How do you treat someone who has herpes?

My doctor said he estimates that number being too conservative and would place it more around 80%. Nevertheless, he said that basically a regular, frequent sexual relationship in which one partner has herpes is bound to eventually transmit, even with all precautions taken (never having sex during an outbreak, taking medication, using condoms, etc).

Hstencil, if you're trying to say that you think I'm Nate Patrin, guess again.

Also true for hepatitis.

my ex wife had genital herpes and i never got it fromher despite being together three years. of course, the reason we broke up is we weren't sexually compatible so we didn't really have a TON of sex or anything. i've been tested half a dozen times since --and we're broken up like 8 years now-- so it's possible to avoid imho!

OTM. Given the way you feel about this girl, and the way she feels about you, you need to pursue this. Turning your back on someone like that will fuck you up, and her up, far worse than herpes ever could.

Also, yes with medication and rubbers yr supposed to be fine... but why ask here? Theres no doctorbs here. Go see a GP for advice! Thats what they're there for dammit!

Like a human being? holy shit. . . This is the least worrisome STD ever. Yes having it can be embarrassing and a pain the ass, but it doesn't kill you. Be ressponsible, both of you take precautions (anti-viral meds, condoms, abstiencence during sex) and it will probably be a-okay. If you love her, these are minor things.

Get a grip.

god . .I always post rushed and horribly here but especially so when not finished with my first coffee.

I trust everyone on ILx is smart enough to figure out what I'm trying to say.

cobdoms? I so wanna know what that is.

I thought the danger was possible blindness. Doctors are on top of this and will usually prescribe heavy anti-virals near time of birth to ward off an outbreak. and c-sections are options as well.

If I was to get herpes, and we were to break up one day, then what?

I imagine herpes killing your sex life. Can a person have sex with someone without telling them they are herpes positive and remain morally sound? I don't think so. Judging from what my friends have said that I've spoken with about this, if someone did that to them, they would be furious. So there goes any sort of casual sex! All you can do is hope to build a good enough relationship with someone so that they'd be okay when you break the news. I don't think this is as easy as you guys make it sound.

Do any of you have herpes? I don't feel as confident about this as you guys.

If anything, maybe it would force you to be more responsible in your sex life. Yes you would absolutely need to tell people in order not to be a flaming fucking asshole. So perhaps you would only enter into intimate relationships with people you were interested enough in, and confident enough with, to be comfortably honest. Unless they were flaming fucking assholes they would appreciate your honesty and courage and probably think more of you for it.

xpost laurel, yes mostly. viruses never go away completely but definitely can go into remission.
The world would over all, be a better place I'm sure.

i need to stop my broken posting and focus on designing some logos rather than anything WORD-ORIENTED obv.

!!!

sudden flashbacks of past girlfriends and saran wrap "dental dams". argh. MsMisery,off thread, NOW!

Q: Could anyone provide information on herpes and vaginal birth vs. c-section? A client is considering opting for a c-section rather than risk the possibility of transmitting it to her newborn (She is currently at 27 weeks). Any suggestions or information/resources would be appreciated.
-Anon.

My first experience with the issue of vaginal herpes outbreak (subsequent, not primary) just prior to delivery was my own birth. I was attended by an OB/GYN and had a hospital birth. I was afraid to tell him that I thought I was starting to get an outbreak, but with all the risks I'd heard about, I knew I had to. The day before I went into labor, I showed him the blister during an exam and he told me it was small enough and far enough away from the birth canal, that he could just cover the area with a 4x4 pad during the delivery. The blister was inside the labia majora near the clitoris. I was very relieved! I had a vaginal birth the next day.

The second time I encountered the situation was with a client who had contracted herpes many years previous. She had one outbreak around 22 weeks and she too was very worried. She was aware of what foods and stressors triggered her outbreak and avoided them, but ended up having another at 39 weeks. I called a family physician (who delivered babies) at the clinic in the woman's town to ask if the woman could have an internal culture done to rule out an internal lesion. He told me that internal lesions nearly always ONLY occur with INITIAL outbreaks, and the risk of internal lesions with subsequent outbreaks (especially if she's had herpes for several years) is miniscule. He told me that if the lesion is not on the perineum, she could deliver vaginally virtually without risk. I was a little surprised, as this contradicted a lot of the information I had read about the seriousness and fear of herpes and vaginal birth.

Finally, just recently, I had a client who (as she had done with her last pregnancy with a CNM) decided to take a viral suppressant beginning at 38 weeks.
-Paula Bernini
====

While I can't recall the source of the information, I remember reading a while back of midwives administering superglue during labor over the herpes lesions to prevent transmission from mother to baby. It's worth looking into.
~Amy Jones
====

My question is how often is this woman having outbreaks? Also, did she have her first outbreak during this pregnancy or is she just having secondary outbreaks? If she is having secondary outbreaks, then perhaps a change in stress levels, diet, exercise could help her have less outbreaks. If all else fails and she is having frequent outbreaks I would offer to put her on Acyclovir, oral, for her last trimester, thus avoiding an outbreak at term.
-Annette Manant CNM
====

Order the Midwifery Today conference tape "Herpes" (Item No. 941T79). Andrea Dixon discusses symptoms, how to help infected women avoid outbreaks, and what conditions may activate the virus. Regular price $9; E-News special $7.50 (plus shipping & handling) when you mention Code 940.
Call 1-800-743-0974 to order. Offer good through March 17.
o=o=o=o=o=o

If you're not mature enough to accept that sex sometimes has consequences that aren't entirely pleasant, and deal with them in the appropriate way, then you're not really mature enough to be having sex, are you?

Dear ex-gf,

Guess what! We can totally have that baby. Nothing to be afraid of! Let's get to spawning.

Yr pal,

ex-bf

This is the most troubling part of the story. Why is she not concerned about whether she gave it to you or not?

My 2 year old nephew was just diagnosed with herpes yesterday. Supposedly there are several strains, and the doctor told his parents 60% of kids have some form of herpes by the time they reach high school??? Is there some huge hidden world of herpes going on under my nose I have no idea about?

Kate, ok then, how do I deal with these consequences in the appropriate way? If it's so easy to say that I'm not dealing with this appropriately, can you tell me what the appropriate path would be?

From what my doctor said before, if I am to have regular sex with her, it's pretty certain that sooner or later I would contract herpes. Contracting herpes, I believe, would be a big deal. I haven't said much about myself here, other than what can be implied. Here's something: I am young. I do enjoy casual sex. I understand there are risks involved. But there's a difference between risk with someone who you don't know their disease-status, and someone who you know is absolutely, positively positive.

???

No kidding. My father-in-law died as a result of a herpes infection in his bronchial tubes. He got it from the breathing tube used during his lung-cancer surgery. He might not have survived the cancer, which had metastasized to his brain, but we all thought he'd have more time. The infected bronchial tube caused his one remaining lung to collapse.
Just recently I read a report about how hospitals are re-using equipment that is supposed to be thrown away after one use.

I'd say the risk with the latter is less b/c you do know and can take precautions. Having more and more casual sex with new partners puts you far more at risk of contracting something than entering a monogamous relationship with this girl. Come on, use your head. She didn't know she had herpes and you both put yourself at risk by having unproctected sex. What if the next person you do this with is HIV+ and doesn't know it? Then you'd be dead, that's what.

Not true at all. A lot depends on her outbreak patterns, their intensity and the amount of protection you use. Plenty of people with herpes never transmit it to their partners.

"Contracting herpes, I believe, would be a big deal."

It's not.

Uh, not exactly.

My main concern is having herpes and being single again, knowing that I have herpes, and having the moral responsibility of informing every potential partner of that. Perhaps this is crass. Perhaps I am not mature enough to have sex, as Kate believes. I have had five sexual partners in my life so far. I want to have more. I'm not ready to settle down. While the practical, biological implications of herpes wouldn't do much, I imagine the moral implications absolutely cold freezing a sex life. How do people who have herpes deal with this?

OB-GYNs be lovin' C-Sections, shockah.

Mine doesn't. When I asked he thought I wanted one and got all angry!

Yes, there is. Lots of viruses in the herpesvirus family, including those that cause genital (typically herpes simplex 2) and oral (typically herpes simplex 1, but oral can be transmitted to genitals and vice versa) outbreaks. Also Epstein-Barr virus (causes infectious mononucleosis) and cytomegalovirus (can do nasty things to fetuses and immunocompromised ppls but usually not a problem for healthy folk). And let us not forget varicella (chickenpox, shingles)--also a herpesvirus!

Viruses in this family have evolved with our species for a really, really long time and have really mastered the evading-immune-system-destruction thing, so unlike HPV and other types of viruses, they really do stick with you for life. We all have herpes infections unless we have lived in a bubble since birth.

It's a great conversation starter!

Uh, not exactly.

Yeah Micheal, I know I was being a bit blunt and incorrect here. I was just trying to impress GRAVITY upon the youngun (also I think I have a coffee hangover which is making me extra grumpy. Is that even possible)

Lurker, I think the key phrase you used above is "I'm not ready to settle down." If that's the case, then you should pass, kindly and respectfully, on this lady and go about your merry way. But please, for godsakes, use condoms.

Let's design a t-shirt!

But there's a difference between risk with someone who you don't know their disease-status, and someone who you know is absolutely, positively positive.

There shouldn't be. You should be treating ALL sex partners as potential disease risks unless you are absolutely, positively sure they don't have a disease that can spread to you during sex. I know that sounds like a buzz killer, but it really isn't. You just have to get used to wearing a condom. Please. You know you don't want to be a dad yet, never mind getting AIDS.

No worries, I didn't take it as snarky at all. And yeah, the outbreak was on his face, so sounds like type 1. I assume if it was genital herpes the doctor would've had the cops on the line in short order.

It kind of has me freaked - I mean, my kids play with him. As much as I try to take the "he's not a leper" approach mentally, when it comes to your kids the (over?) protective emotional impulses start kicking in something heavy.

Something insane like 3 out every 5 people have herpes 1

So, there is a huge hidden world of herpes going on under my nose!

DUDE EVERYONE HAS HERPES

But the lesions are very small! Even I can jump that high!

I think it is consistently rising. I think infection rates for most of these things have only risen in the past 100 years (well some treatable things like syphillis have risen and dipped and risen, but the untreatable things have only risen.)

This be Europe and natural childbirth is cheaper.

I get wicked cold sores under my nose.

that's orofacial herpes (which I have). i wonder if they include that in the stats thing.

And my husband STANDS BY ME.

But does he... Oh never mind, stop thinking of extremely crass jokes...

http://www.cdc.gov/std/Herpes/STDFact-Herpes.htm#common

People's kids played with me and I had it. I still have it. Loads of people in my family have it. All it means is that we get coldsores on our lips when we are run down or stressed out, or, in my case anyway, when I'm exposed to very strong sunlight. However, neither my previous husband, with whom I had a 13 year relationship, nor my current husband, with whom I have lived for the last five years, have contracted it. It's not a big deal.

jesus christ

Then ditch this girl and go poppage-wild.

Absolutely, utterly OTM.

I mean, maybe "lack of maturity" isn't the word to describe someone having casual sex - or even "yay, I've just met this great girl, I'm in luuurrrrrve" sex with someone without condoms. Maybe it's "patent stupidity".

Herpes is not the worst thing in the world of negative things that can result from sex - not by a long shot.

Naivite, "being in love", "trust" - none of these things are protection. Not against herpes, not against diseases that can kill you, not from pregnancy or anything else - I mean, you're experiencing the emotional fallout from this as well as the physical. (Which is something that often gets left out in the list of "bad things that can happen after sex".)

Oh I don't know about that.

Tell them not to french. (j/k. sort of.)

Oh the slut!

It's not as good as test results and discussing them with your partner, but that's not always an option in casual sex, is it?

Okay, kids, no frenching!
What's frenching?
Er... keep your mouth shut!

Would people get so freaked out if it wasn't called herpes? What if it was called softmouth?

i imagine neuroses about STDs occur in 4/5 people

I don't think it's out of line to stress safe-sex to someone who seems to not think about it too much but then stresses about diseases contracted from sex. And yes health and sex can be a pretty heavy discussion.

It's like a Greek god ruling the underworld of STDs.

XP: Carlos D is a notorious pick-up artist, and I'm not betting money that he tells any of the fashion-school victims he fancies what they can expect from a night out...or in.

I'm pretty sure I never posted on these threads, but I'm sure I didn't make fun of him for being having herpes.

Please don't interepret any of my statments as catty. I'm seriously hurting with some caffiene-induced headache/mood onslaught. apologies.

A friend had a relationship with Carlos D. and was well into it before he ever revealed his infection status. lo-ser.

Any suggestions?

You fancy her. She fancies you. If she didn't have herpes, you'd be shagging her but not necessarily marrying her, or, from the sound of it, really ready to make a committment. Your friend's advice is probably sound, then. If you can't trust yourself not to succomb to the temptation of sleeping with her and you want the freedom to pursue future ladies disease free, then don't see her.

Herpes used to be suspected of leading to cervical cancer, but now HPV is.

Human Papillomavirus = loveflowers

And so the thing that interests me is his "not ready to settle down" line. If he's really not thinking of this relationship -- or any relationship -- as a long-term bet, then there's really not much to balance out that sense of risk/fear. I mean, getting back together with her would probably be really emotionally helpful for her (she could probably use reassurance right now that having herpes does not mean everyone will steer clear of her), but if he's really sure the relationship is a short-term young-people thing, then not that much is being lost. The problem is how to know he's really sure about that plan -- the whole point of "falling in love" here is how that short-term thinking gradually gets replaced by something significant.

I dunno, my guess is actually that he needs no advice, no factual information, no nothing. No matter how informed or rational he tries to be about it, the decisions going to come from somewhere else: if he really wants to be with her, he will be, just because he wants to. Or his gut will take him the opposite direction. The only real potential for a fuck-up is if he convinces himself he wants to be with her, but then holds back from really going through with it -- meaning the only advice he really needs is only to do it if he feels good and sure about things.

Plus if he's really too young and naive to deal with this, then maybe he shouldn't! But that's why I say his gut will figure it out: either he'll want to be with her enough to deal with it, or he won't. Nothing wrong with either one, I don't think.

I do enjoy casual sex. I understand there are risks involved. But there's a difference between risk with someone who you don't know their disease-status, and someone who you know is absolutely, positively positive.

Hello, cap'n save-an-otm but I just want to stick up for Sam and Kate here and point out that this is the main reason why he is getting shit, not for having the shocking stance of not wanting to contract genital herpes and not being that into this girl.

If he hadn't made a big deal a couple of times on wanting to continue to have casual, unprotected encounters then I don't think there would've been a major debate but who knows.

I understand what he's saying in that second quote, though: some posts upthread almost seemed like they were saying "you're going to get something either way, it might as well be herpes now." I think his point with that quote was that he can have safe sex with other people and whether or not he'll contract something will be this free-floating possibility -- whereas if he regularly has sex with his one person, his doctor seems to have convinced him it's a sure bet.

I read that as "2-mouth relationship."

There is, but most doctors will only screen for it if asked or if the patient is having an outbreak.

likelihood that she will never forgive him for this thread and the exaggerated fear of disease that gave rise to it: 100%

strikes me that this is prob a wider issue than the lurkr's

One last clarification on Lurker's behalf: I don't think he's afraid of the disease (like symptoms and effects) so much as having to deal with the social consequences of it. I.e. -- frankly -- he wants to be able to get with anyone he wants in future without having to spoil the mood with a whole "there's something I should tell you" conversation.

(You can call that immature or juvenile or whatever, but it's his life -- if that's important to him, then fair enough. And if it's more important to him than trying out this relationship, that doesn't make him a bad person or a bad decision-maker.)

i mean, he has already had intimate relations with her and hasnt felt strongly enough about her to jump back into the relationship. i just dont think its worth the risk if he knows that he is planning on having more sexual partners in the future.

basically, why risk getting herpes from someone who he doesnt plan to spend the rest of his life with and then potentially ruin future relationships that he does want to spend the rest of his life with.

This is exactly right.

You can call that immature or juvenile or whatever, but it's his life -- if that's important to him, then fair enough. And if it's more important to him than trying out this relationship, that doesn't make him a bad person or a bad decision-maker.)

-- nabisco (--...), January 25th, 2007. (nabisco)

Does it not make me a bad person? Does it really not? That's what I'm struggling with now. I wish we lived in a world in which everybody would respond as well as Ms. Misery and Kate and whoever else when a potential partner breaks the news to them. But I don't think we do live in that world. I think it'd make life very difficult.

The fact that I'm questioning this myself leads me to believe other people would find it a difficult pill to swallow. Why should I not think that others would think similarly to me?

This is assuming this poster really exists.

-- Mary (marysurnam...), January 25th, 2007. (Mary)

What in the world would lead you to think I don't really exist? I certainly do. A few people have already figured out who I am.

oh, dude. I don't mean to be harsh, but that seems like kind of a narcissistic thing to be fixated on at this point. it would be no kindness to this girl to decide to be with her so you could feel like a good person.

-- Allyzay doesnt get into the monkeys or vindications (allyza...), January 25th, 2007. (allyzay)

Perhaps I didn't articulate myself well enough. I have no intention of continuing to have unprotected encounters. It was a mistake to not use a condom.

Only get back with her if you want to. And if the herpes is the thing that's keeping you from it, just be honest with her that it's your issue, and your fear, and let her be disappointed with you if she wants to.

The idea that herpes ain't no stigma is pretty bizzarre and weird to me?

It shouldn't be a stigma. People should be more educated, yo.

i'm with ms misery. so many people carry this and other viruses! it would severely limit the pool of prospective partners if you wrote everyone off who had ever been in contact with some (highly treatable) virus or other. have protected sex with casual partners, that's all.

And What, I think that would be excessively creepy, but I will say that she is at least as hot as Ronan's girlfriend. She's very hot.

How so? You'd magically find contentment instead of wanting other partners, or you'd decide to not seek out anyone else because of the risk? This really makes no sense, unless you're looking down upon your own choices or feel that you have some sort of moral obligation to stick with her because of the situation.

xp

-- gem (gemilyinterrupte...), January 25th, 2007.

better than panty tumbleweeds i suppose

One time I was having a really bad day and an acquaintance of mine said, "Well, at least you don't have herpes!" and it bummed me out.

Now it just makes me really self-conscious about this cut on my lip. I mean, I think it's a cut. Fuck.

Some people are really misjudging the lurker here. You can be in a relationship that is serious, long-term and even hopefully everlasting while still understanding that it may end at some time for whatever reason and that if it does so you may (after a while!) be up for some sex with other people.

Here's something: I am young. I do enjoy casual sex.

-- naked cowgirl (nunyerbusines...), January 25th, 2007. (Andi Headphones)

Would you give an honest assessment of how it's affected your sex life, and how people who are potential sexual partners tend to react? If you don't want to, I understand.

How do you figure this? People always ask for (admittedly, usually very different) relationship advice from their friends, therapists, drunk bar single-serving friends, and even anonymous people on the internet. Is asking for advice never a good thing?

This is OTM, actually -- condoms won't protect you from mono, or oral herpes, or many many other things that can fuck your health up. It's possible, though rare, to get HPV and hepatitis from kissing. For that matter, do you plan to use condoms and dental dams for all oral sex from now on?

Are you asking me this question?

I don't have any idea who you are, but this made me think about how hard it could be for a frequent poster to post anonymously. Like if nabisco needed to post anonymously, it would seem almost suspicious if nabisco didn't post his OTM-isms on the thread. But if he already had OTM answers, he wouldn't have needed to post the question in the first place.

Sorry, no, the original poster.

-- lurkr0330 (sa...), January 26th, 2007."

It's awkward telling somebody for the first time, but you have to be honest. So, yeah, it definitely makes you a bit more cautious about who you wanna tell in the first place.

I've becomes much more selective about potential partners, I don't trust most people to be "oh, whatever, that's nothing" (even though MOST have, surprisingly). Two of my three best girlfriends have it as well, and both of them seem to be doing fine with boys as well. I haven't heard any horror stories about telling someone and the guy freaking out. I've never had any freakouts either. Once a guy was taken aback and told me he had to "think about it. I honestly was sad about that, but for maybe only a day. Then I realized that perhaps I shouldn't have even been into him in the first place. He was cute, but we were drunk at the time of makeout/pickup time.

Now I am happily with a boy who loves the heck out of me and knows that I haven't had an outbreak since the first one (about 3 years ago). We are careful about condoms most of the time, but he doesn't seem too concerned about the risk. I'd feel bad if I gave it to him, yes, but told me he didn't care (dunno if he's lying, but he told me not to worry, so I try not to). We love each other very much and if that's the worst thing... That's a pretty trivial worst thing. I am lucky.

There are plenty of lurker-advice threads I don't post to -- I don't think regulars who ask anonymous questions need to worry that they'll be conspicuously absent on the thread, or anything. I'd think the bigger giveaway would be writing style, which is probably why most anonymous questions get asked in a really flat, factual style. (Hahah imagine if Mark S started a thread like this without disguising his writing!)

I really wonder what came of this.

i had the first post on this thread!!

with early-posting capitalization/punctuation tip-offs and everything.

yeah, but you were sincere – which cancels out anything else

i used to work at a clinic, i gave out advice like that all the time

rule # n of ILE: the more fragmented, sarcastical, injokey, and grammatically indecipherable your post, the longer you've been hanging about

but yeah, wow! i used to post w/ punctuation and shit.

xpost exactly

I will say that she is at least as hot as Ronan's girlfriend. She's very hot.

-- lurkr0330 (lurkr0330), Thursday, January 25, 2007 1:26 PM (10 months ago) Bookmark Link

I really wonder what came of this.

http://superdickery.com/images/seduction/auntmaysemen4az.jpg

lurkr0330 (lurkr0330)

I wonder what came of lurkr0329

Srsly tho I do hope they continued their relationship (safely and happily).

u know i was just going to dig up a thread on herpes. a really good friend of mine just got diagnosed and it made me upset. she's taking it kind of hard.

You've got it backwards there, Ramzi.

Yeah, who cares about herpes. In most people the outbreaks taper off after a time anyway.

-- Chris H. (chrisherbert), Thursday, 25 January 2007 15:25 (10 months ago) Link

Is herpes like HPV, in that after a while the immune system fights it off and suppresses it far enough that you only have outbreaks if otherwise sick or very stressed? In fact some people apparently fight off HPV so effectively that it's GONE gone. Like, not just lurking around. Dunno if the same is true in this case.

-- Laurel (Laurel), Thursday, 25 January 2007 15:52 (10 months ago) Link

not to downplay its seriousness, but a bit of anecdotal evidence: my ex's friend (no, really!) contracted Teh Herps back in the mid-80's when she was a jet-setting, coke-snorting 20 y.o. model. FReaked her out something fierce. But after moving back home and cleaning up etc, her outbreaks (which were fairly infrequent to begin with) pretty much disappeared. In fact, she's been nearly 20 years now without an outbreak. Obviously she could still likely transmit it if not careful, but there you go.

wait what do i have backwards? u mean i'm taking it kind of hard? i guess... i wasn't sure what to say to her.

thats good to hear will

First she took it hard, then the herpes.

baaaad!

terrible

In ref to Laurel's q - yeah, certain people's bodies can suppress HPV enough so that it is considered gone.

Will's story above, that's pretty typical. My best friend has herpes and the first couple years after she contracted it it was vicious. She had horrible horrible outbreaks almost monthly. Now she can't remember the last time she had one. Viruses are just so weird like that. It could just lay dormant forever or she could have an outbreak 20 years from now. You just never know.

Also, people who only ever get one outbreak might be more common than we think since one in five adults has herpes but up to 80% don't know it. A lot of women, for instance, expect to see blisters but if it presents atypically then they write it off as a yeast infection or something else equally benign.

okay i don't want to look it up at work, but i am a very sheltered young man, and what the fuck is a herpes outbreak like anyway? no pictures please. just gory texts.

ya gory texts.

A friend of mine got a Prince Albert and then very soon thereafter, herpes. His first outbreak he thought was a PA infection.

I'm not one to infer cause from effect here, but y'might suspect that genital piercings could render one more vulnerable to STDs, especially when no "protection" is used, eh?

Jesus christ. That is a hellacious thing to have happen to a peen.

what does herpes look like:
bloodu open wounds on your dick n balls

When the piercing is new and the skin hasn't reformed all along the...incision, then yes I imagine it would increase yr risk. Eventually though it should all be sealed through with regular skin like any other body part.

I could be mis-quoting, but I feel like I've heard that if you catch the very first outbreak early on and go full-tilt with the Valtrex there's a good chance you may never see an outbreak again.

why isn't there a herpes vaccine or something? i'd get that. in fact i may get the hpv one, if grownups are allowed.

i think the hpv vaccine is for women?

oh ha that makes sense.

yes, open wounds way increases your risk of getting a virus. and herpes increases your risk of getting aids (because of cases where there are open sores [i.e. not many, actually]).

Yeah, it is. Gardasil. And it's for women of all ages, natch. They are working on one for men.

I am in a forever-type relationship but I still want to get it out of listless, unjustified paranoia, but mainly to "be one more" like the ad says just to show there is support for this kind of vaccine in our weird country that in some circles pretends it is a sluttening vaccine. Maybe if they had stats showing a v large number of people got it, that unjustified stigma would wane somewhat.

Also I just absolutely adore vaccines; Dr. Jenner, Dr. Koch & Dr. Pasteur are some of my biggest heroes ever so it's like "Yes! I want all of these vaccines bcz vaccines improve life for all."

couple of xps

If there were a sluttening vaccine, I am sure I would have gotten it.

the stigma about the hpv vaccine makes me want to stab people.

i was unaware of this stigma, seriously

"If we give it to young women they will have sex," like solely bcz they have reduced risk of cancer and not bcz, you know, there are 800 million billion reasons people eventually have sex.

i'm not surprised

cos only whores get cervical cancer, obvs. xp

just cos you're in a forever-type relationship doesn't mean you shouldn't get it anyway, because, well, i won't be a weirdo/downer but things happen and being vaccinated is never a bad call anyway! i wouldn't call it paranoia, because there's nothing irrational about being vaccinated for things that are rampant in our culture (malaria, on the other hand, if you are not travelling... that'd be a littel kooky). but i agree re: the support thing. it's like wearing one of those little yellow wrist bands without the idiocy of actually wearing one

couple of xposts... yeah, the stigma is ridiculous. they were trying to give it to kids in schools, kinda like how now 12-y-olds get Hep B shots in Ontario... and people were like "WHAT THAT ENCOURAGES UNPROTECTED GAY ANAL SEX WITH DOGS IN OUR YOUTH!" and it was almost unanimously blocked which is just befuddling and shocking. "IF MY KID HAS SEX UNPROTECTED, IT SHOULD BE A LEARNING EXPERIENCE. A CERVICAL CANCER LEARNING EXPERIENCE."

more xposts.

No I srsly want all the vaccines bcz if for no other reasons I love the vaccines so much! Like I am jealous of military buds who got the smallpox shot, bcz I have loved Dr. Jenner bcz I was nine and how am I going to do an appropriate tribute to him otherwise? (Aside from the comic I did back then of a milkmaid thinking "I know Dr. Jenner loves me for who I am, and not because I don't get smallpox.")

that is the greatest comic i have ever heard, you should either find it and scan it and post it, or recreate it in paint!

Yeah, it is. Gardasil. And it's for women of all ages, natch. They are working on one for men.

Right now it's only available for girls and women between the ages of 9-26.

missed the boat

Oh fudge. I am sorry I did not do my homework.

Heh panty crickets.

i suddenly became real health conscious after realizing how contagious herpes can be

"most people have been infected by at least 1 herpes subtype before adulthood."

I'm frightened.. I met a girl with herpes, she didn't say what kind, and I thought she was cool and stuff, but herpes..
For some reason I think that my mouth is stinging mildly (but I smoked a lot last night). Oral herpes is very contagious and I worry I drank from this girl's beer. I'm over reacting. The odds are I didn't drink from her beer or kiss her but there was that one beer I stole from a table at a titty bar last week... shit man, STDs scare me.

lol at cold sores being STDs.

STDs scare everyone, and most everyone has had some sort of something, whether it be something as harmless as crabs, or something as ambiguous as herpes of the mouth. don't worry about it.

I think the reason my tongue is tingling today is the nicotine gum I tried yesterday. I still should screen myself one of these days. I remember thinking I had HIV once because I had sex with a stranger. Well I'm a healthy person apart from smoking and eating junk food so I'm pretty sure I don't have any STDS (at least any that flare up).

I'm still frightened of stds because of my lack of knowledge. I never really talked to anyone about their STD - as I have never asked anyone whether they have stds - and no one has ever brought it up before. I mean, some girl said she would get a rash and itch sometimes but other than that I have no idea how bad the common ones really are.

http://www.whiteninjacomics.com/images/comics/nosebleed.gif

well, you should go to a doctor and get the works done. it feels good to get it done.

the reason herpes scares ppl is cuz there's no cure. the symptoms can be nonexistent but you can't just like have sex without talking about it first. gonorrhea, chlamydia, crabs, syphilis can all be treated and cured (i think). the symptoms can be very mild or not so.

watch out for that nicotine gum.

Is having lots of NSA sex worth possibly getting Herpes in your opinions? I mean, I haven't been laid in a year.

uhoh I sense a truth bomb in my last post

jesus christ no

god damnit my chances always suck and when I finally get a chance its with someone who has herpes
just my luck

hang on did i misunderstand your post? NSA?

no strings attached

u should know that

oh. i read the NS bit as not safe for some reason. sure go ahead

soz

My id likes that opinion a lot, thx
can I get a 2nd and 3rd opinion from anyone else though?

thought this revive would be about cb.

the whole herpes phear thing seems to be a really american concern. no-one in the uk gives a toss...go for it.

lorax's tingling tongue is fucking killing me here. i trust you ended up okay youngblood?