How can an individual with herpes still maintain a healthy lifestyle?

Answer 1

Herpes is a virus that can appear either in the mouth area or in the genital area (HS-1 or HS-2). It causes the development of blisters that tend to scab over and heal with time (typically a few days.) It is not deadly. However, it is not curable either. People simply have to live with it.

People who have Herpes can lead relatively normal lives. The issue of Herpes would only really come up under certain circumstances.

For example, when people with Herpes have outbreaks, it can be both psychologically and physically uncomfortable. Herpes sores that appear in the mouth tend to be visible and thus makes the person uncomfortable. It is not recommended that people with visible mouth blisters kiss someone, as it is possible to transmit the virus this way.

The issue of genital sores is equally uncomfortable as it may affect the sex lives of those infected and their partners. Again, the virus can be transmitted sexually. Most doctors would recommend that herpes patients refrain from unprotected sex during herpes outbreaks.

Furthermore, studies have suggested that people can also transmit the virus to others even when obvious blisters are not present.

Bottom line--there is no absolutely safe time for a herpes patient to have unprotected sex without risking infecting a partner.