I've got a friend with herpes

[BigToque]

One of my friends found out she got herpes around the mouth.

She's a very smart girl and generally knows what she's talking about when it comes to this kind of stuff (she's a microbiologist), but the things she's saying just don't seem to match what I see on the net.

She says: There's no way to tell the difference between HSV-1 and HSV-2, other than HSV-1 occurs in the mouth and HSV-2 occurs in the genitals. You can't get HSV-1 on the genitals, nor can you get HSV-2 on the mouth. You can't transfer the virus when you don't have visible symptoms.

What I've read: HSV-1 and HSV-2 can occur in both the mouth and genitals and you can transfer even when you don't have visible symptoms (called viral shedding).

She seems dead set in what she believes claiming she's researched it. Is she wrong here? If so, how do you get her to realize she's wrong?

 

[SampSon]

Did you two discuss this before or after the sex?

 

[Ronstang]

Let me put it this way, if they did not convince you that you can transfer the virus even when you are not showing visible symptoms they could not sell you a daily dosage of drugs they claim prevents such transfer.

 

[BigToque]

Originally posted by: SampSon
Did you two discuss this before or after the sex?

I'm not in a relationship with this girl. She's just a very close friend (with no benefits).

 

[GRIFFIN1]

She is wrong and you are right.

 

[BigToque]

Originally posted by: GRIFFIN1
She is wrong and you are right.

Well, I can't be right about anything. I only know about what I read on places like Wikipedia and Mayoclinic, etc.

 

[UberNeuman]

CDC site about herpes....

Maybe you've read it already, if not - it's worth a read....

 

[UncleWai]

Herpes is a gift that keep on giving. Sounds like she wants to give some to you.

 

[Turfzilla]

Is the friend you??? Also WebMD has good articles on things related to medicine. I'm sure the forums there would be much more helpful than ATOT...

 

[Don Vito Corleone]

I've known two people who got genital herpes by receiving oral sex from someone with a cold sore.

 

[se7en]

Originally posted by: UncleWai
Herpes is a gift that keep on giving. Sounds like she wants to give some to you.

Run OP Run !!

 

[eLiu]

A microbiologist should know that viruses can... *gasp* mutate

HSV-1 & HSV-2 are 2 distinct strains, but they aren't very far from each other. If I have HSV-1 in the mouth (ESP if I have open sores) and my mouth is on say, your balls... well, I can totally, totally give you HSV-2. Anyone who says otherwise is lying to themselves & to you... and you should keep their mouths away from your balls, esp during open sore season.

That said, your friend shouldn't be all that shocked, since *a lot* of people have HSV-1--I've read as high as 90%, but that seems a bit ridiculous. Many don't show any symptoms though, so you'd never know you had it.

 

[intogamer]

You got teh herpz?

 

[moshquerade]

Whoopdee if you got a cold sore. By the age of 50, 80-90 percent of the population will carry the HSV-1 virus, and of those about 25% won't display the symptoms. In other words, cold sore sufferers aren't in the minority.

HSV-1 can also be transmitted to other areas of the body such as the eyes, fingers, and genital area. Your "friend" is not a smart girl if she doesn't realize this.

 

[se7en]

You tell em Mosh.

Our resident Her-Pees educator!

:evil:

 

[Vonkhan]

u got teh herpe now fool!

 

[AMCRambler]

OMGWTFHERPEGONASYPHILLAIDS FTL!!!!!!

 

[Gibsons]

She's right about HSV1 and 2 not being terribly different.

She's wrong about not being able to get them at different places, that's just a tendency, not a strict tropism. She's also wrong about not being infectious. If she has a cold sore, there's infectious virus present. The cold sore is a symptom of viral replication and the immune response to it. How does she think the virus spreads?

 

[Zee]

90% of the public has herpes. people drinking each other's cups, smoking cigarettes, sex, etc etc

 

[Regs]

Don't eat the bar peanuts.

 

[FoBoT]

Originally posted by: BigToque
If so, how do you get her to realize she's wrong?

you'll have to prove it to her by giving it to her


i mean, by getting it from her, you'll need to lick her mouth sores i guess

 

[jman19]

Originally posted by: Regs
Don't eat the bar peanuts.

LOL the bar peanut bowl is a viral and bacteria playground. Absolutely disgusting.

 

[imported_Baloo]

You worry too much. You probably already have HSV-1, just did not realize that's what caused those colds sores. Must be over half the U.S. population has it, and most of them will never know.

 

[gorcorps]

Not sure about the HSV-1 vs 2 stuff, but you can indeed transmit without symptoms. Just like HIV... just because the virus isn't active in YOU doesn't mean it won't transfer.

 

[Fritzo]

That is incorrect. You can transmit HSV-1 to the genitals. Look it up.