Herpes Ain’t Pretty

Herpes is not just another name for “cold sore.” About 80% of the population has the herpes virus but the virus does not manifest itself the same in all people. Oral herpes is the most common herpes. Saying “cold sore” doesn’t have the same connotation that “herpes” has. It doesn’t conjure up a sexually transmitted disease quite like saying “herpes” or “genital herpes” does.

Even the word herpes sounds like a teen-ager disease. Sadly, one of the side effects of the sexual revolution is the transmission of STDs for all generations, herpes included. People in their 60′s, 70′s and even 80′s are receiving treatment for an initial outbreak of genital herpes. Pictures of the disease often depict the more severe cases because those cases more clearly show what an outbreak entails.

The pictures are of the blisters, red skin and swelling. Not all cases of herpes have blisters or the blisters may be so small they are almost unnoticeable. It is even possible to confuse the herpes symptoms with a harmless rash, a mosquito bite or a spider bite and vice versa. Pictures do help clarify and inform people of herpes symptoms, however; symptoms pictures cannot illustrate are muscle aches and pain, itchiness and/or a burning sensation.

It is also good to remember that being with the same partner doesn’t guarantee a person will never contract herpes. Maybe if you put your partner in a chastity belt you can be 100% positive, but that isn’t normally possible in this day and age. One freakish infidelity is all it would take for the virus be passed. You would know what you are doing, but you cannot always be sure what your partner is doing. Education on herpes and other STDs is a must for all sexually active people. So, use the pictures as a guide, but if in doubt, get to a doctor.