Herpes is a viral condition closely related to chickenpox. Caused by the herpes simplex virus (HSV), it comes in two different forms, HSV-1 and HSV-2. There are minute chemical differences between these to strains of the disease that cause the former to show up around the mouth while the latter affects the genital region. The first strain, or HSV-1, is associated most often with cold sores that occur around the mouth.

This is an infection that is commonly contracted in early childhood, and affects four out of every five Americans. It tends to stay around the mouth, and only ten percent of the time will it act upon the genitals. It should be noted that although treatments are available, there is no cure for herpes. Unlike chlamydia and gonorrhea, it is a lifelong affliction and scientists have yet to find a herpes cure.

The other strain known as HSV-2 will tend to affect the genital region ninety percent of the time, in men as well as in women. That is why it is called genital herpes, and it is thought that as many as one quarter of Americans today are infected with this disease. In fact, many of those who are infected do not even know that they carry the disease. This is because the symptoms can sometimes be confused with other things like common allergies, poison oak, itching of the jock, bites from insects or some other form of an unsuspected irritation. Yet there are those who know beyond a shadow of doubt when they are infected with herpes. Men, for instance, often experience intense pain in the penis, which causes sexual intercourse to become extremely uncomfortable or even impossible. This penis pain is caused by legions on the urethra-the long tube along the shaft responsible for transporting urine and semen out of the body. But genital herpes is also prone to affect the buttocks and legs and sometimes even other parts of the body as well.

It may be difficult for a man infected with herpes to maintain a vigorous and confident sex life. Not only can the physical pain be too much to bear, but also the blow to one’s self esteem upon finding out that he is infected can be debilitating to his sense of desirability. Yet there is hope. With certain and precautions and by maintaining one’s general physical health, herpes does not have to keep away from sex. An important priority should be to stop the spread of this disease. If a man uses a condom every single time he engages in intercourse, the chances of him not spreading herpes to his partner are greatly increased. In order to combat the pain associated with a herpes outbreak, it is possible for a man to reduce the number of outbreaks, as well as their severity, by maintaining a stress free life, exercising regularly and eating a balanced and healthy diet. Indeed, many men infected with genital herpes still sustain safe, healthy and active sex lives.

The first herpes outbreak is usually the worst, and, coming into effect near the time of infection, is first noticeable by stinging pain in the penis. Further possible onset of the infection is marked by symptoms resembling the flu such as muscle aches, fever, headaches, swollen lymph nodes and malaise. After these come the redness and blistering, usually on the tip, shaft or foreskin. The blisters later turn into painfully ulcerous erosions that, after a period of weeks sometimes, crust over and eventually heal. While genital herpes remains in the body, causing it to always be contagious, there is a higher risk of transmission during an outbreak.

Even after the occurrence of an outbreak, the infection remains. Indeed, this virus lives in the nervous system, causing periodic outbreaks when it spews itself out of nerve endings at the level of the skin. But between outbreaks herpes recedes and lives, inactively, in the spinal column, only to resurface every fifty days. In eighty percent of the people infected with genital herpes, subsequent outbreaks are bound to occur. But even the nonexistence of a visible sign of an outbreak does not signify that the infected person is not shedding the virus, and is therefore highly contagious.

Herpes is most often a sexually transmitted disease, which, while it will not cause death, will last a lifetime. It is very important to know how to reduce the risk of becoming infected with this uncomfortable and persistent infection. To begin with, it will be necessary to explain exactly how genital herpes is passes from one person to another. Primarily, it is caused by sexual intercourse, as well as sexual play, including oral sex. The direct contact between skin and/or genital lining causes the transmission of genital herpes.

It is also thought that this type of herpes can be spread through intermediaries such as towels and clothing-and that the virus even outlives washing with normal detergent. This is actually quite erroneous, as it is nearly impossible for the virus to survive unprotected, even on wet towels. In another faulty assumption, shared toilet seats have been implicated in the spread of genital herpes. These types of spreading for this disease are, indeed, still only believed through speculation, and there has yet to be definitive proof of an actual infection occurring through such media. This said, it should be noted that sharing razors is likely to be a preventable cause of the spread of herpes as well as other infections.

It is especially important for sexually active men to maintain his sexual health by always wearing a condom during intercourse. This greatly reduces the risk of contracting genital herpes from one’s partner, especially when it is not even known whether the partner is infected with this insidious virus. Moreover, it is important that the man in question does not infect others. Wearing a condom will prevent possible infection on the off chance that he himself is infected with the virus.

There is currently no cure for herpes, although various treatment options available. The closest thing to a herpes cure comes in the form of pills administered to decrease the effects of an outbreak. If taken right away after the first painful tingly sensations are observed, then it can greatly reduce the pain and discomfort, and sometimes even prevent the outbreak altogether. There are also pills that will reduce a man’s contagiousness, although these pills are fairly expensive and the therapy lasts for a year.