More Info on Genital Herpes

"The current belief is that genital herpes is not contagious when there are no symptoms, but that frequently people do NOT identify the symptoms as being associated with genital herpes. This typically occurs when the sores aren't noticeable. It is contagious in the prodromal stages (before the sores appear) but it is believed that the person with genital herpes can sense an outbreak coming.

"People who are married to/have affairs with a person who has genital herpes often practice mutual masturbation. In 24 years of medical practice, the doctor who is treating me has only seen one case of genital herpes acquired through masturbation. The case was a woman who foolishly masturbated her lover when he had active sores routinely, but this time she had a paper cut on her hand, which became infected with the virus. In other words, the chances of contacting it from masturbation are extremely small. Simply avoid contact during those periods when the sores are active.

"In terms of prophylactic measures, spermicidal gels containing monoxal-9 (or however it's spelled) kill the genital herpes virus, although obviously the gel has to be where the virus is to be effective. Any type of condom will serve as protection against the penis coming in contact with genital herpes sores on the cervix (where you can't see the sores), although a condom won't protect against the shaft of the penis coming in contact with sores on the labia.

"Acyclovir is currently being used prophylactically. It almost completely stops outbreaks and reduces viral shedding, which correspondingly decreases chances of transmission. The doctor definitely doesn't recommend that it be taken routinely without careful monitoring by a qualified physician. However, acyclovir does seem to be effective as a sort of morning after pill; i.e., if the day after having sex you have an outbreak, acyclovir is taken as 2 pills 4 times a day for 5-6 days and there is a reduced chance of getting an outbreak. This has only officially been tested in guinea pigs, but in the doctor's experience this holds true. He suggests that a person might keep some around for this purpose.

"Acyclovir is also being used routinely for controlling genital herpes. They keep patients who have a lot of trouble with genital herpes outbreaks on it continuously and it effectively controls outbreaks. In case of an outbreak with no acyclovir around, Campho-Pheneque gel treats the sores effectively and also kills the virus.

"Finally, there are two good vaccines against genital herpes, but it is the physicin's understanding that no one will market them because of fear of law suits. One of the companies is Genentech here in California. The physician I go to advises that about 40% of adults may be infected with the herpes virus."