As we all know, herpes is a type of STD that infects through sexual contact. But there are ways that you can still get infected with this disease even without engaging in sex and if you’re not really careful with the things you come into contact with and the persons you are dealing with.
So how can herpes infect without having sex? Get to know the facts as we read further today’s article.
Some Interesting Things To Know About Herpes Infection
Can you get herpes just by sitting on the toilet bowl? According to medical experts the possibility of contracting herpes is highly unlikely because the virus can only survive in just minutes. However, there are other interesting facts about this type of STD:
1. Sixteen percent or 1 of 6 of Americans are infected with Herpes. And the worse thing about this is that 90% of these individuals don’t know they have this disease.
2. Herpes that is transmitted through oral and genital sex can spread to other persons even if there are no noticeable symptoms. This is referred to as “asymptomatic shedding”, and it can be alleviated through suppressive antiviral therapy.
3. Although herpes, if not immediately treated, can lead to serious effects on the person of the infected, it is still considered as a manageable type of disease and it doesn’t damage the internal organs. Taking valacyclovir every day can alleviate the possibility of herpes infection in others by 50%.
4. Most people who are infected without herpes but are not aware usually have romantic and happy sexual relationships. However, after STD testing, the dynamic of the relationships will start to change. Good thing, there are support groups who provide mental and emotional support to these kinds of situations.
How Genital Herpes Can Spread Without Having Sex?
One common way of spreading herpes without engaging in sexual activity is by kissing. If a person is infected with genital herpes, there is a greater risk of passing the virus from another person through their saliva. Another way of spreading herpes is by touching the mouth of an infected person with the bodily fluid of another person. Likewise, spitting on a piece of cloth to clean stuff like the screen of the smartphone or the lens of eyeglasses can also increase the risk of spreading the virus once others will come into contact with these items.
Moreover, here are some other ways that herpes can spread without sexual activity:
Indirect Skin Contact – Touching infected things like sharing a glass of drink with an infected person or touching personal effects like lipstick or handkerchief of a person with herpes can infect other persons.
However, the herpes virus can only survive for a couple of days once the virus is transmitted on moist inorganic surfaces.
Transmission Through Childbirth – A would-be mother who has herpes can infect her child during birth. That’s because the infant is likely to get into contact with the infected areas of the vagina during delivery. And if this happens, it can be lethally dangerous to the baby since the transmission of the disease can result in infections to several areas of the infant’s body and may even infect their central nervous system.
How To Stop The Spread Of Herpes
If you think you or your partner has herpes, you can reduce the risk of spreading this disease by:
- Using contraceptives like condoms every time you have sex to cover the areas that has sores or scabs due to herpes. Though, you should also make sure to wear to condom properly and to cover the infected areas so it won’t be exposed during sexual intercourse.
- Abstain from having sex during periods of outbreaks as herpes are likely to spread ever further during outbreaks.
- Make sure to remind the infected person to take medications daily as prescribed by the doctor or health care provider.
If you want discreet online STD testing and consultation, you can follow this link to learn more.