quote:

Genital Herpes Infected a Quarter of New Yorkers (Update1) By Shannon Pettypiece June 9 (Bloomberg) -- More than one in four New Yorkers were infected with genital herpes, a sexually transmitted disease that can cause sores and increase the spread of HIV, as of 2004, according to the city's first measurement of the virus. About 26 percent of New Yorkers carried the virus compared with the national average of 19 percent, the New York City Health Department said today in a statement. The rate was higher among women than men -- 36 percent versus 19 percent, and higher among blacks than whites -- 49 percent versus 14 percent, the city said. Most people infected with the herpes virus have little or no symptoms because their bodies are able to fight it off. The symptoms include blisters in or around the genitals that can break and leave sores that take weeks to heal. Herpes can make people more susceptible to HIV and those carrying the AIDS virus more infectious, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. About 45 million American carry the herpes virus, the CDC says. ``Genital herpes alone will not cause serious problems for most people, but some people will have painful genital sores and the infection fosters the spread of HIV,'' said Julia Schillinger, the lead author of the study and director of surveillance for the health department's bureau of sexually transmitted diseases prevention and control, in a statement. The findings were collected in 2004 from interviews and medical exams of 1,784 New Yorkers as part of the city's Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. The findings, the first measurement of the city's genital herpes infection rate, were published today in the journal Sexually Transmitted Diseases. New York City, with 19.3 million residents, received 65,000 reports of sexually transmitted diseases in 2007. The city said it has given out 48 million free condoms since 2007 to help curb infections. The survey also found the rate of infection was higher among men who had sex with other men than those who didn't -- 32 percent compared with 18 percent. To contact the reporter on this story: Shannon Pettypiece in New York at [email protected] Last Updated: June 9, 2008 18:30 EDT

source:
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?...g8E8&refer=home

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If *that* many new yorkers have herpes... I'm curious to here the numbers for HPV!! LOL

I dont understand how this number is so high (Even though I posted a similar article a few months ago). With so much information about STIs and protection... How can people be so stupid?

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Why does it say were

quote:

More than one in four New Yorkers were infected with genital herpes

?

I thought that once a person has it, he/she has it for life?

/don't got it, sorry if I'm naive

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Originally posted by Intangible I dont understand how this number is so high (Even though I posted a similar article a few months ago). With so much information about STIs and protection... How can people be so stupid?

- Many people carry herpes and never show symptoms, although may be contagious. Since they don't know that they have it, they can't take appropriate measures to prevent spreading it
- The most effective way to prevent spreading it is a combination of

- a: medication to prevent breakouts
- b: abstaining from sex during breakouts

Problem is, there is a few day 'window period' where you are contagious and can spread herpes before you start showing symptoms of a breakout.

- Even when using condoms, you can still spread herpes - simple skin contact could spread it. In theory, sleeping naked next to someone who is having a breakout can spread it, even if you are not having sex.

So, even if you are taking as many steps as possible to prevent spreading it, if you notice symptoms of a break out, and have had sex within the past few days - even if you used condoms, the other person *could* be at risk. (not 100% chance they will get it, but still a risk)

So, between the fact that you can have herpes and never even know it because you don't show symptoms, and you can still spread it when using condoms - the '1 in 4' number isn't all that surprising to me.

Unless you never sleep with anyone, and ensure that you BOTH go for a full round of STI testing before having sex - the chances of coming into contact with Herpes is pretty high, and the fact that condoms are not that effective of a protection against it.

I'm guessing it's Samantha.

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quote:

Originally posted by Cosmic Fur I'm guessing it's Samantha.

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quote:

Originally posted by kaniz - Even when using condoms, you can still spread herpes - simple skin contact could spread it. In theory, sleeping naked next to someone who is having a breakout can spread it, even if you are not having sex.

Yeah, I saw an educational ad in Toronto Life this month saying that skin flaking from below the waist can transfer to someone else and infect them.

I will not be near any NYC'ers lower body any time soon. lol.

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quote:

Originally posted by Skipper Yeah, I saw an educational ad in Toronto Life this month saying that skin flaking from below the waist can transfer to someone else and infect them. I will not be near any NYC'ers lower body any time soon. lol.

heh yep. Think I also read something in a recent-ish Savage Love. A girl was all freaked out because her husband found out he had Herpes and thought he was cheating on her.

Apparently it's possible to get it/have it for a very long time (years) before you show symptoms. Some times you may get a very minor breakout that can go unnoticeable shortly after the 1st infection, then years go by where your asymptomatic, then start having breakouts/etc later on.

If I recall correctly, its also not something that's generally tested for in the normal round of STI testing either, and they need a swab from an open sore or something during a breakout?

But isn't that a fun thought : If you've had sex with more than 4 people, there's a pretty good chance you've had sex with someone that has herpes. (while the 1/4 is about NYC in this study, I've heard similar numbers in general)

quote:

Originally posted by Abercrombie Why does it say were ? I thought that once a person has it, he/she has it for life? /don't got it, sorry if I'm naive

haha no, you are right. Its a virus, thus no sure, just measures to prevent outbreaks.



Sorry guys, I guess I shouldnt have been such a whore when I moved here.







(btw these statistics are high, but they dont surprise me considering the education teens get (especially in ghettos). I run sexuality workshops, and some of the women who have BABIES dont even know where their clit is, let alone how/what STD's are spread, etc....The sexual health education in the hood is GOD AWFUL and even adults have no concept of how easy it is to spread something. ) Perhaps its time public school get off the "abstinence" advertising and realize that teenagers are gonna fuck whether they like it or not.

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