Herpes is often associated with sexually transmitted diseases, and that may be taboo to talk about. It can be a cause of shame for people who have it and may even experience discrimination once others learned about their condition.
That said, there seem to be unending beliefs about herpes that continue to persist until now. For one thing, herpes can be treated. In fact, there is an online herpes treatment process you could try out to alleviate your condition.
Better yet, you should consult a doctor so you will be given the right treatment and help make you feel better.
The truth about herpes
As mentioned, there are a lot of myths surrounding herpes. It will be good to know some of the most important facts about this condition. At the same time, it should be time to stop believing in these following herpes misconceptions once and for all.
1. Only people who “sleep around” can get herpes.
This is completely false. The truth is that herpes can be contracted even by a child who was simply playing on the playground.
Or when a teenager had his or her first kiss. That said, it is possible that a lot of people don’t know they have this condition and move on with their lives with no official diagnosis ever since.
2. Herpes can cause cancer.
Again, this is not true. In fact, cervical cancer has a strong connection with human papillomavirus or HPV, not herpes. HPV is also transmitted through sexual contact, but it can be treated through vaccines.
3. Herpes exhibits clear symptoms.
Well, this is not always the case. On the one hand, common symptoms of herpes include genital lesions and mouth sores. On the other hand, a lot of people do not know they have herpes because there are no symptoms at all. This is because the herpes virus tends to stay dormant and deemed harmless.
4. There is only one kind of herpes.
The truth is that herpes is a generic term, and there are actually different types of herpes. This includes herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1), herpes simplex virus 2 (HSV-2), and herpes zoster or shingles. Among the different herpes types, the most common is the HSV-1, which refers to the one with mouth sores.
5. Condoms won’t guarantee protection against herpes.
While it is true that wearing a condom can reduce the risk of transmitting herpes, it may not guarantee 100 percent prevention of the spread of herpes.
One reason is that herpes can be spread via skin-to-skin contact where moisture is prevalent. That said, it may be wise to abstain from sex, especially if you have this condition.
6. Herpes is fatal.
It may cause shame for some people, but it won’t literally take away your life. For one thing, it does not produce deadly symptoms and is also a common condition (except that a lot of people do not realize they have it). In fact, you can still live a normal life even if you have herpes.
Having herpes can be scary, but being educated about this condition is the key. Proper medication is necessary and should be followed when prescribed by a medical professional.