How to Live With Genital Herpes

Herpes simplex type 1, or HSV-1, and herpes simplex type 2, or HSV-2, both cause genital herpes. Herpes lies dormant in the body between outbreaks. HSV-1 can spread from mouth to genitals through oral sex. HSV-2 can spread via genital-to-genital contact. Learn to live with genital herpes with these steps.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Take a warm salt bath to soothe a painful genital herpes outbreak. Put a handful of salt or sea salt into a tub of warm water and soak yourself.

2. Relax. Stress can bring herpes out of remission. Live a healthy lifestyle and take the time to relax as much as possible.

3. Purchase the amino acid lysine, available in tablets, to reduce outbreaks or shorten them. Eat a balanced diet and take a multivitamin daily.

4. Ask your doctor for an antiviral prescription, if you suffer from frequent outbreaks. This lessens the frequency and severity of outbreaks.

5. Abstain from sexual relations during an outbreak or during the prodromal, or "tingling," stage when you feel there is an outbreak is coming. Herpes is very contagious during the prodromal stage.

6. Inform your partner that you have herpes before you have sex. Herpes can be spread by viral shedding between an outbreak. Your partner needs to know this.

Tips & Warnings

• Don't touch your active herpes sores. Dry them with a clean towel after bathing, and put the towel in the dirty clothes hamper or washing machine to avoid spreading the virus.
• Use a blow dryer to dry sores after bathing.
• Join an online discussion groups to get support from others with herpes.

Resources

• Learn more about herpes and get support at Herpesonline.org.

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[nicolexue]

on 1/14/2008 useful tips
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