap!
Good luck to you, and I hope all turns out well.

Answer:
Beward, Herpes is now categorized by Center for Disease Control as a MAJOR epidemic sweeping america.

You are well advised to be faithful to your partner. Both of you.

Answer:
Exactly what I have been trying to tell people. (in reference to Hopefully's post about the CDC's concerns that HSV is reaching epidemic proportions.) I have/had some clients who worked for the World Health Organization, and you know what one of their top concerns were????

Herpes. They are calling it 'the new leprosy' behind closed doors. They do not want to offend anyone who already has a herpes simplex virus, but this is what they say. I HEAR it. Especially with the ever growing spread of genital herpes, herpes whitlow, and "wrestlers herpes".

They believe there are NEW strains of the herpes virus showing up in parts of the world and folks in the know are getting REALLY freaked out. (just like there are new veneral diesease (gonnorhea) turning up which basic antibiotics are no longer working against. ) This stuff is no joke and no laughing matter. And it is only going to get worse before it gets better. And it GALLS me that teens are not more educated about this virus, along with all the other crap they are taught in basic health classes in school.


It is sad that something as wonderful as sex can contribute to such horrid, nightmarish things. Nobody deserves this crap. Not even the most worst of criminals.

Answer:
Well put Ouch!
Wanna make a public service announcement for TV with me?

"Wearing a condom does NOT PROTECT YOU FROM ALL STD'S"

"Make sure your love is the only thing that lasts FOREVER"



Answer:
"Make sure your love is the only thing that lasts FOREVER"

I like that. And sure I'll do a commercial with you. Personally I'm trying to find a way to influence legislation in my state to at least do testing of pregnant women to reduce exposing innocent babies and maybe pediatricians to discuss the risks with parents of passing oral hsv to their kids.

Answer:
You would think that would be a done deal...wouldn't you? I mean considering this is becomming an epidemic...you'd think they would take active steps to inform people and protect innocent children. It should be part of routine testing before giving birth. Not even ask the question...simply test, in the best interest of the child. I would never had thought to be tested before. Had I been asked, I probably would have said I didn't need one. How sad the outcome could have been. Thankfully my 2 boys are 19 and 17 and I'm guessing that I didn't have it then, but I shudder to think of the consequences.


Answer:
It is difficult to mandate health care because it is passed on to the taxpayers and in the case of private hospitals and medical providers they have a right to run their businesses as they see fit and would put up a huge fight. somehow it is never about saving lives or preventing expensive lifelong maladies and is always about the bottom line $$$.

I am not truly a cynic but I've heard the arguments too many times. The way around it all is to prove to people that it is urgent and would save money down the line.

Answer:
The doctor was telling me that you can get genital herpes if someone with a sore goes into those pool side hot tubes... becuase they don't like to use a lot of chlorine in there and the virus will then transfer to you if you go in the hot tub as well.. same with saunas.. if you go in a sauna, naked, and sit on the bench.. you run a chance of contracting the virus.. I really didn't know any of that.. it's ridiculous how little people actually know about herpes. :o