Condom Protection Against Herpes
Among monogamous couples with 1 partner who had known symptomatic genital herpes
and 1 who was susceptible, the rate of transmission from men to women is similar to that seen with sexually acquired HIV. The risk of transmission can be affected by sexual behavior. The risk increased with more frequent sexual activity, but condom use offered significant protection, at least for susceptible women.
Because HSV can be shed over a large area of the genital region, it has not been clear whether condom use protects against transmission of HSV-2 as well as it protects against other sexually transmitted diseases. Condoms markedly reduce the risk of acquisition of HSV-2 in women, but not in men. Thus, sheathing of the penis with a condom may effectively reduce transmission from penile skin.
The lack of protection with condom use among men may reflect more likely exposure of men to female genital sites from which the virus is shed. Contact with vulvar or perianal areas, the most common sites of viral shedding in women, may be a factor in the lower effectiveness of condoms in transmission from women to men. Alternatively, men may be more likely to limit condom use to situations with higher risk of acquisition, such as lesions in the source partner.
In the United States, an estimated 500 000 persons acquire HSV-2 infection each year, of whom an estimated 350 000 are women. Assuming a relative risk for HSV-2 infection of 10 for women who use condoms 25% of the time or less, more consistent condom use may avert up to 315 000 new cases of HSV-2 infection among women. Unfortunately, condom use remains infrequent in the general population.
Condom use and less frequent sexual activity were associated with reduced acquisition rates of HSV-2 infection. The role of suppressive antiviral therapy in reducing the risk of sexual transmission is currently under investigation. While changes in sexual activity and practices over the course may account for alterations in acquisition rates, biological explanations of declining risk of infection are also possible.
Genetic differences in the likelihood of acquisition of HSV may be present. While receptors for HSV have recently been found, alleles that confer high or low susceptibility to HSV infection have not yet been identified. Furthermore, repeated mucosal exposure to HSV-2 may result in "immunization" of the person that offers at least partial protection from the infection.
This form of acquired resistance has been described in HIV-uninfected persons with repeated exposure to HIV-infected partners. Recently, HSV seronegative persons with T-cell responses to HSV have been reported. Finally, the infectivity of the source partner is likely to wane over time, as clinical and subclinical viral shedding from the genital area declines with time from acquisition of HSV infection.
In summary, use of condoms and changes in sexual behavior can reduce the transmission of genital herpes. While condom efficacy has been previously demonstrated for HIV infection, prevention of genital herpes can now be added to reasons to use condoms for the general population. Whether this knowledge will lead to increased use of condoms is unknown.
While most people correctly identify genital herpes as a common infection, few perceive themselves at risk for HSV-2 acquisition. The availability of accurate, type-specific serologic tests for HSV-2 is likely to identify many people with previously unrecognized infection. Counseling to encourage consistent condom use is appropriate for these patients, especially for men with HSV-2 infection.
AntiHSVDrops is an all natural antiviral dietary supplement for the treatment of herpes simplex. The extracts in this supplement provide an antiviral systemic effect. In addition to their respective specific antiviral properties, they act as an immunostimulant, enhancing immunological, serumal and cellular defense mechanism. They thereby help to alleviate symptoms such as fog and fatigue commonly associated with outbreaks, thereby providing an energetic effect.
This treatment is a rich source of bioactive compounds which contain antiviral and antioxidant properties. It includes medicinal plants of differing chemistry that are active against viral pathogens as well as assisting the immunity of the individual. Internally, the other level of influence of this treatment is that it is metabolic; it assists with the breakdown of substances. It goes in to provide deep systemic healing. The extracts have high levels of phenols and improve circulation.
In other words, they improve metabolic processes. This has therapeutic value when seeking to eradicate conditions where pathogens move from inner regions of the system to outer exterior regions such as the skin, which is the exactly behavior of the herpes virus. To learn more, please go to http://www.naturespharma.org.
by: bcured
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