Genital herpes and the connection to sex

Sex life often takes a backseat if you have been diagnosed with genital herpes.

Genital herpes and sex do not seem to go hand in hand and if you do not want to spread the virus to your partner both oral as well as other forms of sex should be avoided.

Sexual spread of the virus

Genetal herpes spreads primarily through sexual contact. This is why the condition is known as an std or sexually transmitted disease. People can transmit cold sores and genital herpes through oral sex, vaginal as well as anal sex.

The most contagious stage of the genetial herpes is during the shedding stage. This is when the HSV or Herpes Simplex Virus causing genital herpes infection starts to multiply rapidly on the skin surface. At other times, the virus lies in dormant state in the nervous system of the body.

When the virus becomes active it moves to the skin surface and starts replicating itself. This is known as the shedding stage and is the part when the genitle herpes can easily spread to other persons.

The virus can spread whenever there is skin contact or when body fluids are exchanged. Thus, even a simple act of kissing can trigger the spread of the virus and genetal herpes. Genital herpes and sex are a combination, which most physicians advise against.

Modes of spreading

If you have genital herpes and sex is on your mind you need to move from using regular condoms to vinyl or latex variants. These provide more protection and prevent spread of the genetal herpes virus. In addition, if you have cold sores and genital herpes symptoms make sure you do not kiss your partner as they could get sores around the mouth in this manner.

Having genital herpes and sex in the form of vaginal sex or anal sex could also trigger spread of the genetial herpes virus from you to your partner. Thus, as you can see, oral sex such as fellatio, analingus, cunnilingus etc. as well as anal and vaginal sex can cause genital herpes infection to spread between partners.

If you are sexually active with more than one partner, the spread of the infection becomes that much worse and more people are likely to get affected by this. Considering the fact that genetial herpes is a condition occurring throughout the life of an individual, this is something you want to avoid!

Treatment alternatives

There are many different genital herbal herpes treatment options available such as aloe vera gel, tea tree oil, Echinacea herb etc. Even homeopathic medicines have proven to be effective in alleviating and preventing genetal herpes from occurring.

Many people who take antiviral medications for genital herpes have found the suppressant form of treatment helpful. In this treatment it is possible for patients to have genital herpes and sex to go hand in hand.

Thus, the person maybe having genital herpes infection but can still enjoy sex with their partner.

This is because the medication is taken daily in the case of suppressant mode of treating genital herpes. Thus, the chances of spreading the virus is minimal and the person can enjoy sex while having genital herpes.